"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you."
-- Frank Lloyd Wright
Over four decades of research point to the significant impact our natural world has on our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and wellbeing. In simple terms, being outside is good for us! Our Family and Consumer Sciences Educator is passionate about the outdoors and the benefits of getting outside. If you want to learn more about Nature Matters, please contact Laura Stanton at stanton.60@osu.edu. Laura has created The Nature Matters Book List (PDF) which highlights and describes picture books about nature for young readers, nature activity books for kids and families, and adult books about the importance of nature. She and her colleague, Shari Gallup, FCS Educator in Licking County, have also written the following articles on this topic:
Seeking Awe in Nature (Stanton, 2024)
Grounding: Walk Barefoot This Summer (Gallup, 2024)
This Is for the Birds (Stanton, 2023)
Biophilia: Bringing Nature Home (Gallup, 2023)
Are You Getting the Right Dosage of Vitamin N(Nature)? (Stanton, 2023)
Load Up on Vitamin N(Nature) this Spring (Stanton, 2023)
Celebrate the Winter Solstice (Stanton, 2022)
A Beginner's Guide to Nature: A Tri-Fold Brochure (Gallup, 2022)
How's Your Environmental Wellness? (Stanton, 2022)
How to Do Nature: A Beginners Guide to Going into Nature (Gallup, 2022)
Under Our Wing: Connecting with the Next Generation of Birders (Stanton, 2022)
Wonder and Wander in Nature this Winter (Stanton, 2021)
Falling in Love with Nature (Gallup, 2021)
Get Out! Celebrate Nature on Earth Day and Every Day (Stanton, 2021)
Benefits of Being a Bird Nerd (Stanton, 2021)
Getting Outside and Staying Safe (Stanton, 2020)
Noises Off: The Benefits of Silence (Stanton, 2020)
A Prescription for Nature
Click on any of the topics below to access easy-to-read, evidence-based resources about each issue and the health benefits nature can provide. Thank you to Park Prescriptions for creating these helpful fact sheets. Although connecting to nature is an essential part of staying well, always consult with a healthcare provider if you have any medical concerns or questions.
Adult Benefits: | Pediatric Benefits: |
ADHD | |
Allergies & Asthma | |
General Kids' Health | |
Healthy Weight & Activity | |
Kids' Mental Health | |
Pregnancy & Early Life | |
Kids' School Success |
Green Hour
The National Wildlife Federation’s Green Hour program is designed to encourage: kids, parents, grandparents, educators, and caregivers at home, schools, childcare centers, park agencies, camps, and more to adopt a goal of an hour per day of time for children to play and learn outdoors in nature. The idea of a “green” hour comes from research on creative play and health by the Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics. Research also shows the best way to connect young people to a lifelong concern for nature, wildlife, and the outdoors is through regular positive experiences with nature. Visit the Green Hour website to find your perfect outdoor activity. You can search by season and activity types: thegreenhour.org/activity
1000 Hours Outside
The entire purpose of 1000 Hours Outside is to attempt to match nature time with screen time. If kids can consume media through screens 1200 hours a year on average then the time is there and at least some of it can and should be shifted towards a more productive and healthy outcome! Be sure to check out their 2022 Kick-Off Pack that contains 62 hiking prompts, month-by-month outside adventure prompts and a corresponding list of outside adventure books for children. You can learn more by visiting: www.1000hoursoutside.com
Additional Resources and Infographics
Be sure to take a look at these terrific infographics from Park Rx America, National Environmental Education Foundation, Children & Nature Network, and the National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture. These are great resources with links to wonderful evidence-based research about the benefits of nature.
Ask Your Doctor for a Park Prescription Today
Park Rx America PDF Graphic
Children and Nature
National Environmental Education Foundation PDF Graphic
Nature Can Improve Health and Wellbeing
Children & Nature Network PDF Graphic
Nature Play Can Encourage Care For The Earth
Children & Nature Network PDF Graphic
Green Schoolyards Can Increase Physical Activity
Children & Nature Network PDF Graphic
Green Schoolyards Can Provide Mental Health Benefits
Children & Nature Network PDF Graphic
Plants Do That Where We Live
National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture
Plants Do That Where We Learn
National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture