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Worlds of Wonder: Increasing Children’s Nature Experiences Through Library Visits. Lorraine Lander, Ph.D. SUNY Empire State College lorraine.lander@esc.edu www.sustainablechildren.com. Overview. Introductions My fellowship project The Good Life Nature experiences and the role of wonder
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Worlds of Wonder: Increasing Children’s Nature Experiences Through Library Visits Lorraine Lander, Ph.D. SUNY Empire State College lorraine.lander@esc.edu www.sustainablechildren.com
Overview • Introductions • My fellowship project • The Good Life • Nature experiences and the role of wonder • Activity • Science based • Art and inspiration • Sensory/stress reduction • Connections and stewardship • Parenting and outdoor families • Resources • Comments and questions
My Fellowship Project:Nature Education and Public Libraries • A partnership with public libraries to encourage children’s outdoor/nature experiences • Broad approach - any type of nature experience where you learn can be considered nature education • Three main types of learning: • Factual (knowledge) • Emotional • Ethical understanding • Materials – stamps, magnifying lenses, pamphlets, posters • Information and resources – www.sustainablechildren.com • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lorrainelander/nature-education/
The Good Life - Eudaimonia The Good Life – a goal for our children? Greek – “having a good guardian spirit” Eudaimonia is constituted, according to Aristotle, not by honor, or wealth, or power, but by thoughtful activity in accordance with virtue over a complete life. According to Aristotle, it includes leading an ethical life, working toward the common good, and striving for personal excellence.
Common Understandings of the Good Life • A wealthy, luxurious way of living (www.freedictionary.com) • Not just happiness, but flourishing, ultimate good, common good • “attaining the awareness, knowledge, and sense of community that can lead to a complete life of true fulfillment.” • It is happiness with meaning. Eudaimonia is about a good life for all, not just the individual
Eudaimonia versus Hedonia Two types of psychological well-being (happiness) • hedonic well-being includes happiness and is about pursuing what makes life pleasant and avoiding the unpleasant. • eudaimonicwell-being, is about self-actualization and realizing your true nature. • Individuals may experience both, moving back and forth at different points in their lives or in different contexts. • Does it matter?
Happiness and The Good Life Frederickson (2011) found that eudaimonia was associated with positive health indicators, while hedonia was not. Park, Peterson, and Ruch(2009) surveyed • twenty-seven nations • some cultures emphasized eudaimoniaversus hedonia • results - meaning seeking predicted life satisfaction more than happiness seeking
Happiness and The Good Life 2 Martin Seligman(2012) • Three paths to life satisfaction • Path one: hedonic approach - the pleasant life • Positive feelings more shallow and transient • Path two: engaged life • Features positive challenge and achievement • Deeper positive feelings, more long lasting • Path three: a meaningful life • features belonging or serving something greater than self • longest lasting positive feelings and thus life satisfaction
Key Question What type of meaningful activities are related to nature that might involve challenge or even care of the environment?
Lifelong Passions Related to Nature Enthusiasm • Birdwatching • Gardening • Hiking • Camping • Hunting • Fishing • Boating • Snorkeling and scuba diving • Nature photography • Extreme sports like mountain climbing, mountain biking, etc.
How to Encourage Love of Nature • Use natural curiosity and wonder. • The outdoors is amazing, you don’t have to make it interesting. • Some structure helps kids who are used to technology to get started in outdoor exploration and play. • As little structure as possible allows for natural exploration. • Children’s interests should be in control. • Children are natural collectors, encourage them to collect special moments, tell stories about them, draw them, photograph them, etc. • Children naturally want to share.
Second Key Question If we want to raise children that will take care of Mother Nature where do we start? Wonder • Children’s natural curiosity and drive to explore can start them on the path to be gardeners, hikers, nature photographers, bird watchers, hunters, fishermen, boaters, campers, etc. • It doesn’t have to be hard. Mother Nature is naturally fascinating for children. They just need time outside.
What Can Libraries Do to Encourage Nature Experiences What libraries can do: • Create programs that include time spent outside • Recognition – Public Displays, child’s name with recognition of completed activities and projects • Stamps and stickers • Give certificates to children who complete multiple activities or projects • Post drawings of accomplishments • Post photographs of nature art projects • Display nature art objects
What Can Libraries Do to Encourage Nature Experiences 2 What libraries can do: • Educate parents on the importance of nature • Have family nature programs • Invite Native American story tellers to share their cultural stories about nature • Start a library garden • Have reading programs that feature nature books (see my Pinterest board for ideas, if needed) • Share your own nature interests with children who patronize the library.
Types of Nature Education and Experiences Collected nature education materials on Pinterest and found five broad groups or themes: • Activity • Science and exploration • Art and inspiration • Sensory and stress reduction • Connections and stewardship
Resources • National Forest Service: http://www.discovertheforest.org/what-to-do/ • National Wildlife Federation • https://www.nwf.org/en/Kids-and-Family/Connecting-Kids-and-Nature • Disney Nature: https://nature.disney.com/
Questions and Comments Thank you! Lorraine Lander, Ph.D. lorraine.lander@esc.edu or lorraine.lander@gmail.com
