Title: Submit Module One Assignments
Course: Nature & Human Wellness eeCourse > Section: Module 1: Course Introduction

https://docs.google.com/document/d/18w5JIJZo4QDWeN-nGiXPF7n4xYTg-vbHH3GcdFG-69s/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YRdXKmFUkLAAK1KVoUeslRFELda5kcn9qqzgImNmCCo/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qZCa-XaS3TpLZXocMyNNHVxTZIhYrVXuzFVLfgFE6aM/edit?usp=sharing

Module 1: Course Introduction

Lesson 1: Introduction to Nebraska Alliance for Conservation & Environmental Education

1. Share 2-3 NACEE resources you find the most relevant and helpful for your work.

1. EE Grants- Environmental Education Grants

Available to all NEA (National Education Association) members, the National Education Foundation STEM Grants is funded to support teachers in all subject areas with preference given to STEM and global learning. One grantee from Nebraska, Andrea Abel, received funding to start a teacher study group to increase student engagement in math through a focus on project based learning.  Another grantee from Kentucky, Ashley Darnell, received funding to provide instruments to her students to be used in the classroom as well as the school’s winter program. Other grantees received funding for social justice education, ancestral research and connection, and the history of wolves in Yellowstone through virtual tours and discussion.  The EE grants are varied across course curriculum and grade levels.

1. Environmental Literacy Plan

The plan is linked to state standards and curriculum to increase environmental literacy.  What this looks like is to work within schools to incorporate learning that helps children to grow up in Nebraska appreciating and understanding environmental stewardship.

1. NACEE History

NACEE is a 2001 merger of Nebraska Organization for Environmental Education (NOFEE) and Nebraska Environmental Education Assocation (NEEA). In 2013, NACEE developed the environmental literacy plan and later developed a master plan for environmental education in Nebraska.  NACEE also developed a survey to collect data on Nebraskan attitudes towards environmental practices. In 2017, NACEE pivoted towards informal educators such as city park employees, naturalists, or zoo staff, etc. NACEE is overseen by a board of directors from across the state.

1. How do you think incorporating environmental education into your initiatives might have a positive impact on the work that you do? Do you imagine how these impacts could improve mental and physical wellness?

As a classroom teacher at a Title I school, I believe that environmental education can be made available to urban kids through a variety of opportunities whether it be within urban parks, on a field trip, or in the classroom through hands-on activities. The impact of environmental education on my students would be tremendously positive for 3 reasons:

1. A break from textbook learning, teacher-led pedagogy, and sedentary lessons.
2. The opportunity for field trips and project-based learning i.e. nature hikes for plant collection and identification, identification of invasive species, ecological diversity sampling,
3. A safe introduction to nature and natural spaces that are perceived or actually unsafe for people of color.

I imagine that continual, yearly exposure to these concepts and experiences could sculpt positive mindsets towards nature and environmental stewardship as both tangible and necessary, regardless of living within or without a city. Also, possibly strengthening individual connections to nature which is required to understand the benefits of conservation.

Lesson 2:  Nature & Human Wellness eeCourse Road Map

1. Add your reflections regarding the following questions:

- What are you hoping to get out of this course?

From this course, I hope to learn about the science behind why nature is good for your health.  I also hope to come away with an action plan for integrating conservation education into the Omaha Public Schools curriculum within my power/classroom, as well as obtain the background knowledge to push for more of it to be used as both academic and SEL tools.

- What are five questions you have about Nature & Human Wellness?

1. Are there studies, perhaps on prisoners or astronauts or apartment dwellers vs. those with access to a yard, that show health changes due to lack of fresh air, natural light, physical touch to soil, grass, etc.?
2. What, if any, is the evidence going to say about the human microbiome?
3. Does having a pet, connecting with an animal, count as nature?
4. For those who have little experience with the outdoors, what needs to be taught or are some things inherent for humans?
5. Is getting dirty a must for communing with nature? Or just a fun side effect?

- Of these five questions listed above, which one connects or relates the most with your current work/community/EE practices?

For me, knowing what needs to be taught explicitly is always helpful to make sure that the widest audience can grasp the content and objective.

Lesson 3:  Reflect on Your Own Nature Connection

Notes on Mayer and Frantz, 2004 !!Limited Article Access!!

- Psychology - Expanding a sense of self that includes others -> closeness, and closeness increases empathy and willingness to help.

  -> can this be expanded to the natural world?

- Study task: Measure nature connectedness on a scale

1. After taking the NCS survey, reflect on the following prompts: my score 3.93

- Share how your nature connectedness measurement is meaningful to you.

I believe that my score is fair considering that I live in the country, spend time in native prairie and woodlands regularly but work and spend time in an urban environment. Early experiences in my life made natural and wild settings comfortable places for me to be yet I feel disconnected from them now. In my current lifestyle, it may be that intentional practices to connect and reflect on nature could increase my CNS score and also a greater sense of well-being.

- How has nature impacted you personally?

My early childhood was spent in creative play outside. My family took vacations centered on hiking, skiing, swimming in the ocean, and locating and learning about wildlife.  My parents set the example. Consequently, I am fine with dirt and insects and the other things that bother and deter others. I began college with the idea of majoring in environmental biology, changed to biology and geology, and was able to have multiple experiences studying nature with professors. I was obsessed with understanding the natural world and its history. I now live on a regenerative farm and spend time taking care of animals in often oppressive heat or freezing cold. The outdoor world is a part of my life that I respect and value entirely but I continue to hold it as something mostly outside of me and the temperature controlled house that I live in.

- How have you seen nature’s impact in your profession?

As a teacher, I have seen that most children, regardless of cultural background, are fascinated by plants, animals, and minerals. They have a natural curiosity to use their senses to learn about them. I have noticed year after year that these topics are often more interesting non-fiction reads for kids.  When science is hands-on and even dirty, kids love it and those are the lessons and projects they remember. With students who have a connection to the natural world, whether through one or multiple experiences, their knowledge and perspective adds to the class and while they may not be enthusiasts or experts, they have background knowledge and experience I think is objectively more valuable than that provided by indoor, sedentary activities.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EsIAslcq7AhIXTyKbdxqEcVadxkTmqh6zVc_B3FVB9E/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_aahBRkJXxQp2otvvJn9iIAxiYKo5e9QgF1g5jDZfOI/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dbkUt3dOBvoyXcKglP7I7LCA0E6sy0FsnkFKwSCLh5M/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DWyvEEGuLanwfpczfgo-HQJjLAaXfZdqsJqYcjWPawM/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s0tV3xQywtdZGVfTEryMlH9Bq6EP4vQu5Av2L-TK_3I/edit?usp=sharing

Module 1: Course Introduction

Lesson 1: Introduction to Nebraska Alliance for Conservation & Environmental Education

1. Share 2-3 NACEE resources you find the most relevant and helpful for your work.
  1. The NACEE conference is a great resource for learning about the current state of environmental education in Nebraska. It’s also a great opportunity to network with like minded people and borrow great ideas.
  2. This new online course has some great potential… I’m excited to see that NACEE is developing more professional development opportunities for people
2. How do you think incorporating environmental education into your initiatives might have a positive impact on the work that you do? Do you imagine how these impacts could improve mental and physical wellness?
  1. The enviro education benefits are well known. If we can blend that with taking advantage of getting kids outside, it improves classroom behavior and overall wellbeing, which in turn increases students ability to focus on all subjects, not just when we are doing enviro education with them. This is why we prioritize enviro ed into so much of what we do at KOB.

Lesson 2:  Nature & Human Wellness eeCourse Road Map

1. Add your reflections regarding the following questions:

- What are you hoping to get out of this course?
  - I’m excited to explore more detailed information about the connectivity between nature and human wellness. I have done a lot of reading of different research studies and understanding the benefits, but I feel like some of that information is maybe dated and new information would be helpful. I am hoping to get more information and concrete examples I can use when articulating the benefits in the programming we deliver - information I can use to “sell” the importance of our programming as well as articulate the importance to educators who are new to using enviro ed and need help understanding why it is so beneficial for students of all ages.
- What are five questions you have about Nature & Human Wellness?
  - Can the wellness benefits of nature exposure be sustained with short-term visits or is prolonged immersion necessary for long-term health benefits? (Reserach I have read indicates that short periods of exposure are beneficial, but is this really true based on current research? How does frequency and duration of contact with nature influence wellness outcomes?
  - How do urban green spaces compare to more natural environments in terms of their effectiveness in promoting mental and physical health?
  - What role does biodiversity within natural environments play in human wellness, and are there certain types of biodiversity that are more impactful for specific health outcomes?
  - Are the benefits of free nature play time the same as guided enviro ed activities? Or do students need the free nature play time to benefit from time in nature?
  - How can nonprofits support the integration of nature-based solutions into schoolyards (planting trees, establishing veggie gardens, etc.) in a way that maximizes health benefits, especially in high-density, low-green-space areas?
- Of these five questions listed above, which one connects or relates the most with your current work/community/EE practices?
  - Probably these three:
    - How do urban green spaces compare to more natural environments in terms of their effectiveness in promoting mental and physical health?
    - Are the benefits of free nature play time the same as guided enviro ed activities? Or do students need the free nature play time to benefit from time in nature?
    - How can nonprofits support the integration of nature-based solutions into schoolyards (planting trees, establishing veggie gardens, etc.) in a way that maximizes health benefits, especially in high-density, low-green-space areas?

Lesson 3:  Reflect on Your Own Nature Connection

1. After taking the NCS survey, reflect on the following prompts:
  1. Score: 4.36

- Share how your nature connectedness measurement is meaningful to you.
  - I’m not sure this particular tool is that meaningful to me. Honestly, it seemed like a lot of guided questions. That said, having a connection to nature is important to me. Not only do I strive to have that myself, but I create opportunities for my family and friends to have that connectedness as well because I feel it is so important. I did actually enjoy reading the Practitioners Guide, which explained some thoughts behind different types of assessments and how and why you might use them.

- How has nature impacted you personally?
  - In so many ways. It is where I go to relax and recreate - hiking and camping are rejuvenating. It is where I can go to get away from the crazy go go go mentality.
  - I also feel like the nature in urban environments is equally important - being able to walk into my backyard in the city and spend time with my hands in the dirt, helping my kids grow their own food or plant a tree, it helps me to feel grounded. And as if I am a part of something bigger than myself and my own silly comings and goings.

- How have you seen nature’s impact in your profession?
  - In my last year teaching high school I developed a unit on transcendentalism. The purpose of the unit was to guide students in a deep understanding of how to analyze literature, but it was focused entirely on works of the transcendentalists, who were philosophically and theologically working to reconcile their respect for nature and natural processes with religion and human development of urban environments. I left that teaching position to become a park ranger at a state park - my students all joked that I was leaving to be a transcendentalist - but I think there is actually a lot of truth to that. Since leaving my formal teaching position, I have continued to change jobs in an effort to help both myself and other people understand how human nature intersects with the natural world. Through this journey, my aim has been to explore and refine the ways in which we, as individuals and as a society, can reconcile our place within the broader ecosystem. Ultimately, my work is driven by a desire to help others recognize that we are an integral part of nature, and that our true potential lies in learning to thrive in harmony with it

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O8_CnCojmhD0kJ_0e8Kpeqfl59fekA_DCOpnJ34xkbY/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eNSjS_K1USbX0uL4WSGWqsjyG-I_jPAbHd9ZPK8h8E4/edit?usp=sharing

Graders' comments

I feel really grateful to have read through your deep reflection here Melissa, I appreciate the thought and care you put into each question - and I hope this first module was helpful to set the foundation of the course and your own experience for you! I've added specific comments below:

Lesson 1

"I don’t think you have to be a naturalist or scientist or skilled outdoorsperson to have profound experiences in nature, but learning more about the natural world around/within us can deepen appreciation and create greater capacity for connection."

I'm so grateful for you sharing this sentiment - I think this can sometimes be a subconscious or overt assumption in many well intended folks working in this field, or the greater conservation field - and it's so important to understand this concept with humility in order to broaden the door for people to connect to the natural world in a way that's meaningful to them. Thank you for sharing this!

"But I’ll mention one of the first researchers I encountered when I began studying nature-based wellness: Dr. Qing Li, as his work on forest bathing opened my eyes to the science behind the physical and mental benefits of spending time among trees."

Although I've read overviews about forest bathing, I have not yet deep dived into this subject but have wanted to - thank you for sharing your recommendation of Dr. Qing Li, I will add this to my list of researchers to explore!

Lesson 2

On your comment about not feeling as confident in identifying as an environmental educator - I resonated with that feeling for a long time, and have really reflected over the years on what it means to be an environmental educator. I've moved so much on that journey from "teaching people about the environment" to "helping people connect to and feel belonging within the environment". I do hope this course has helped you grow your confidence in how important AND in line with EE your work is - we all play important roles in the bigger picture of environmental education!

I also really appreciate your thoughtful questions centered around helping those who may have the most understandable challenges/conditioned fear when it comes to connecting to the natural world. I hope you've been able to add to the puzzle pieces throughout this course in finding answers to these that are meaningful to you and your work.

Lesson 3

Reading through the arc of your own story with nature connection was really moving - it's such a gift to be able to understand and tell our own stories of nature connection when we're in this line of work, and I resonated deeply with your arc of nature being your first friend - losing a little of that relationship through young adult life then moving back to it in a deeper way. I think these stories can help inspire others - thank you for sharing yours!

On your note of being troubled by a lack of attention/concern around environmental justice in the social justice non-profit spaces - I'm really glad you shared this and completely understand your concern. I really appreciate how you've articulated that this particular challenge has shaped your own focus on human wellness as an entry point - it feels so aligned with the latest research on this and should really be considered a best practice. Way to stick to your values here in your work!

Thank you for sharing your thoughtful and deep reflections in this module Rebecca! I appreciated being able to read more about your own connection to the natural world, and how you see this connection playing out in your role as a classroom teacher. I've shared more specific comments below:

Lesson 1

I appreciate you sharing your perspective on environmental education as a classroom teacher in an urban area. There is so much opportunity for EE practices to be integrated even in urban areas, especially when thinking outside the box when it comes to green space access. I really appreciated your point on the importance of considering safe ways of introducing nature and natural spaces to children who may not have a positive relationship with these spaces due to systematic discrimination within the greater field of nature-based recreation and conservation. This is an important environmental justice concept - and one that is receiving more and more attention these days in the greater field of environmental education.

Lesson 2

I really appreciated the questions you raised in your reflection, it showed a diversity of thought and interfaces you're approaching this subject and this course with - which is a fantastic start to get even more out of the course! I especially resonated with your questions about human microbiome (so much evidence of this being positively effected with nature-based activities, especially gardening!) and about pets or animal connections and their relationship with nature (so many studies have shown incredible positive effect of both pets or education animals directly contributing to the development of empathy and increased nature connection - excellent question!)

Lesson 3

I really enjoyed reading more about your own story when it comes to your nature connection. It sounds like a challenging yet incredible opportunity to live on a regenerative farm and be in the care of animals and the land around you. It's such important work and I'm so glad you have found an opportunity to connect to the natural world in such a meaningful way. I resonate with your understanding that now as an adult - it does take more intentionality to connect with nature than it may have when we were younger. That does feel like the nature of the world we live in, I know even for me that's challenging sometimes to first remember how good it feels to be in the natural world, and find the time to do so in intentional ways. I never regret it when I do get out and about in my favorite forests or prairies, and I know when I have opportunities to reconnect how much it grounds me and helps me in my own EE practice of helping others to connect. Thank you for sharing your story Rebecca, I hope you find time this fall to connect with nature as much as you're able to!

Great first journal entries Kim, I appreciate the thought and effort you put into answering each question meaningfully. I left comments in the course journal itself, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Great first journal entries Jamie, I appreciate the thought and effort you put into answering each question meaningfully. I left comments in the course journal itself, please let me know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Thank you for sharing such thoughtful and deep reflections in your course journal Brenda, it was so good to be able to read more about your own story, and what you're hoping to get from this course. I always appreciate learning from you and your perspective - great job in this first module! I added more specific comments below:

Lesson 1

I'm so glad you found some of the NACEE resources helpful, especially the Guidelines of Excellence! I wish you were on our board when we received that training to become trainers of this - if you ever want to chat more about these resources let me know, we're hoping to roll out a few workshops on these next year!

I always appreciate your reminder of how we don't learn about the natural world - we learn from her. I think this is such a great tenant to keep pushing through, and should be a core concept in the paradigm shift that I believe is happening in environmental education right now.

Lesson 2

I really appreciate the questions you created for the course, so many of them are centered around really important topics right now in EE such as advocacy (especially with administration) and helping youth deal with environmental anxiety and grief. I hope you find resources in this course that can help address some of your questions!

Lesson 3

Your dedication to this cause - even before a lot more people were pushing this - has always been an inspiration to me. I'm so grateful to have learned from you and been inspired by your steadfast dedication here, thank you for sharing more of your own story in this reflection on how you've seen nature's impact in your profession. I love hearing how you wove together science along with social emotional and sensory development - especially how impactful that was that those students still remember it - this is such a powerful story that highlights how impactful empowering students with not just knowledge but connection and agency to do good for both people and the natural world.

I really enjoyed reading your journal reflections Melissa, thank you for providing deep reflections throughout this module. I shared more specific comments below:

Lesson 1 Question 2

I really resonate with what you shared about the importance of EE, but the distance many folks who may not getting their basic needs met might feel from environmental education messaging. I think this is an important component to understand for those in the environmental education field, and is the reason speaking to the interdependence of human wellness and environmental wellness is so important - both in the EE field and in the mental health field. Thank you for sharing this!

Lesson 3

Thank you for sharing more about your own nature connection. I think its such a gift those of us who had opportunities to connect to nature as children - when we remember the things that brought us peace and joy as children, or sometimes have to re-remember them as adults and how they can help shape our wellness. It's so great you're aware of this, and I hope you continue to find ways to connect!

Thank you for your submission and deep reflections in this module Tanner. I enjoyed learning more about your own connection - and really REALLY enjoyed your questions you had! Is nature medicine - what is nature - how can those without a connection benefit - these are such incredibly centered questions that I think will put you on a great path of your own in this particular intersectional work. Also - on a personal note I have been deep diving into learning more about native plants as actual medicine this year, it's an incredible deeper journey into my own connection to nature - if you ever want to nerd out about this topic let me know!

Is nature a medicine?

Is their scientific proof in any of it?

Can someone who doesn't like being outside utilize this?

How do plant medicines fit into this course?

What defines what is nature and what isn't?

Thank you for submitting such thoughtful reflections in this first module - it was a pleasure to read through and get to know you a bit through these powerful reflections. I left more detailed comments in your course journal - it's clear you're putting in valuable time and energy in this course already, I'm grateful for that and excited to see what comes out of this coursework for you!

It was great to read through your reflections in this first Module Brianne! I really appreciate your thoughtful responses, and am hoping this course really helps put at least some pieces together for you on your own journey within this field.

I think your questions are excellent and I'm really hoping you can find answers to many of these throughout your time in the course. I really appreciated your question turned rant about why am I getting paid to get gids and families out in nature - I don't think its a silly question at all, I've considered this before myself in the big picture of things. Where did we go wrong where we literally need a profession dedicated to helping people connect back to what they are a part of - the natural world?

As for your main question about what does a nature and human wellness program - I think you're on the perfect track to center your capstone project around this question. There are incredible resources both within the course and outside the course on this subject that addresses some of your main questions/concerns. I'm really looking forward to seeing what you learn and come up with!

Myra, thank you for sharing such thoughtful responses in this first module. It was a great way to "get to know you" through your own reflections, and I'm so glad you're in this course!

I think the questions you ask are powerful ones, and so related to the many really important questions many of us in the environmental education field are thinking about right now. I hope you feel empowered to have a better understanding of at least what your answers might be to these questions as you continue throughout this course - I'm looking forward to seeing how your thought process might evolve here!

This is great Michelle, your responses were thorough and detailed, it was clear you spent a good amount of time deeply reflecting on the topic during this module. I enjoyed getting to know more about your perspective and background related to connecting students and others to nature, and why it feels so important to you - both for your own health benefits and the benefits to others. I really appreciated the questions you came up with here, and I hope they can help refine what you'll be able to get from the course, and help shape your capstone project. Also - you're answer to what you're hoping to get out of this course was one of the biggest inspirations in creating this course! It's so clear that so many of us environmental educators see the benefits of nature on our students physical and mental health, we know this truth in our gut - the goal of this course was to empower those educators with the foundational knowledge and scientific background of why we see these benefits, so I'm hoping this course can help you with that! Thanks again for a great reflection Michelle, I'm looking forward to learning more from you throughout the rest of the course!

Great reflections Pete, I enjoyed learning more about your background and interests related to the course! I think your questions are great - especially your question #5 where you want to focus your time through this course. Engaging people in positive experiences in the outdoors is such a great entry way to this work, especially on the water! I hope you find good resources within the course to help inspire your efforts in that area.

I appreciate your reflection related to the profession question - there's so much work to be done in this area, and its great to see people who may not be in the profession of EE wanting to spend their time volunteering and helping the community within the greater mission of connecting people to the natural world. I'm glad you're here and grateful you're in the course!

Thank you Hannah, your responses here were excellent and thorough - it's clear you did some great reflection through this first module. I really enjoyed learning more about your background and perspective relating to nature's benefits to both yourself and what you've seen in your profession. I also think your questions are excellent - and am hoping you can use some of those questions to help refine what you get out of this course, and what you might build towards your capstone. Excellent job, thank you for such a great reflection!

On a technical note - for the sake of you being able to keep your reflections after the class is over, please feel free to fill out the journal reflections either within the copy of the course journal as a google doc, or download the course journal as a word document. If you do it this way, you can either copy/paste your course journal google doc link here in the text, or upload it as a word document. Either way that may be easier for me to add comments on, and you can keep all your answers in one place. Let me know if you have questions about that, thanks again Hannah!

Great reflections on this first assignment Anne! I enjoyed learning more about your background nd perspective on nature and wellness. I think your questions are such a great start and I'm hoping you get a lot out of this course that starts building on to these great questions! I also saw you were thinking of doing the Master Naturalist program - and would so highly recommend it, especially with your interests! I'm so glad you're in this course, looking forward to reading more of your thoughtful discussions! - Amber

Great reflections on this first assignment Randy! I enjoyed reading the thoughtfulness of your responses and getting to know more about your background and perspective when it comes to your own nature connection. That feeling of intuitively knowing and feeling like nature is good for us is so relatable, and I'm hoping this course helps solidify that intuition for you with evidence based science of the truth of nature's positive impact on our wellness. I thought your questions were excellent as well - a great start in thinking about what you're hoping to get out of this course and what you might be leaning towards for your capstone project. I'm so glad you're in this course Randy, looking forward to hearing more from you through your discussions! - Amber