Denise Mitten – författare

This handbook takes an international, intergenerational, lifespan approach to address how being in nature and outdoor learning can contribute to wellbeing, with a focus on everyday spaces, equity, playful, creative, inclusive perspectives. Featuring 25 chapters written by academics and practitioners based in Canada, Finland, India, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Slovenia, the UK and the USA the handbook covers six over-arching themes: Taking Notice; Connecting; Learning; Being Active; Giving and Slowing Down. The authors explore playful, nature-based activities and thinking that offer ways of learning about the outside world and understanding our place within it. Set against a backdrop of some of the most pressing problems facing us, including climate change, conflict, war, biodiversity loss and us etc., the chapters challenge the reader to find positive ways for humans to coexist more sustainably with each other and the ‘more-than-human’ world.

The role natural environments play in human health and wellbeing is attracting increasing attention. There is growing medical evidence that access to the natural environment can prevent disease, aid recovery, tackle obesity and improve mental health. This book examines the history of natural environments being used for stress-reduction, enjoyment, aesthetics and catharsis, and traces the development of the connection between humans and the environment, and how they impact our personal and collective health.

Natural landscapes are intricately tied to human health and well-being. While contemporary lifestyles have caused people to feel disconnected from the natural environment, this relationship is now recognized as vitally important, with landscapes increasingly valued for their stress-reduction, aesthetic, and restorative benefits. Providing an overview of the history, theoretical concepts, and individual and societal implications of human connection to natural landscapes, this book considers natural landscapes' role as an antidote to our modern, predominantly urban society. It also delivers: - A robust, research-backed overview of the intersections between natural landscapes and human health; - A compendium of applications such as nature-based therapies, urban greenspaces, and adventure-based programming that promote health within specific populations of society and individuals; - Due consideration of crucial factors that can adversely affect health and landscape, such as climate change. Of critical importance as we continue to define the role that natural landscapes will play for future generations, this book should be required reading for policy makers, urban planners and industry practitioners. It provides a thorough grounding in understanding the intersections between health and natural landscapes, and will be a valuable resource for academicians and students from a broad range of disciplines including public health, leisure and tourism, environmental sciences, and geography.

The role natural environments play in human health and wellbeing is attracting increasing attention. There is growing medical evidence that access to the natural environment can prevent disease, aid recovery, tackle obesity and improve mental health. This book examines the history of natural environments being used for stress-reduction, enjoyment, aesthetics and catharsis, and traces the development of the connection between humans and the environment, and how they impact our personal and collective health.

This Handbook serves as a starting point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in outdoor learning environments (OLEs).

This Handbook serves as a starting point for critical analysis and discourse about the status of women in outdoor learning environments (OLEs).