The Impact of Nature on Youth’s Mental Health
Hi there! Welcome to the first Focus on Nature blog post of 2024! My name is Abby Swartz and I have been the one behind the blog posts since May 2023. You can read more about me by clicking here.
Our mission as a nonprofit organization is to “...inspire young people to explore and connect with the natural world through photography”. We do this by conducting in-school workshops in numerous regions in Southwestern Ontario as well as March Break and Summer camps! Registration for our March Break camps is currently open!
But, why do we focus on nature photography? Why do we emphasize the beauty of the outdoors? Well, this stems from the reason Focus on Nature was founded. Co-founder Shirley identified that her children were spending too much time inside, on electronic devices. And well…that story leads us to where we are today!
I am sure we have all heard at some point or another that being outdoors is beneficial for the physical and mental well-being of children and youth. This is true, and plays a role in why Focus on Nature, focuses on nature!
Let’s look at what the research shows about the correlation between the mental health of young people and the great outdoors.
Children who are more often exposed to green space have better memory, are able to pay more attention, and have better emotional wellbeing
Countless studies have identified a positive connection between time spent in nature and better health outcomes. Dr. Robert Zarr says “...These physiological changes include a decrease in cortisol, which is a stress hormone. We can actually watch that number drop by virtue of spending more time in nature”.
Research has shown that there is a positive correlation between a child’s overall well-being and how close they live to greenery/nature-filled areas
Young people who spend more time outside have lower rates of anxiety and depression
As we can see, being in the natural environment has countless positive impacts on children and youth. When we take kids out to practice their nature photography skills, we are working on making a more physical and emotional next generation.
Want your children or students to get involved with Focus on Nature? Book your workshop or register your child for our camps!
References
NatureKidsBC. (2022, June 9). The Benefits of Nature on Mental Health. Blog. https://naturekidsbc.ca/the-benefits-of-nature-on-mental-health/
