On Thursday April 9, Rochester Ecology Partners hosted a very successful panel discussion at The Harley School surrounding the question: How do we connect youth to nature at school and home?

During this hour-long panel, audience members were encouraged to share their own personal stories and opinions and ask questions of the panelists. 

The event aimed to:

• Inspire action that leads to improved health for children through nature engagement.
• Highlight issues that arise when children do not spend enough time outside or in nature. 
• Explore how parents, teachers, and other community members can connect children to nature in ways that encourage respect and curiosity. 

Meet the panel:

Guiding Questions:

Below are the questions asked of the panelists, and a summary of the answers given:

1. What are the health benefits of nature?
   

• Children will sleep better through the night after a day of playing outside, which is crucial for their physical and mental well-being
• Verbal and physical conflicts decrease when children are in nature
• Some children who are quiet in class will take on more of a leadership role once a group is out in nature
• Being in nature gives children the chance to try new things and potentially fail, which creates learning opportunities and encourages a growth mindset 
• Time spent in nature can lower blood pressure and decrease stress

2. What does healthy engagement with nature look and feel like?
   

• Planting seeds and watching them grow, and then having fun eating or playing with the harvest
• Opening a window to listen to bird songs outside, or even listening to audio recordings can boost your mood
• Have children spend time outside simply sitting can teach them that it is okay to be bored, and encourage them to explore nature rather than reaching for a screen
• Going bird watching, and using the app Merlin to identify bird calls
• Going on scavenger hunts for items found in nature like seeds, rocks, wildflowers, and cool sticks

3. How do we increase opportunities to engage with nature?
   

• Have adults lead by example. Put down your own phone and spend time outside, and your children will likely follow
• Recognize that connecting to nature does not have to be a complicated excursion to a nature park, but rather simply touching a tree, watching the ants in between the cracks of a sidewalk, or admiring the moss atop a garage roof
• Spend as much time as possible outside, no matter how short or long. If an hour is not possible, try 20 minutes, or a different amount of time that works for you. 
• If it is too cold to be outside, visit green spaces such as greenhouses, the science museum, nature centers, and even the planetarium.
• Participate in local events hosted by Rochester Ecology Partners! All events are affordable and accessible, connect children to nature, and strengthen the community as a whole.

A Pivotal Question: When agreement isn’t enough

Towards the middle of the discussion, a voice from the audience arose asking “if we all agree on all of this, what is the point of us talking here?” This question raised an extremely important point: since the group concurred with the idea that children benefit from being in nature and should be encouraged to get outside, we were not in the moment actively changing anyone’s minds. To address this issue, the panel began to devise plans for altering the opinions of those who may disagree that the benefits of nature outweigh the potential struggles that arise when trying to get kids outside. 

It was concluded that kids are always willing to go outside and participate no matter how windy, cold, muddy, or wild the conditions. In contrast, many adults may resist bringing their children outside because of perceived danger, discomfort, distance, or hassle. It is important to support these adults by offering safe and accessible spaces for them to bring their children. Parents, teachers, and administrators can also be incentivised to bring children outside because it can encourage focus later on in the classroom, as well as better behavior at home and at school. 

Harley Week

This event was part of a week-long program partnership between Rochester Ecology Partners and The Harley School. The Harley School is an institution in Rochester that teaches students to pursue personal growth while relying on the vibrant community around them. The program included a wide array of events such as nature lessons for students, nature walks, a trip to Cornell University, and Vitamin N (Nature) day: an entire day full of activities for parents and children. We would like to thank The Harley School for hosting, marketing, and encouraging their students to participate in the week’s various activities. Harley Week highlighted Rochester’s need for accessible nature spaces and greater parent and teacher involvement to connect kids to the natural world, which supports their growth, development, and curiosity.