Nurtured by Nature

Kids are spending less time outside than nearly any generation before them, and the emotional costs are showing up as stress, mood concerns, attention struggles, and disconnection. This session highlights the evidence for outdoor connection as a protective factor and offers realistic strategies for helping children build a lasting relationship with nature.

This session is designed to explore:

• What “indoor life” is doing to children’s attention, mood, and resilience

• The research on outdoor play and mental health outcomes

• Why nature helps: regulation, sensory integration, agency, and social connection

• Common barriers (safety concerns, screens, time, access) and workable solutions

Participants will be introduced to:

• Practical routines that increase outdoor time without adding chaos

• Nature-based tools for emotion regulation and attention support

• Ways to cultivate awe, stewardship, and belonging (not just “getting outside”)

• Strategies for families, schools, and programs with limited access to green space

This session is ideal for:

• Parents, caregivers, and family support organizations

• Teachers, school counselors, and administrators

• Youth program staff, camps, and outdoor educators

• Pediatric and child mental health clinicians

• Community leaders designing child wellbeing initiatives