Article
“And it made me feel good inside”: Initial Evidence and Future Methods for Evaluating Nature School Effectiveness
Children, Youth, and Environments
(2019)
Abstract
Nature school settings provide opportunities for experiential learning across many developmental domains. This study focused on an afterschool nature program in Santa Cruz County, California, which serves kindergarten through fifth grade students. The study was designed as a pilot to both learn about the program’s effectiveness, and to test the feasibility and effectiveness of methods for sustained program evaluation. The study showed positive and statistically significant results for most developmental areas and that teachers considered most effective those lessons that engage multiple developmental domains. Future program assessments should examine the number of developmental domains lessons engage and should partner with a local university or expert for periodic in-depth evaluation.
Keywords
- forest schools,
- nature schools,
- outdoor education,
- child development,
- children
Disciplines
Publication Date
Winter December 18, 2019
DOI
10.7721/chilyoutenvi.29.2.0005
Citation Information
Mahala Volpe, Victoria Derr and Steven B. Kim. "“And it made me feel good inside”: Initial Evidence and Future Methods for Evaluating Nature School Effectiveness" Children, Youth, and Environments Vol. 29 Iss. 2 (2019) p. 5 - 27 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/victoria-derr/22/