Outdoor Education Commons^™

Think Like A Mountain : The Need For Nature For Increased Mental Health, Erin M. Mclaughlin

Graduate Research Papers

Nature has been an integral part of the human life for thousands of years. Only in the most recent hundred years, societies have begun to view nature as a foreign concept outside of the normal realm of daily life. Along with this disconnect from nature, mental illness has increased in our societal populations. This paper identifies the correlation of the need for nature, the lack of connection to nature, and the significant increase in depression, ADHD, anxiety, and autism diagnoses, among others. It also identifies therapeutic techniques that incorporate and connect with nature, as well as provides a comprehensive reference …

An Introduction To Adventure Based Counseling Connected To Couples And Families, Amanda L. Schara

Graduate Research Papers

This paper demonstrates the value of Adventure Based Counseling (ABC) combined with couples and family counseling. The growth of ABC has gone through powerful changes from starting out with patients in a hospital to now being utilized in individual, group, couples, and family therapy. Looking at some main theoretical methods in the counseling field the totality of ABC is identified and combined with couple and family therapeutic goals. The importance of couple and family interaction has been diminished in our culture and the evolvement of ABC within those structures leads to a more productive family system.

Nature And Its Application With Students Who Have Special Needs, Nicholas J. Hoeger

Graduate Research Papers

This paper examines the utility of Nature-Assisted Therapy and its processes in conjunction with students who have been identified as having special needs. In addition, it weighs both the pros and cons of applying this method with various populations. Finally, it weighs the value of this approach within the educational setting and identifies common strategies that have been adopted.

Why It Is Important To Keep Recess In Schools, Mary Lou Mcgee Cushing

Graduate Research Papers

Recess is a common part of most elementary school schedules yet its benefits are often not clearly articulated. As a result recess may be thought to be expendable from school curricula as school districts adjust already full schedules in an attempt to accommodate every necessary component.

This research review explores the relationship of recess to school schedules, time allotments, activities commonly observed at recess, and developmental (social, cognitive, and psychomotor) aspects of recess in schools. Also addressed are common criticisms of recess in schools.