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Significant Life Experiences that Connect Children with Nature: A Research Review and Applications to a Family Nature Club

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Research Handbook on Childhoodnature

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

Abstract

In past research on significant life experiences (SLE) that influence environmental values and behaviors, a triad of experiences frequently emerge: free play and exploration in nature in childhood or youth, influential role models who communicate nature’s value, and opportunities to learn how to take action on nature’s behalf. This chapter opens with a review of past SLE research and theories of child development that predict these repeated findings. It also reports on an evaluation of family nature clubs (FNCs) – community-based organizations that regularly bring families together to enjoy nature together, creating conditions for families to share all three of these experiences that have been associated with care for the natural world. This study of more than 330 FNC leaders and participants found both quantitative and qualitative support for the effects of these formative experiences. Statistically significant survey results are complemented by ethnographic observations and interviews that offer insight into what happens during these experiences that makes them important and lasting in memory. The consistency between this study’s results, previous SLE research, and relevant concepts in the psychology of child development is discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Community Ecology Insitute, Columbia, MD, USA

    Chiara D’Amore

  2. The University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA

    Louise Chawla

Authors
  1. Chiara D’Amore
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  2. Louise Chawla
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chiara D’Amore .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, Southern Cross University School of Education, Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia

    Amy Cutter-Mackenzie

  2. Centre for Educational Research, Western Sydney University Centre for Educational Research, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia

    Karen Malone

  3. Department of Education, University of Bath Department of Education, Bath, United Kingdom

    Elisabeth Barratt Hacking

Section Editor information

  1. School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    Debra Flanders Cushing

  2. The Eden Project, Cornwall, UK

    Robert Barratt

  3. Department of Education, University of Bath, Bath, UK

    Elisabeth Barratt Hacking

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D’Amore, C., Chawla, L. (2018). Significant Life Experiences that Connect Children with Nature: A Research Review and Applications to a Family Nature Club. In: Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Malone, K., Barratt Hacking, E. (eds) Research Handbook on Childhoodnature . Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51949-4_49-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51949-4_49-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-51949-4

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