A growing and connected future: exposing youth to nature through education
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Date
2013-09-10
Authors
Norris, Rebecca
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Abstract
Our Human connection to the Earth and its living species has become withdrawn from our daily lifestyles and has been taken for granted over the passing years with ever-increasing technological advancements. This so-called technological advancement has provided conveniences, which have pulled people indoors and drawn them to the computer resulting in an unhealthy lifestyle. Christopher Brandlin (2011) discussed the variety of ways human health has been affected by technology. A few of the effects noted by Brandlin were obesity, lack of Vitamin D, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Through activity, outdoor interaction, and the development of an understanding of our critical relationship to other living species, physical and psychological health can be improved. Many of today’s youth have lacked a physically active and outdoor interactive lifestyle due to the technological gadgets they have at their fingertips.
A Growing and Connected Future: Exposing Youth to Nature Through Education is a design practicum that poses the following question: Using an open space network, how can the community, specifically High School youth, be integrated into a healthy lifestyle, and enrich Dryden High School’s outdoor programs? To address this question, this document has included an overview of the Biophilia Hypothesis and the health benefits that arise from the practice of this concept. Learning styles have been broken down to specific gender needs that influenced aspects of the proposed design. Dryden High School’s outdoor programs have been addressed and proposals were made to expand this area of the curriculum. Lastly, examples of successful active transportation routes were examined and incorporated into Dryden’s existing trail system. The addressed information influenced design decisions that will increase exposure to the outdoors through activity and knowledge resulting in Biophilia values that increase physical and psychological health.
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Keywords
Biophilia, Health, Nature, Gender, Curriculum