What is nature connection? This simple phrase conjures up a feeling most of us know, but can find hard to describe what connecting with nature actually means. Take a look at the following scenarios and see if they resonate with you:
Have you ever seen a squirrel doing just the cutest thing ever, and all you could do was stop and stare at it being adorable? Or have you ever hiked to a breathtaking vista high up on a mountain where you felt closer to the sky than ever and completely engrossed in the view around you? How about this one: have you ever swum in the ocean and felt a part of something so much bigger than yourself?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then, congratulations, you have already experienced nature connection! Let’s dig into the elements of these experiences that left you connected with nature and learn how to create more of these life changing experiences in your daily life (without traveling to picture perfect natural landscapes).
Nature connection is a powerful force for both our own well being and that of the planet. I personally believe that growing our nature connection is what we need to feel calmer, purposeful, and grounded, and to be our best selves when it comes to making environmental decisions.
What is Nature Connection?
Nature connection is, simply put, the belief that you are a part of the natural world around you, and not separate from it. It is recognizing that humans are animals and part of the web of nature. Now does this mean living in the woods in a shelter built from sticks and living exclusively on foraged berries? No, absolutely not.
A life with a strong connection to nature can look like stopping in the grocery store parking lot to admire the dandelions and how resilient they are. It can look like noticing your impact on the birds in the neighborhood as you go for a walk. It can look like saying good morning to the same tree every day on your way into work.
In my life, nature connection means being in consistent communication with the natural world around me. And, practically, it looks like carving out a little time every day for uninterrupted, focused time in nature. Even if that nature is just a small park in the middle of a city.
Brian Mertins of Nature Mentor defines Nature Connection as the following:
Nature connection means two things:
The act of personally engaging with nature through sensory awareness & observation skills rather than memorizing facts or knowledge about nature.
It also refers to the personal benefits that occur as a result of spending quality time in nature.
Brian Mertins
So now that we know what nature connection is, why is this worth cultivating in our own lives and for our families, students, and clients?
Benefits of Nature Connection
Personal Benefits
We know a lot about the health benefits of spending time outside. Regular time in the outdoors has been shown to lower stress levels and boost the immune system.
And obviously, almost everybody could use more movement and exercise in their daily life. Many outdoor activities (like hiking, biking, running, tree climbing, running from bears) promote a more active lifestyle. This is especially important considering the average American spends 6.5 hours a day sitting!
Any sort of outdoor activity is likely to provide these physical health benefits but interacting with nature in a way focused on connectedness is the key to unlocking numerous potential mental health benefits. There is a link between nature connectedness and resiliency, which is how you deal with the problems and stress that the world throws at you. Resiliency is an important factor in mental health. It can also help ward off anxiety and depression in some cases.
A core part of connecting with nature is being present and aware of what is happening around you. This is a form of mindfulness, essentially meditating in nature. There are many well documented positive effects of mindfulness. These include:
- less likely to ruminate
- stress relief
- better focus
- better cognitive flexibility
There are additional benefits to participating in mindfulness activities outdoors. For example, there are fewer distractions from technology. There is also physical space between us and the places where we are experiencing stress (like work or home).
Our sensory awareness is also enhanced in nature, leading to a more powerful mindfulness experience. Meditation doesn’t need to happen alone in a quiet room devoid of any stimulation. Being outside and feeling the wind on your cheeks while you smell a cedar tree and listen to the birds is a form of mindfulness, greatly enhanced by experiencing the great outdoors.
Benefits for the Environment
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in sustainability and environmentalism. It is quite clear that we as humans need to rethink the way we interact with nature and consider the impact of our actions. However, how to actually accomplish these conservation goals has still mostly alluded us as we continue to inflict harm on the planet.
While many believe that Rachel Carlson was the first to write about environmentalism, it has actually been part of our awareness for at least 5,000 years. So why are we still struggling with interacting with the earth in a way that is sustainable for both us and the planet?
Many of these conservation campaigns are based upon fear and what will happen if we continue the path we are on now. While these are certainly scientifically valid, I do not believe that fear-based conservation campaigns will ever work.
Humans are adept at justifying that what they are being told is wrong. This allows them to put distance between themselves in the problem and escape fear that anything bad could ever happen to them. There are so many examples of this in the media: climate change deniers, COVID deniers, and deniers of just about every horrific event in history. “That could never happen to me” is a strongly ingrained response to being faced with our problems.
Another large problem in our current relationship with the earth is simply viewing nature as resources to be converted to money.
In one of my favorite books, Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer speaks of the difference between the Skywoman creation story of some Indigenous cultures and the one told in Christianity. We all know the latter, Eve and Adam are in the garden, there’s an apple, and pretty soon God is giving them dominion over the whole earth to take care of and use for their benefit.
But what about the Skywoman creation story? There is no one named God in this story, instead a woman falls from the sky and works together with the animals to finish creating the world. She learns from the animals and honors their sacrifices and knowledge. This is a beautiful example of nature connection and offers a different perspective we could all adopt about our relationship with the planet.
While there has not been much research yet, early studies have indicated that nature connection is a positive mediating factor in choosing pro environmental behaviors. It is not enough to simply hear scary news about the environment or spend time outside, to inspire true pro environmental attitudes people need to feel a sense of oneness and belonging in the natural world.
So is nature connection just spending more time outside?
Spending time outside is an important part of connecting with nature, but it goes deeper than that. Nature connection involves being aware and present outdoors, to give you the chance to form the connection between yourself and the other living beings surrounding you.
5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Nature Connection
1. No headphones
Ditch the headphones on your next run or walk. This simple step can turn your regular exercise routine into a powerful nature connection experience.
2. Forget your phone
Leave your phone behind. Sure, we all want that great nature picture for Instagram but snapping a picture with the intent of sharing it on social media has been proven to take you out of the present moment, which is exactly the opposite of what will help you feel connected.
3. Hug a tree
Does this one sound silly? It might feel silly and that is perfectly ok—but don’t knock it until you tried it! This tree you are hugging helps you breathe everyday and has lived in that one spot for hundreds of years. What can you learn from this tree about some perspective for your own life?
4. Daily Routines
Make getting outside a part of your routine at work. Can you take a lunch break stroll through an urban park or walk around the building before you head to your office every morning? While it may not be a national park, experiencing the same environment every day and watching it change with the seasons is an important part of forming a relationship with the world around you.
5. Reading
Read books about nature. I haven’t been able to go whale watching this year and have never been to Hawaii but recently while reading The Breath of a Whale, I was transported to these places and felt connected to these amazing creatures. No matter what your favorite genre, there is some way to incorporate nature into your reading
Nature Connection Pedagogy
All 5 of these activities draw upon this core framework:
- Mindfulness and Sensory Awareness
- Compassion
- Appreciating Beauty
These three elements are what current research suggests fosters a strong sense of nature connection. Did you notice what is not on this list?
There is nothing on this list that suggests that memorizing scientific names, conducting research projects, or other common biology topics and experiences promote a sense of nature connection. In fact several studies have shown that traditional environmental education experiences prove ineffective at growing nature connection.
Now obviously biology and environmental education have their place and are a critical part of our education systems! We need to learn and understand the world around us to help us better protect it and understand our impact. However, these experiences are not enough to foster a strong sense of nature connection, which earlier we learned is vital to encouraging pro environmental behaviors.
This is why we also need to incorporate activities that involve the following criteria into our education system and personal nature connection journeys:
Mindfulness and Sensory Awareness
Being present in the current moment and feeling totally engaged with the natural world is one of the most crucial elements of being connected. You have probably experienced this in a breathtaking natural space, where everything just seems a little brighter and stunningly beautiful.
While those experiences are magical, how can you also cultivate mindfulness and sensory awareness in your day-to-day life in the more “normal” natural surroundings around you?
Compassion
Feeling compassion and empathy for all the non-humans around us is important when we want to get outside of our own heads and envision ourselves as one with the world around us. One of the most powerful ways we develop compassion as humans is through the power of stories. Learn the stories of the animals around you and their struggles to survive.
Build compassion with these FREE 10 real life animal stories!
Aesthetic Beauty
We also need to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of the natural world to connect with it. Again, this can feel easy when it’s a breathtaking mountain view, but what about appreciating the aesthetic beauty of the dandelions in your front yard?
We Need Nature Connection
I truly believe that we need more nature connection in our lives, both for our sake and for the planet’s.
We need the belief that we are part of something larger and to feel grounded to the Earth. We need the companionship of the plants and animals in our daily lives. And we need a sense of awe and wonder in life and the extraordinary, magical things happening around us every day.
And the planet needs us to feel more connected to nature. The planet needs us to not view nature as only dollar signs and resources for humans. The planet needs us to step up to our role as caretakers and work with it to help everybody.
Want to Learn More?
The Book of Nature Connection: 70 Sensory Activities for All Ages
The Nature Connection: An Outdoor Workbook for Kids, Families, and Classrooms
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants
Coyote’s Guide to Connecting With Nature
Natural Mindfulness: Your personal guide to the healing power of Nature Connection
Keeping a Nature Journal, 3rd Edition: Deepen Your Connection with the Natural World All Around You
