Search Results (102)

Background: This study explores the potential of outdoor physical activity (OPA) to support physical, mental, and social health, while contributing to the One Health strategy. Methods: Based on Eurobarometer 97.3 data, 570 physically active individuals were compared by activity setting using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests with odds ratios, and the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: The analysis reveals that OPA is often driven by personal beliefs and a strong connection to nature, yet participants may overlook their environmental and social impact. Conclusions: The findings underscore the need for intersectoral cooperation and civic education to realise OPA’s role in promoting health, inclusion, and sustainability. Full article

As global environmental challenges intensify, there is an increasing need to equip younger generations with the knowledge, values, and sense of responsibility necessary for a sustainable future. This study explores how environmental citizenship education (ECE), implemented through a nature-based learning program within a Nature and Science School (NSS) in Türkiye, was experienced and interpreted by primary school pupils in relation to their development of understanding of sustainability and environmental citizenship. NSSs, integrated into the formal education system by the Turkish Ministry of National Education, offer inquiry-driven and experiential learning in natural settings. The study took place in Talat Göktepe Grove, a biodiverse site including forest and marine ecosystems, where a four-month ECE program was conducted. A holistic single-case study design was employed, drawing on pupil diaries and semi-structured interviews. A total of 88 pupils engaged in structured outdoor activities addressing biodiversity, sustainability, and the climate crisis. Initially, pupils described environmental citizenship through individual actions. Over time, their perspectives expanded to include civic participation, environmental rights, and collective responsibility. Their reflections also revealed a more nuanced understanding of sustainability, encompassing concepts such as ecosystem balance, renewable energy, and environmental justice. The study provides insight into how nature-based education may support meaning-making around environmental citizenship and sustainability in early education. Full article

Forested areas are defined as wooded regions characterized by dense vegetation, largely preserved natural ecosystem features, and availability for recreational use. These areas play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and are increasingly utilized as preferred sites for various outdoor activities. However, the growing intensity of recreational activities in such sensitive ecosystems contributes to increased waste generation and poses significant threats to environmental sustainability. The objective of this study is to calculate the carbon footprint resulting from waste produced during recreational activities in forested areas of Lithuania, Turkey, and Morocco, and to identify innovative waste management strategies aimed at achieving clean and safe forest ecosystems. This study includes a comparison of Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco. Quantitative data and carbon footprint calculations were conducted, while quantitative methods were also employed through semi-structured interviews with experts. Firstly, carbon footprint calculations were carried out based on the types and amounts of waste generated by participants. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with experts and participants from all three countries to identify issues related to waste management and innovative waste management strategies. The carbon footprint resulting from waste generation was estimated to be 1517.26 kg in Turkey, 613.25 kg in Lithuania, and 735.68 kg in Morocco. Experts from Turkey, Lithuania, and Morocco have proposed innovative solutions for improving waste management systems in their respective countries. In Turkey, the predominant view emphasizes the need for increased use of digital tools, stricter enforcement measures, a rise in the number of personnel and waste bins, as well as the expansion of volunteer-based initiatives. In Lithuania, priority is given to educational and awareness-raising activities, updates to legal regulations, the placement of recycling bins, the development of infrastructure, and the promotion of environmentally friendly projects. In Morocco, it is highlighted that there is a need for stronger enforcement mechanisms, updated legal frameworks, increased staffing, more frequent waste collection, and the implementation of educational programs. Full article

In recent years, forest education has become a critical element in global environmental governance. This study employed the CiteSpace tool to systematically analyze 2917 titles of the forest education literature from the Web of Science Core Collection. The goal was to explore the spatial and temporal trends, thematic evolution, and emerging research directions in this field. The research shows that in recent years, the annual number of published papers on forest education has been on a continuous upward trend, and the attention to the subject has increased significantly. The research field mainly takes the United States in North America as the core center, with the joint participation of scholars from Europe and Asia. The development trajectory of the discipline shows a trend of gradual expansion toward multidisciplinary intersections and multidisciplinary integration based on traditional forestry and environmental sciences. Research hotspots mainly focus on core issues such as forest management, climate change, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. In recent years, they have expanded to include willingness to pay, prevalence, and student groups. It is expected that the research focus in the coming years will be on the cross-cutting issues of integrating forests with the economy, social public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. Full article

The events of 2020 reached a fever pitch with the May 25th murder of George Floyd, but earlier on the same morning, a chance encounter between dogwalker Amy Cooper and birding enthusiast Christian Cooper also laid bare enduring social relations. As video footage of the encounter spread across social media, it sparked both public outrage and discourse regarding Black nature enthusiasts. Employing a historical-interpretive method informed by conversation analysis and guided by “whiteness as property,” I assemble news articles, social media posts, and video footage to analyze the events in Central Park and their aftermath. To unsettle existing paradigms regarding who we imagine are entitled to the great outdoors, I identify potential collaborative partners across scales who can further the goals of education, recruitment, and visibility for Black nature enthusiasts and professionals. I demonstrate how expanding environmental justice to include anti-Black racial violence allows us to recognize that the specter of lynching defies geographic boundaries, diffusing across space and time, occasionally coalescing to defend white privilege and historic racial orders. Full article

Pre-trip anxiety is a critical yet understudied factor influencing participation and engagement in Outdoor Experiential Education (OEE) programs. Anxiety can serve as both a motivator and a barrier, shaping participants’ willingness to engage in challenging activities. This study examines the sources, predictors, and temporal progression of pre-trip anxiety among OEE participants, with a focus on experience level, gender differences, and activity type. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from students and staff at two Midwestern universities across three time points leading to an OEE program. Measures included the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a course-specific worry scale assessing concerns such as physical ability, social dynamics, and environmental risks. Results indicate that experience level can predict anxiety, with less experienced participants reporting higher levels of concern. Gender differences were also observed, with female participants exhibiting greater pre-trip anxiety, particularly in water-based activities. However, anxiety remained relatively stable across time intervals, suggesting that interventions may be effective at multiple stages before a program begins. These findings have practical implications for OEE design, including targeted pre-trip interventions, adjusted program marketing, and tailored support strategies to reduce barriers to participation and enhance student preparedness. Full article

Light pollution is a rapidly growing environmental challenge, with the global brightness of the night sky increasing by an average of 9.6% per year. This study assessed the ecological impact of artificial light at night (ALAN) on protected areas in Poland, including all 23 national and 125 landscape parks, from 2012 to 2023. Based on VIIRS satellite radiance data and modelled sky surface brightness (Sa), we developed and applied the Ecological Light Pollution (ELP) scale, which classifies areas into four classes of ecological impact: strong (ELP-A), pronounced (ELP-B), noticeable (ELP-C), and weak or none (ELP-D). The analysis revealed that 38.5% of protected areas are affected by artificial skyglow at levels classified as ELP-B or ELP-C. Under cloudy conditions, which intensify light pollution effects, 22% of national parks and 41.8% of landscape parks fell into these classes. Notably, Wielkopolski National Park exhibited the most pronounced impact (ELP-B) even under clear skies, primarily due to its proximity to the Poznań metropolitan area. In contrast, Bieszczadzki and Białowieski National Parks recorded near-natural darkness (ELP-D). These light pollution effects can disrupt nocturnal species’ behaviour, reduce biodiversity, and degrade opportunities for dark-sky tourism. The findings emphasise the need for targeted mitigation, including stricter outdoor lighting regulations, formal dark-sky protection zones, and public education to preserve protected areas’ ecological integrity and tourism potential. Full article

Built environment professionals are instrumental in envisioning, implementing and managing the urban realm to ensure that it is health supportive and sustainable. Central to their education is developing a deep understanding and appreciation of this responsibility and opportunity. Despite some progress in the classroom, challenges continue given the long history of siloed and separated disciplines and curricula. The climate emergency, ongoing chronic health conditions, and more recently the global pandemic demand a continued reframing of education away from the tradition of sequential, separated and unlinked faculty and school-based subjects to be transdisciplinary, experiential and authentic. Such principles are embraced by the Planetary Health Educational Framework and One Health. Against this theoretical context, we present our long-term educational practice using the GreenWay in Sydney, Australia, as an outdoor classroom for school and tertiary students. This multi-purpose, complex and nature-based green corridor in the urban heart of an international city facilitates experiential and transdisciplinary learning from a planetary health perspective. Based on the successes and challenges of our teaching, we reflect on the implications for environmental educators to deliver authentic and experiential outdoor education that inspires and empowers the next generation to create health-supportive and sustainable environments. Full article

This study examines a social-justice-focused environmental education program serving marginalized students through fostering engagement with local communities and natural environments. It presents a focused ethnographic case study of teachers of color who designed and implemented an ethnic studies and environmental education curriculum intended to address the educational alienation experienced by many students as well as the intersection of social justice and environmental stewardship. The study considers how teachers at two very different urban schools—one a continuation school, the other a traditional college preparatory high school—provided a venue for students to advocate on behalf of oppressed communities with which they identified. Researchers collected qualitative data from a variety of sources: field notes from participant observation of outdoor and classroom activities, document review of curriculum and student projects, focus group interviews with 86 students, and semi-structured individual interviews with teachers and alumni. Students in this innovative program did not fit the classic climate justice activist profile by engaging in climate marches, raising money for environmental organizations, or lobbying Congress for better environmental legislation. However, a key finding from the program and the teachers who lead it is to broaden our understanding of what it means to be a climate activist. Full article

With education playing a role as a catalyst for change towards a more sustainable world, there is a need to develop educational concepts that enable young people to responsibly take up the challenges of future-proof development. The GewässerCampus project is related to environmental education in the context of the ecological dimension of Education for Sustainable Development. This article focuses on evaluating the GewässerCampus project by assessing current motivation, ecological knowledge, and environmental values during participation in an outdoor learning program. In total, 231 German pupils of lower and upper secondary level participated in the project. In a quasi-experimental study design, current motivation, pro-environmental and anthropogenic values (Preservation and Utilization), and knowledge were assessed before and immediately after participation in the learning program. The learning activities during the project day led to significant knowledge acquisition. Furthermore, high individual values of the test items for Preservation and low values of the test items for Utilization were obtained. Our results show how important it is to consider the individual teaching and learning requirements of the learner group depending on the grade level, as well as the type of school, when preparing modules for environmental education in the context of sustainable development. Full article

In the context of global climate warming, the issue of building energy consumption has become increasingly prominent, with a particular focus on energy management in educational buildings. This study investigates the impact of window usage behaviors in primary school classrooms on building energy consumption, aiming to reveal the dynamic relationship between window-opening behaviors and energy consumption, as well as to propose optimization strategies. A case study was conducted at a primary school, where data on door and window behaviors were collected using wireless smart sensors. Combined with indoor and outdoor environmental monitoring and CFD simulations, this study quantified the impact of window-opening behaviors on building energy consumption. The findings revealed that, in summer, window-opening behaviors exhibited a negative correlation with both indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity. Under high-temperature conditions, individuals tend to close windows to reduce heat entry. In contrast, winter window-opening behaviors showed a positive correlation with indoor and outdoor temperatures, although the probability of opening windows decreased once the temperature exceeded a certain threshold. This study also found that during the winter heating period, energy losses caused by opening external windows were substantial, with daily energy losses amounting to 12.83 kWh. Based on the PMV model, this study proposed an optimization strategy for opening specific windows during winter to maintain thermal comfort. This research provides a scientific basis for the energy-saving design of primary school buildings, helping to reduce energy waste while ensuring indoor comfort and promoting the development of low-carbon campuses. Full article

Tourism and recreation are critical components of global economies and are significantly impacted by climate change due to their climate-dependent nature. This study aimed to assess the effects of climate change on outdoor recreation within the tourism sector, as perceived by stakeholders and tourists, through a systematic review. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database was conducted, resulting in a systematic review of 42 publications that met the inclusion–exclusion criteria out of a total of 226 publications published between 2007 and 2024. The comprehensive analysis identified four primary themes: vulnerability, adaptation, climate change perception, and tourist behavior. The USA emerges as the most researched country, followed by the UK, Germany, and France. The predominant research methods include regression analysis (37.2%) and thematic analysis (20.9%). Coping behaviors regarding climate change are influenced by various factors, such as geography, participant expertise, the type of activity, and the development levels of countries. Tourists adopt locational, temporal, strategic, activity substitution, and informational coping strategies in response to climate change. Conversely, businesses face challenges like reservation cancellations and mitigate global warming effects by modifying activities and adjusting routes due to rising water levels and drought. Adaptation projects are categorized into research–education, management, policy, behavior change, structural, and technical solutions. Implementing diversification strategies enables businesses to enhance their resilience and reduce environmental vulnerabilities. Additionally, raising awareness among visitors about the consequences of climate change is essential in fostering responsible behavior and promoting sustainable practices. The analysis reveals the lack of a holistic perspective in tourism studies, highlighting the need for projects that involve all stakeholders and support undeveloped and developing countries. Furthermore, it was observed that the perspectives of employees and residents were inadequately addressed in the studies examined. Full article

Rural Spain has strengths but also presents notable problems. Education is a necessary way to improve rural communities. A better educated population will ensure they do not disappear and enhance their quality of life. This article explores the educational potential of rural Spain by focusing on a practical case study at the Grouped Rural School (CRA) Las Cogotas in Ávila, Castilla and León. It highlights the strengths and challenges of rural areas, including depopulation, aging, and lack of services, and emphasizes the importance of education in addressing these issues. The study implements STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education through outdoor activities, utilizing local rural and natural resources to enhance students’ learning experiences and foster environmental stewardship. The methodology includes structured interviews and a Likert scale survey analyzed with the ATLAS.ti tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the activities. The results indicate that students developed a stronger connection to their environment and showed increased interest in STEAM subjects. The findings underscore the value of integrating rural resources into formal education to improve the quality of life and sustainability of rural communities. The article aims to highlight the educational resources that rural areas offer to develop STEAM education. Full article

Outdoor recreational activities offer critical benefits to youth development, yet their impacts have been insufficiently synthesized. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effects of outdoor recreation on children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years. Significant improvements were observed in psychological well-being, social connectivity, and environmental awareness, emphasizing the multidimensional benefits of such activities. Challenges such as urbanization and reduced access to green spaces highlighted the need for prioritizing outdoor engagement to counteract the growing detachment from nature. This study followed PRISMA guidelines and included 21 studies published between 2014 and 2024. A random-effects meta-analysis revealed positive effects on mood, anxiety reduction, interpersonal relationships, and environmental responsibility. However, significant heterogeneity reflected variability in study designs and contexts. The GRADE framework assessed evidence certainty, rating psychological benefits as moderate, social connectivity as high, and environmental awareness as low. Limitations included reliance on self-reported data and exclusion of pandemic-era studies. These findings emphasized the role of outdoor activities in addressing modern challenges such as urbanization and climate change by fostering holistic youth development. Policymakers and educators should be encouraged to integrate outdoor programs into curricula and community initiatives to promote mental health, social cohesion, and environmental stewardship. Full article

Under the dual constraints of limited resources and cold climate, the built environment of small cities in cold areas has a particularly prominent impact on the outdoor activities of the elderly and the need for aging optimization. Based on a questionnaire survey and field measurement data, combined with multiple linear regression, Spearman correlation analysis, and difference analysis, this paper systematically discusses the effects of different built environment characteristics on outdoor activity behaviors (frequency, intensity, and stay time) of the elderly in Bei’an City, Heilongjiang Province, China. The difference in environmental satisfaction of the elderly with different genders, ages, and education levels was analyzed. The results show that green coverage, air quality, leisure facilities, and barrier-free facilities are the core environmental factors that significantly improve the activity behavior of the elderly. In contrast, noise level, road damage, and inadequate facility maintenance significantly inhibit the activity willingness of the elderly. It was found that older adults are more dependent on barrier-free facilities and site safety, while younger people pay more attention to sports facilities and social space. Older women pay more attention to environmental details and cultural elements, while men tend to evaluate environmental functionality and so on. Further analysis shows that green environments and leisure facilities in cold climates provide visual beauty and play an important role in improving air quality and enhancing mental health. These elements are particularly critical in winter activities for older people, demonstrating the potential of the built environment to promote health and social participation. Starting from the unique background of small cities in cold regions, this study verified the applicability of the WHO age-friendly city framework in small cities in cold climates through empirical data, and revealed the necessity of climate-adaptive design (such as winter anti-slip facilities and cold-resistant greening) to improve the activity behavior of the elderly, providing a regional supplement to the existing theories. Full article