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More than a Pretty Place: Assessing the Impact of Environmental Education on Children’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Outdoor Play in Nature

Author

Listed:
  • Kirsten M. M. Beyer

    (Division of Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Society, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA)

  • Elizabeth F. Heller

    (Urban Ecology Center, 1500 East Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA)

  • Jessica M. Bizub

    (Center for Urban Initiatives and Research, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Engelmann Hall, B59, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA)

  • Amy J. Kistner

    (Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 1155 North Mayfair Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
    Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Wisconsin Tosa Center, 1155 Mayfair Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA)

  • Aniko Szabo

    (Division of Biostatistics, Institute for Health and Society, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA)

  • Erin E. Shawgo

    (Urban Ecology Center, 1500 East Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211, USA)

  • Corey J. Zetts

    (Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc., 301 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 400B, Milwaukee, WI 53203, USA)

Abstract

Our work assessed the influence of an urban environmental education program on children’s attitudes toward outdoor play, as well as knowledge of neighborhood features that can facilitate this type of activity. The project team engaged 6 schools near the newest Urban Ecology Center location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, through a community-academic partnership entitled More Than a Pretty Place. Intervention classrooms participated in programming over the 2012–2013 academic year and pre and post surveys were implemented in classrooms. Data were analyzed using multilevel regression models. The intervention group reported reduced fears of outdoor play in nature and increased frequency of visits to the Urban Ecology Center. The proportion of students who acknowledged knowing of a place to play outside in nature increased significantly in both groups. Our findings indicate an important role for environmental education in addressing fears that may dissuade children from engaging in outdoor play in natural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsten M. M. Beyer & Elizabeth F. Heller & Jessica M. Bizub & Amy J. Kistner & Aniko Szabo & Erin E. Shawgo & Corey J. Zetts, 2015. "More than a Pretty Place: Assessing the Impact of Environmental Education on Children’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Outdoor Play in Nature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:2:p:2054-2070:d:45800
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kirsten M. M. Beyer & Andrea Kaltenbach & Aniko Szabo & Sandra Bogar & F. Javier Nieto & Kristen M. Malecki, 2014. "Exposure to Neighborhood Green Space and Mental Health: Evidence from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-20, March.
    2. repec:mpr:mprres:4373 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Jenny J. Roe & Catharine Ward Thompson & Peter A. Aspinall & Mark J. Brewer & Elizabeth I. Duff & David Miller & Richard Mitchell & Angela Clow, 2013. "Green Space and Stress: Evidence from Cortisol Measures in Deprived Urban Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-18, September.
    4. Carleton-Hug, Annelise & Hug, J. William, 2010. "Challenges and opportunities for evaluating environmental education programs," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 159-164, May.
    5. Crohn, Kara & Birnbaum, Matthew, 2010. "Environmental education evaluation: Time to reflect, time for change," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 155-158, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Deirdre O’Neill & Regina Kelly & Orla McCormack & Nathália Helena Azevedo, 2024. "A Systematic Review on Education Outside the Classroom: Lessons for Science EOC Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Janet Loebach & Marcos Sanches & Julia Jaffe & Tara Elton-Marshall, 2021. "Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-25, March.

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