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The importance of (not just visual) interaction with nature: A study with the Girl Scouts.

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Title: The importance of (not just visual) interaction with nature: A study with the Girl Scouts.
Authors: Gray, Carly E. (AUTHOR), Kahn Jr., Peter H. (AUTHOR), Lawler, Joshua J. (AUTHOR), Tandon, Pooja S. (AUTHOR), Bratman, Gregory N. (AUTHOR), Perrins, Sara P. (AUTHOR), Boyens, Frances (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Environmental Education. 2025, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p126-143. 18p.
Subjects: Girl Scouts, Environmental education, Questionnaires, Woodpeckers, Snowmen
Abstract: This study investigated whether children's nature interactions that are embodied (versus only visual) would be associated with a state of being highly aware without thought, including being in "the present moment," and/or feeling connected to something beyond the self. We refer to this state of being as Presence in nature. Using an interaction pattern approach, we coded written narratives from 127 Girl Scouts (8-11 years old) about a recent meaningful nature experience and, through a questionnaire designed for the study, assessed the degree to which participants experienced Presence in that nature experience. Exploratory analyses indicated that participants who enacted embodied interactions with nature (e.g., "making snowman," "wrapping arms around tree," "talking to chickens") reported a greater sense of Presence in nature than participants whose interactions relied solely on vision (e.g., "seeing snow," "seeing moss," "watching pileated woodpecker"). Discussion focuses on the implications of Girl Scouts' embodied nature interactions for environmental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Environmental Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: The importance of (not just visual) interaction with nature: A study with the Girl Scouts.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gray%2C+Carly+E%2E%22">Gray, Carly E.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kahn+Jr%2E%2C+Peter+H%2E%22">Kahn Jr., Peter H.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lawler%2C+Joshua+J%2E%22">Lawler, Joshua J.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tandon%2C+Pooja+S%2E%22">Tandon, Pooja S.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bratman%2C+Gregory+N%2E%22">Bratman, Gregory N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Perrins%2C+Sara+P%2E%22">Perrins, Sara P.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Boyens%2C+Frances%22">Boyens, Frances</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Environmental+Education%22">Journal of Environmental Education</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 56 Issue 2, p126-143. 18p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Girl+Scouts%22">Girl Scouts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+education%22">Environmental education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Woodpeckers%22">Woodpeckers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Snowmen%22">Snowmen</searchLink>
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  Data: This study investigated whether children's nature interactions that are embodied (versus only visual) would be associated with a state of being highly aware without thought, including being in "the present moment," and/or feeling connected to something beyond the self. We refer to this state of being as Presence in nature. Using an interaction pattern approach, we coded written narratives from 127 Girl Scouts (8-11 years old) about a recent meaningful nature experience and, through a questionnaire designed for the study, assessed the degree to which participants experienced Presence in that nature experience. Exploratory analyses indicated that participants who enacted embodied interactions with nature (e.g., "making snowman," "wrapping arms around tree," "talking to chickens") reported a greater sense of Presence in nature than participants whose interactions relied solely on vision (e.g., "seeing snow," "seeing moss," "watching pileated woodpecker"). Discussion focuses on the implications of Girl Scouts' embodied nature interactions for environmental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Environmental Education is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/00958964.2024.2436166
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 126
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Girl Scouts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Questionnaires
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      – SubjectFull: Woodpeckers
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            NameFull: Kahn Jr., Peter H.
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            NameFull: Lawler, Joshua J.
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            NameFull: Bratman, Gregory N.
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            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: 2025
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