Certification marks second recertification at the Sustainable level
Presenter: Suzanne Malec-McKenna, Ph.D. Authors: A. Johnson, S. Malec-McKenna Chicago – considered the “Violence Capital of the U.S.” – will see nearly 450 homicides by year’s end. This represents nearly four times the per capita homicides of NY and LA combined. 92% of Chicago’s homicides result from shootings. Additionally, more than 2,000 people are wounded […]
Presenter: Nicholas P. Otis Full author list: Nicholas P. Otis, Kristen H. Walter, Lisa H. Glassman, Travis N. Ray, Betty Michalewicz-Kragh, & Cynthia J. Thomsen Background: PTSD is more likely to be accompanied by another psychological disorder (most commonly depression) than to occur alone, and those with this comorbidity exhibit more severe psychological outcomes compared […]
Presenter: Amy McDonnell We live at a time when policy change is largely influenced by empirical evidence. In order for the wilderness to be protected, we are in dire need of data supporting the positive role of nature on both physical and mental health. Research surrounding the so-called ‘nature effect’ has historically been built upon […]
Presenter: Teresa Horton Authors: T. Horton and A. Minasov Background and Purpose: Access to nature provides opportunities for physical activity, while promoting health by reducing stress. Therefore, health care providers are encouraged to write nature prescriptions (NRx) instructing people to spend more time in nature. However, evidence that regular exercise in nature provides greater benefits than […]
Presenter: Sara LoTemplio Authors: LoTemplio, S., Scott, E.E., McDonnell, A.M., Hopman, R.J., McNay, D., Greenberg, K.G., McKinney, T.M., Castro, S.C., Payne, B.R., & Strayer, D.L. According to Kaplan’s Theory of Attention Restoration, spending time in a natural environment can restore depleted cognitive resources, specifically attentional resources, by giving the executive attentional network a chance to […]
Presenter: Rachel Hopman Authors: R. Hopman, N.E.Logan, C.H. Hillman, and A.F. Kramer Previous research shows a 20-minute bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise increases allocation of attention and improves cognitive processing for tasks requiring inhibitory control. Likewise, brief exposures to natural environments improve attentional allocation, working memory performance, and cognitive flexibility. Virtual reality technology presents unique […]
Presenter: Peter J Fix Authors: Bryant Wright1, Peter J Fix1, Rachel Garcia1, Dorothy Morgan2, Kimberly Diamond1, Randy J Virden3, T. Timothy Casey4 Outdoor recreation research is increasingly focusing on the positive health effects of being in nature. Publicly provided landscapes are often the source of the nature experience. Not to be overlooked is the need […]
Presenter: Paul Atchley Full author list: R.A. Atchley, E.M. Benau, and D. Strayer There is a growing body of literature that suggests exposure to and immersion in natural environments produces a range of benefits to individuals, from improvements to health to boosts to creativity. The current work examines whether or not natural environments can improve how […]
Presenter: Nadav Sprague Full author list: N.L. Sprague, and C.C. Ekenga Background: Non-white and low-income youth experience multiple health and educational disparities. Recent literature suggests that nature contact may reduce these disparities for low-income, non-white, urban youth. However, many studies have reported racial and ethnic disparities in environmental awareness and racial disparities in access to nature […]
