Informal Learning

Audience

Topic

Biodiversity

Six recent environmental education studies reveal effective approaches for fostering nature connection and environmental action across different settings and age groups. National parks provide diverse climate change resources emphasizing local impacts, while elementary school birding clubs build scientific literacy through authentic experiences. Science centers effectively motivate climate action by balancing scientific evidence with solutions and engaging families, whereas citizen science yields the strongest outcomes when participants engage in the full scientific process rather than just data collection. In urban settings, experiences of awe and solitude in parks foster deeper nature connections than traditional recreation, and preschool community gardens not only improve children's nutrition knowledge but empower them as agents of change for family food choices. Collectively, these studies highlight the value of experiential, place-based, interactive approaches that connect environmental knowledge to personal relevance and concrete action.

For more information, see the eePRO blog post: Fresh Takes on Informal Environmental Education

Isobel Talks

National parks across the United States offer diverse, accessible climate change educational resources that emphasize place-based learning and connect climate impacts to local environments.

National parks offer a diverse range of climate change educational resources that provide locally relevant, interactive experiences

The study identified that the majority of national parks (84.6%) offer at least one type of climate change educational resource. The most commonly provided resources are:

Posted: 05/14/25

Isobel Talks

This research shows how afterschool birding clubs provide elementary students with authentic scientific experiences that build literacy, social skills, and environmental awareness while fostering confidence and connection to nature.

Afterschool birding clubs connect elementary students with nature while building science skills and environmental awareness

This qualitative study observed an afterschool birding club for elementary students (K-3 initially, then limited to grades 2-3) over two academic years. The birding club was hosted at a large, suburban, lower elementary school in a southeastern state of the United States with a student population of approximately 1,300. The researchers collected data through teacher interviews, parent surveys and interviews, and field observations, finding several significant benefits:

Posted: 05/14/25

Isobel Talks

This study demonstrates how science centers effectively motivate climate action by balancing scientific evidence with solutions, engaging families, and providing interactive experiences that connect knowledge to behavior.

Science centers motivate climate action by connecting knowledge to behavior through strategic communication and family engagement

This study investigated which characteristics of informal learning experiences effectively motivate people to take climate action. Researchers surveyed 51 visitors to the Climate Action Show at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario to determine what aspects of the experience inspired them to combat climate change.

Twelve characteristics were identified as motivating climate action, with the most frequently mentioned being:

Posted: 05/14/25

Isobel Talks

Citizen science projects yield the best environmental education outcomes when participants engage in multiple aspects of the scientific process beyond data collection, including planning, analysis, and reporting results.

Citizen science educates best when participants engage in the full scientific process, not just data collection

This study examined empirical research on CCS projects that lead to environmental education outcomes, focusing on studies published through 2018. They found compelling evidence that participating in citizen science positively impacts learning for both individuals and the community.

Posted: 05/14/25

Isobel Talks

This article explores how urban parks can foster deeper connections to nature through experiences of awe and solitude, which provide more meaningful engagement than traditional recreation activities.

Awe and solitude in urban parks boost nature connection better than traditional recreation

This article distinguishes between outdoor recreation and outdoor leisure based on their philosophical underpinnings. Outdoor recreation is typically goal-oriented, focusing on hedonic (pleasure-focused) well-being and extrinsic motivation, while outdoor leisure emphasizes eudaimonic well-being (meaning, purpose and authenticity) through contemplation, intrinsic motivation, and mindfulness.

The paper identifies two key psychological constructs that can facilitate outdoor leisure experiences:

Posted: 05/14/25

Isobel Talks

This research shows how preschool community gardens enhance children's nutrition knowledge, social development, and confidence while empowering them to influence their families' food choices in healthier directions.

Preschool community gardens improve children's nutrition knowledge while turning them into agents of change for family food choices

This small-scale pilot study in northeastern Ireland involved parents of preschool children who participated in a community garden through their early years services. The community garden initiative began in 2016, with children, parents, and community members meeting weekly at the local preschool to learn about planting and develop a fruit, herb, and vegetable garden within the preschool premises.

Posted: 05/14/25