Research Library Information

About the Database: This database was developed as a joint project of the Children & Nature Network and the North American Association for Environmental Education to provide a platform for accessing research related to environmental education and connecting children and nature. NAAEE also partnered with Duke University to help write research summaries and assist with the planning and development of this database. You can search using keywords or a simple drop-down taxonomy that has been designed to facilitate consistency among practitioners, researchers, and funders. 

How to Search: This database includes a high level search function that allows you to use key words, such as “climate change education,” “professional development,” or “nature deficit disorder,” to search the research library. You can also choose a broad category or uber term (Education, Conservation, Health, Social Justice, Human Development) to narrow your key word search, or simply to see everything we have under that category if you do not also use a key word. As you will see, these uber terms are not mutually exclusive. They also align with the search terms used by the funding community so that we can have a uniform system for linking research, funding, and practice. Our advanced search function allows you to narrow your search to a target audience, such as early childhood or young adult. You can also use the advanced search to combine a variety of more detailed search terms under the uber terms to find exactly what you are looking for. You can even combine a key word search with an advance search. We encourage you to experiment with basic and advanced search strategies, and their combination, to find exactly what you are looking for.

The Children & Nature Network is leading the movement to connect all children, their families, and communities to nature through innovative ideas, evidence-based resources and tools, broad-based collaboration, and support of grassroots leadership. As part of this work, C&NN curates and summarizes peer-reviewed scientific literature to help build the evidence base for advancing the children and nature movement. To explore C&NN’s research library and sign up to receive their monthly Research Digest, visit http://www.childrenandnature.org/learn/research.

For more than 51 years, NAAEE has been a champion for research to support the field of environmental education, from publishing compendiums on research to sharing key findings and convening leading researchers and practitioners. One of our key strategies has been to help practitioners and researchers collaborate to improve practice and demonstrate the value and impact of the field. As the backbone organization and professional association for the field of environmental education, NAAEE supports efforts to build the field’s capacity to understand research, use research, and do research. To learn more about NAAEE’s ongoing research efforts, visit https://naaee.org/programs/research-and-evaluation.

This database was funded by a generous grant from the Pisces Foundation (piscesfoundation.org)) with support from ee360 (naaee.org/ee360) and the U.S. Forest Service.

Feedback for us?

We’d love to hear how this database is working for you. Our goal is to make sure you can find what you’re looking for, and we always welcome your feedback. Send us a message >