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Principles and practices of impactful nature-based positive youth development programs
Barry A Garst1, Michael Vanic1, Theresa N Melton1
1Clemson University, United States.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|May 17, 2025
Summary
Nature-based youth programs foster thriving by enhancing connection with the outdoors. Evidence-based practices promote prosocial outcomes and positive youth development through social interaction and direct nature experiences.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Psychology
- Youth Development Studies
- Ecology
Background:
- Nature serves as a crucial developmental environment throughout life.
- The youth development sector can leverage nature's affordances for optimal youth potential.
- Youth programs are vital for fostering nature connection and promoting prosocial outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight evidence-based principles and practices for nature-based positive youth development programs.
- To emphasize key elements contributing to impactful programs.
- To discuss applications across diverse youth settings and future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Framing the study within Hamilton's tripartite model of positive youth development.
- Reviewing and synthesizing evidence-based principles and practices.
- Analyzing the role of specific program components.
Main Results:
- Impactful nature-based positive youth development programs emphasize social interaction, direct experience, graduated nature access, escape, and novelty.
- Outdoor leadership is a key component in facilitating positive youth outcomes.
- These principles are applicable in both formal and informal educational settings.
Conclusions:
- Nature-based programs offer significant potential for positive youth development.
- Strengthening the theoretical basis of nature-youth developmental relationships is essential.
- Further research should explore bidirectional developmental relations and practices across settings.
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