Pathways to nature connection? A photo-elicitation exploration on how children engage with a nature connection programme
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: While environmental education programmes have been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge and pro-environmental behaviour, it is not clear what characteristics of the intervention contribute to these outcomes. Detailed evaluations are needed to assess intermediary outcomes of such programmes to clarify the pathways to change. In this study, primary school children were asked to take photos while participating in a nature connection programme and later interviewed about those photos (N = 14). This photo-elicitation method explored which parts of the programme drew their situational interest, how they connected to nature, and how they felt while participating. Results indicated that the participating children were most interested in animals and connected to nature in a variety of ways, with emotional and sensory experiences being most important. Children mostly experienced positive emotions during programme participation. These results can inform the design of environmental education programmes to more effectively foster children’s interest and nature connection.
Source: Environmental Education Research
Authors: Magie Junker, Kersty Hobson, Wouter Poortinga, Jonathan P. Reeves, Julia Newth, Mark Stead, Morgan Marshall, Merideth Gattis
Institutions: Cardiff University, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7115067305