Growing with the Roots: Re-Connecting Youth with Nature Through Nature-Based Learning and Play
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Abstract
Children today are becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world. This is directly related to the increased amount of time spent indoors which is likely caused by limited access to natural green spaces, time spent on screens and parental safety concerns. Too much time spent indoors leads to reduced physical activity, lower physiological well-being, increased social-emotional vulnerabilities and a lack of care for the environment. While these trends are detrimental to the child, they are also detrimental to the environment. In a time where pro-environmental advocates are needed more than ever, our next generation of environmental stewards are disconnected from the natural world. This begs the question; how can we better connect the next generation of youth to nature? Growing with the Roots is a design solution intended to provide children with the opportunity to connect with nature by being highly accessible to the surrounding communities in West Fargo, ND. A lack of accessibility to naturalized spaces in this area of the city calls for an ecological community park, centered around nature-based play and learning, to help children form a bond with nature, while also enhancing their learning, development, and environmental stewardship.