8. nature connection

What to do:

•  Take up suggestions from Richard Louv, such as in his book, Vitamin N. Select activities according to the interests and abilities of you and your child.

•  Let your child wander around outside exploring the natural world.

•  Go to local, state and national parks with your child and let them have as much freedom as possible.

•  Talk about the rest of the natural world as part of your community.

•  Learn about local animals and plants and what they need to thrive.

•  Get involved in local outdoor family clubs.

Why?

One of the known causes for the planetary crises humanity is facing currently (e.g., global warming, climate instability, melting glaciers, toxic pollution, biodiversity loss) is the lack of caring for the rest of nature and the sense of separation from it (T. Berry, 1999; W. Berry, 2012). Our species is a creature of the earth and has evolved with the rest of the natural world, which preserves us.

You, your children, your family are invited to discover ways to connect with nature, renew your ecological attachment, and restore your living connection to the Earth. 

Dr. Darcia Narvaez and her students did an experiment to increase ecological attachment—nature connection—through small daily practices. Each day participants practiced one activity that increased attention to and being grateful for the natural world. See here for the press release about the study, published in EcoPsychology. 

Take up the Eco Attachment Dance to expand your own ecological attachment through an Instagram challenge. Each day for 28 days an activity will be posted for you to practice that day. Each activity takes about 5 minutes (though you can go longer).

If you would like to take the anonymous pretest (and later a posttest) you can see how your attitudes and behaviors change after participating in the Eco Attachment Dance.

Click here to follow the dance on Instagram.

VISIT THE ECO ATTACHMENT DANCE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

This song honoring plants is written and performed by Darcia Narvaez. It was included in Chapter 9 in her new book with Four Arrows, Restoring the Kinship Worldview: Indigenous Voices Introduce 28 Precepts for Rebalancing Life on Earth.

Many plant species are increasingly threatened with extinction. Humans often act mindlessly toward plants, as if they do not have feeling or purpose. Native American communities honored plants as life givers and teachers. They practiced the “honorable harvest,” a way to treat plants and animals with respect. This song describes what the honorable harvest looks like. Sing and play this song with one or more partners.

Water is life-giving, life-supporting aspect of the world. The ancient Greek pre-Socratic philosopher, Thales (c. 624-546 BCE), suggested that all things come from water. We often forget how ubiquitous it is and how reliant we are on its purity. Many people in the world do not have regular access to clean water. This song is to remind us how much we interact with water in so many ways. Sing and dance this song with one or more partners.