Being Outdoors: What Educators can Learn from Cross Disciplinary Research on the Benefits of the Outdoors on Health

Ancient questions As people living in a modern world, our connection with nature is varied, which has an impact on health. This paper looks at crossdisciplinary research conducted on the impact the outdoors has on health, more specifically mental, physical, social and spiritual benefits. Results from different fields of research collectively strengthen claims made for the positive influence time outdoors has on health, and prompt educators to ask how Christian schools can take this knowledge and apply it in an educational setting for the benefit of students. Our connection with the outdoors varies. We may live in houses, apartments, and buildings, drive air-conditioned cars to our thermostat-controlled offices and complete a workout in an indoor gym. Alternatively, we may spend large amounts of time outdoors for work as bricklayers or tour leaders, or enjoy leisure in outdoor sports, or simply reading a book, jogging or undertaking multi-day trips, travel by varied forms of bike or scooter riding or simply walking. Whichever way we choose, we can never escape the foundation of life that a connection to the outdoors, living and non-living, brings. The World Health Organisation defines Health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” (2019). This article aims to highlight research conducted examining the effect the outdoors has on people, in particular, our mental, physical, social and spiritual elements of health. The research undertaken is derived from a broad range of study areas to provide evidence that the effects of the outdoors is not Being outdoors: What educators can learn from cross disciplinary research on the benefits of the outdoors on health