This document discusses how technology can be leveraged to connect families with nature. It aims to change perceptions that technology limits nature exposure by demonstrating how nature can be accessed through technology. The document highlights two websites, NatureRocks.org and NatureWorksEverywhere.org, that provide hands-on learning resources to inspire families to explore nature together. Research shows spending time in nature improves children's cognitive functioning and emotional well-being, but children now spend much less time outdoors and more time using screens. The document argues that technology can drive outdoor experiences and help address the lack of nature time for children.

1. Growing the Future: Leveraging
Technology to Connect Families
with Nature

2. Objectives
• Change perceptions that technology limits exposure to
nature
– Demonstrate that nature can be put in the hands of technology
to provide better access and connection to nature
• Demonstrate that nature is a critical component in the
development of the whole child
• Gain familiarity with naturerocks.org and
natureworkseverywhere.org sites and their offerings
• Highlight the simplicity of the solution to an
environmental challenge the category faces

3. Background
Experiences in nature as a
child significantly impact
support for the environment
as an adult.
• Direct experience with nature
is the most highly cited
influence on attitude and
activism.
Childhood participation with
“wild” nature (e.g., hiking,
camping, playing in the woods)
had a significant, positive effect
on adult attitudes and
behaviors.
Family experiences in nature
are the top source cited that
leads to commitment to
environmental protection as an
adult.

4. Nature Does a Body Good
Evidence shows that nature improves the lives of
kids
• Outdoor play, nature experiences provide benefits via
improved cognitive functioning, self-discipline, emotional well-
being and reduced ADD symptoms
Time spent in nature is declining
• Overscheduled kids and parents
• Homework
• Discomfort with nature itself
• Technology
• US children spend about 30 minutes/week of
unstructured time outdoors compared to nearly 53
hours/week spent using screens
The lack of time that children spend in nature
concerns the general public and parents.
• 82% of US parents feel that time spent in nature is
very important to their child’s development

5. Being in nature is essential to a well-
balanced day for children, akin to drinking
milk, reading or using a computer.

6. Nature in the hands of
Technology
Concern around lack of time spent
in nature, in particular around the
perceived trade-off for
technologically inspired activities
Technology can be used to drive
the outdoor experience and
children’s interaction with nature
while Nature Rocks, a hands-on
online platform, provides families
with the tools they need to easily
immerse themselves in nature.

7. Using technology to drive the outdoor experience
A digitally based hands-on learning resource that inspires and
empowers families with young children to play and explore together in
nature.

8. Using technology to drive the outdoor
experience
Activities Location Finder

9. Bringing Nature into the Classroom
Learning
Resources
Curriculum

10. Designed to create an interactive
experience with nature for
students, Nature Works
Everywhere uses a standardized
online curriculum

11. Nearly 1million downloads from Nature
Works Everywhere.
In a recent Nature Rocks survey, 51% of
respondents stated the program helped their
families spend more time outdoors.