1. Exploring Strategies for Assessing Connection to Nature
A project funded by Pisces Foundation to
University of Florida, Stanford University,
NAAEE, and Children & Nature Network

2. Practitioners want to measure C2N
Do people care about the environment?
Do they see themselves as a part of nature?
Do they see themselves as stewards of nature?
Do they have an environmental identity?
Do they want to learn more about the natural world?
Do they spend time outdoors, or increase their time in nature?
Will they adopt pro-environmental behaviors?
Can we guide them to select the best tool for their context?

3. Three articles compare and contrast tools
Tam, K-P. (2013). Concepts and measures related to connection to nature: Similarities and differences. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 34:
Restall, B. & Conrad, E. (2015). A literature review of connectedness to nature and its potential for environmental management. Journal of Environmental Management, 159:
Zylstra, M. J., Knight, A. T., Esler, K. J., & Le Grange, L. L. L. (2014). Connectedness as a core conservation concern: An interdisciplinary review of theory and a call for practice. Springer Science Reviews, 2:
7 tools
18 tools (all of Tam’s 7)
13 tools, only 8 of which were among Restall & Conrad’s set
23 tools

4. These tools are paper/pencil tools
Vast majority are surveys with agree-disagree scales
A few frequency or truthfulness scales
A few written tests
And a few use the seven pairs of overlapping circles (inclusion in nature)

5. So we found a few more An interview guide A puppet show
Photographs and journaling records

6. Surveyed practitioners
Over 1000 respondents from the NAAEE and C&NN lists
Do they develop programs or desire to measure connection to nature?
What tools do they currently use?
What aspects of connection to nature do they wish to measure?

7. Our plan
Host a workshop of authors, users, researchers to discuss the tools
October 6-7, 2018 in Spokane WA
Organize the tools by the purposes needed by practitioners
Identify:
Which tools can be used for what purposes in which contexts?
What small tweaks might help extend the usefulness of existing tools?
What research questions should be answered in time?

8. Intended Outputs Guide for practitioners
Which tools for what purpose
Team graduate students with practitioners to answer “mini- research questions” to test tweaks
Report on findings at NAAEE’s Research Symposium in 2019
Publish a list of needs for future researchers