Either before a presentation, exam, or just before a busy day when stress levels increase and anxiety sets in, we’ve all been told to close our eyes and imagine our happy place. Most happy places are often the beach, in a jungle, underneath a waterfall, or laying on a field with the sun shining on our face. We are then told to take a few deep breaths, picturing the pure air filling our lunges then leaving them. This exercise demonstrates the difficulty to decouple nature from our relaxation and stress levels. In fact, studies have proven that time spent in nature decreases feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress–disorders that are currently at an all time high in adolescence. Children are becoming disconnected with nature. The term nature deficit disorder was coined to express the emerging mental health pandemic facing not just adolescence due to lack of exposure to nature. Technology and simulations are replacing fresh air and imagination. With studies being done like How How Nature Can Make You Kinder, Happier, and More Creative we find common correlations between nature and overall well-being. 

Environmental education was officially brought into policy after Earth Day in 1970. President Nixon signed the National Environmental Education Act into action giving the EPA domain over public schools’ environmental education. Through the decade, the Act gained more traction and recognition as global environmental issues became more prominently discussed. The Act itself requires the EPA to give assistance to educators in assuring environmental literacy and grants resources and funding for this education. Through the years with rising technology, we are losing our connection to nature and more actionable reform in the school system is needed. Today, the Colorado Environmental Education Action Plan has three main goals. The first is to teach students current state and national environmental problems. The second connects teachers and students to environmental experiences for wellness and the third connects teachers to environmental education development opportunities. 

It’s no secret that schools produce a lot of waste, and the unfortunate fact is about 80% of that waste can be recycled. A large amount of waste from schools comes from food–around 530,000 tons of food waste is accumulated annually in US schools. Implementing a compost program would be extremely beneficial because of the large scale waste. Classrooms could all have a compost bin where they put uneaten food. If schools have gardens, the compost could be used for fertilizer helping closed circle sustainability. Students might even take some of these practices home increasing local and community sustainability practices. Waste disposal is a life long skill that should be taught in school.

Environmental education can increase children’s connection to nature, decrease mental health disorders, and help with pollution, waste, and sustainability knowledge. Currently, the EPA has domain over environmental education in public schools through the National Environmental Education Act, but is this enough? Studies have shown active decreases in stress and anxiety when exposed to nature. With increased urbanization, it is difficult to find time to take a walk under the trees. The biggest impact nature exposure has on youth is in decreasing ADHD. Adderall and other similar increased attention span drugs are overprescribed and can increase anxiety, lower appetite, and alter moods. Studies show a correlation between ADHD and limited exposure to nature. Activities in school conducted in outside or in nature saw higher results of attention from students. Even playing outside has been shown to decrease ADHD and increase attention spans. Aside from ADHD, depression has been decreased with exposure to nature. With urbanization increasing, studies have found a link between increasing rates of depression to fewer, or even no time at all, spent outside. Schools should implement learning outside programs when weather allows. If one lesson a day is taught outside, it could help connect children to the natural world, increase attention spans to help learning, and decrease depression.

With politics entering the scene, controversy has been brought up with environmental education in itself. It is difficult to advocate for increased environmental education without touching on politics. With emerging questions surrounding climate change, energy companies, and consumption our environment can be a hot topic, but it does not have to be. We have forgotten that the environment exists without politics. We can teach our children how to love our earth by walking through a forest, rolling down a hill, or watching butterflies. The importance of proper waste disposal, clean air, and clean water should be part of education and children should learn to care, not for the sake of politics, but for the sake of the earth’s well-being, as well as humans’.