(University of Colorado Boulder )
Organizations that seek to promote responsible actions to protect the natural world can benefit from insights from social psychology and environmental education research. This talk reviews findings from three areas of research: significant experiences associated with long-term commitments to conserve nature, essential features of environmental education programs that produce increases in pro-environmental behaviors, and the application of community-based social marketing to reduce barriers and increase perceived benefits associated with desired behaviors. Examples show how key principles for effective program design have been embedded in nonformal environmental education, a family nature club, areas for nature play, and a “green health” alliance between a park system and health clinic to connect low-income families to nature experiences.
Louise Chawla, Professor Emerita at the University of Colorado Boulder, is an environmental psychologist whose work focuses on the benefits of access to nature for children, the development of active care for the natural world, and participatory methods for engaging children and youth in design and planning. She is co-editor of the journal Children, Youth and Environments and advisory board member of the Children and Nature Network. She is currently active with Growing Up Boulder, a project that connects faculty, students, city agencies and community partners to improve access to nature for children and youth and integrate young people's voices into urban planning and design and the design of parks and housing sites.