Climate Literacy in Education

Knowing Land Through Love

Seven Steps for a Contemplative Outdoor Engagement

Amanda Kingston

Syracuse University

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1696-9671

Jessica Fundalinski

Syracuse University

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9107-5736

Keywords: contemplative outdoor engagements, forest therapy, forest bathing, climate literacy, contemplative education

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Abstract

This article describes a seven-step process for offering contemplative outdoor experiences for students. Contemplative outdoor engagements are those experiences and practices that ask humans to move slowly through nature to foster introspection, attention to details, and deep gratitude for our earth-kin. Contemplative outdoor engagements include practices like forest therapy, forest bathing, or mindful outdoor engagements, and they can be done individually or within group settings, guided or alone. We propose that these activities can support the development of climate literacy, which depends on providing students with opportunities to form meaningful connections with the more-than-human world.