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Green vs. Screen: Exploring the Outcomes of an In-Person and Virtual Nature-Based Environmental Education Intervention for Low-Income Children

Author

Listed:
  • Nadav L. Sprague

    (Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Ashby L. Sachs

    (Environmental Studies Department, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), 08003 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Christine C. Ekenga

    (Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced a rapid transition to virtual learning. During the pandemic, many nature-based environmental education (NBEE) interventions shifted to virtual formats. In this study, we compare the impacts of a virtual NBEE intervention with its in-person NBEE counterpart. Between January and May 2021, a total of 49 low-income children (ages 9 to 13) from St. Louis, MO USA participated in this study. There were 37 children that participated in the virtual NBEE intervention and 12 students in the in-person NBEE intervention. Study participants completed a pre-/post-test survey that included items related to exposure to nature, perceived neighborhood safety, and self-reported quality of life. Children who participated in the in-person intervention reported higher post-intervention levels of nature exposure, perceived neighborhood safety, self-confidence, and self-efficacy than children who participated in the virtual intervention. The study’s findings have implications for the implementation of virtual learning during future public health emergencies and environmental disasters, including extreme climate events.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadav L. Sprague & Ashby L. Sachs & Christine C. Ekenga, 2022. "Green vs. Screen: Exploring the Outcomes of an In-Person and Virtual Nature-Based Environmental Education Intervention for Low-Income Children," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-11, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12600-:d:932984
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joan A. Casey & Peter James & Lara Cushing & Bill M. Jesdale & Rachel Morello-Frosch, 2017. "Race, Ethnicity, Income Concentration and 10-Year Change in Urban Greenness in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Christine C. Ekenga & Nadav Sprague & Damilola M. Shobiye, 2019. "Promoting Health-related Quality of Life in Minority Youth through Environmental Education and Nature Contact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-8, June.
    3. Federica Zabini & Lorenzo Albanese & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Gioele Gavazzi & Fiorenza Giganti & Fabio Giovanelli & Giorgio Gronchi & Andrea Guazzini & Marco Laurino & Qing Li & Tessa Marzi & Fra, 2020. "Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, October.
    4. Carly Wood & David Barron & Nina Smyth, 2019. "The Current and Retrospective Intentional Nature Exposure Scales: Development and Factorial Validity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Christine C. Ekenga & Cora-Ann McElwain & Nadav Sprague, 2018. "Examining Public Perceptions about Lead in School Drinking Water: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Twitter Response to an Environmental Health Hazard," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, January.
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