A Nature Boost: Using Forest Bathing in the Classroom

Type of Presentation

Workshop

Conference Strand

Outreach and Partnership

Target Audience

Higher Education

Second Target Audience

Other

Location

Session 4 Papers

Relevance

Over 45% of students are experiencing "above average" amounts of stress on a weekly basis, which makes it hard to focus and learn in the classroom. By incorporating stress-relieving strategies, such as breathing techniques and taking classes outside to do forest bathing, I have been able to connect wellness with course curriculum topics.

Proposal

Forest therapy, also known as shinrin yoku, improves physical and mental health through sensory mindfulness activities in nature. This makes it the perfect application to combat student burnout and chronic stress. Learn how an outreach librarian became a guide and put these skills into practice not only as a library outreach opportunity but also integrated them into the classroom. Forest therapy has been integrated into the architecture, family social science, public health, and environmental science coursework, along with the mental health services and Extension at this large research university.

Short Description

Learn more about forest bathing (shinrin yoku in Japanese) and how to engage in this therapeutic experience within the library classroom (outdoors) through course-integrated instruction and outreach examples. Bring a glass of tea or water, and join from a window area and get ready to go outside, if interested!

Keywords

forest bathing, stress, course-integrated instruction

Publication Type and Release Option

Event

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Apr 1st, 12:15 PM Apr 1st, 12:45 PM

A Nature Boost: Using Forest Bathing in the Classroom

Session 4 Papers

Forest therapy, also known as shinrin yoku, improves physical and mental health through sensory mindfulness activities in nature. This makes it the perfect application to combat student burnout and chronic stress. Learn how an outreach librarian became a guide and put these skills into practice not only as a library outreach opportunity but also integrated them into the classroom. Forest therapy has been integrated into the architecture, family social science, public health, and environmental science coursework, along with the mental health services and Extension at this large research university.