Nature and nature-based programming promotes the physical and mental well-being of communities by encouraging outdoor activities and connection with natural environments.
These programs focus on leveraging nature's health benefits, such as reducing stress, improving mood, and fostering social connections, to address various health issues. By integrating nature into programming, they aim to enhance overall community health and encourage sustainable lifestyle choices. In addition, exploring ways to protect and understand the impact of humans on our natural environments is key to supporting environmental justice.
Publications
Deringer, S. A., Mitten, D., Rabinowitz, E., Leonard, A., & Clegg, J. (2025). Use of nearby nature in college outdoor programming. Journal of Experiential Education, 48(1), 4-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/10538259241265970
Powers, S.L., Ferguson, L. A. Ferguson, M. D., Aytur, SA., Gorman, M. B., Bennet, J. L., & Feldbaum, E. (2025). Fostering equity: How welcomeness, safety, and representation influence visitor coping and intention-to-return to parks and protected areas. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism; 50, Article 100868. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100868.
Sassaman, S., Goodwin, D., & Ramsey, S. (2025, January). The biophilic profile tool as a guide for climate change conversations. In Parks Stewardship Forum (Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 158-172). George Wright Society. https://doi.org/10.5070/P5.47432
Deringer, S. A., Hanley, A. W., Dussler, M. R., Griffin, L. K., Esmiol, A., & Mitten, D. (2025). The impact of mindfulness on nature connection in nearby nature settings. Leisure Sciences, 1–22. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/01490400.2025.2599359
Bettmann, J. E., Speelman, E., Jolley, A., & Casucci, T. (2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of nature exposure dose on adults with mental illness. Behavioral Sciences, 15(2), 153. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15020153
Caron, R. M., Venn, M. A., & Aytur, S. A. (2025). Case studies in environmental and planetary health: Competencies and frameworks. Springer Publishing Company.
Mitra, S., Sharma-Brymer, V., Mitten, D., & Ady, J. (2024). India’s emerging trends and meanings in healthy human-nature relationships: Indian outdoor education practitioner perspectives. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 25(1), 138–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2024.2350973
Brown, C. L., Christian, D. D., Reese, R., & Bellegarde, N. S. (2023). Using the AT-EcoWellness framework to increase the intentional use of nature in adventure therapy. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48(3), 229-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2023.2190780
Kirshen, P., Burdick, D., Aytur, S., Lippmann, T., Nick, S., Watson, C. (2023). Protecting the built environment in a barrier beach and marsh system: A case study of the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary, New Hampshire, Access Shore & Beach, 91(2), 19-29. https://doi.org/10.34237/10091223
Lemon, S. C., Joseph, H. A., Williams, S., Brown, C., Aytur, S., Catalano, K., Checker, S., Goins, K.V., Rudolph, L., Whitehead, S., Zimmerman, S., Schramm, P. J. (2023). Reimagining the role of health departments and their partners in addressing climate change: Revising the Building Resilience against Climate Effects (BRACE) Framework. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(15), 6447. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20156447
LoTemplio, S., McDonnell, A., Nadkarni, N., Walker, S., Gallegos-Riofrio, C.A., Scott, E., Bettmann, J.E., Rojas-Rueda, D., Dahl, J., Tomasso, L.P., Lawler, J., Davalos, D., & Strayer, D. (2023). Healthy by nature: Policy practices aimed at maximizing the human health benefits of nature contact. Policy Insights from Brain and Behavioral Sciences, 10(2) 247-255. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732223119757
LoTemplio, S., Bettmann, J.E., Scott, E., & Blumenthal, E. (2023). Do mental health changes in nature co-occur with changes in heartrate variability and executive functioning? A systematic review. Current Environmental Health Reports, 10, 278-290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-023-00407-6
Friedrichs, P. E., Thompson, E., Madison, M., Aytur, S. A., & Thyng, D. (2022). Case study: The rapid growth of an interdisciplinary statewide climate and health movement. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 7, 100165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2022.100165
Sanyer, M., Bettmann, J. E., Anstadt, G., Ganesh, K. A., & Hanley, A. W. (2022). Decenter to re-enter nature: Relationships between nature connectedness, self-transcendence, and decentering. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 10(3), 205-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cns0000307
Slattery, M., Ramsay, S., Pryor, A., Gallagher, H., Norton, C. L., Nikkel, L., Smith, A., McAuliffe, D. (2022). Nature-based interventions in social work practice and education: Insights from six countries. International Social Work, 66(6), 1686-1700. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728221123160
Hanley, A. W., Derringer, A., Sneed, J.C., Bettmann, J. E, & Gonzalez-Pons, K. M. (2021). The State of Interdependence with Nature Scale: Development and initial validation. Ecopsychology, 14(1), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2021.0014
Deringer, S. A., & Hanley, A. (2021). Virtual Reality of nature can be as effective as actual nature in promoting ecological behavior. Ecopsychology, 13(3), 219-226. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1089/eco.2020.0044
Harper, N. J., Fernee, C. R., & Gabrielsen, L. E. (2021). Nature’s role in outdoor therapies: An umbrella review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5117. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/10/5117
Hanley, A. W., Bettmann, J. E., Kendrick, C. E., Derringer, A., & Norton, C. L. (2020). Dispositional mindfulness is associated with nature connectedness and self-reported ecological behavior. Ecopsychology, 12(1), 54-63. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2019.0017
Dussler, R., & Deringer, S. A. (2020). Exploring the effects of interpreters’ experiences of mindfulness interventions on their connection with nature and subsequent environmental interpretation. Journal of Interpretation Research, 25(1), 26-45. https://doi-org.unh.idm.oclc.org/10.1177/1092587220963556
Deringer, S. A., Hanley, A., Hodges, J., & Griffin, L.K. (2020). Improving ecological behavior in outdoor recreation through mindfulness interventions: A mixed methods inquiry. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership. 2(2), 149-163, https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I2-9802
Kirshen, P., Aytur, S. A., Hecht, J., Walker, A., Burdick., D., Jones, S., Fennessey, N., Bourdeau, R., & Mather, M. (2018). Integrated urban water management applied to climate change adaptation. Urban Climate, 24, 247-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2018.03.005
Mitten, D. & D'Amore, C. (2017). The relationship of women’s body image and experience in nature. In D. Vakoch & S. Mickey (Eds.) Women and nature: Beyond dualism in gender, body, and the environment (pp. 96-116). Routledge.
Mitten, D. (2017). Connections, compassion, and co-healing: the ecology of relationship. In K. Malone, S. Truong and T. Gray (Eds.), Reimagining sustainability in precarious times (pp. 173-186). Springer.
Aytur, S.A., Marquis, T., Bors, P., Katz, J, & Bell, R. (2016). The role of health-related community investing as an active living implementation strategy. Environment and Behavior, 48(1), 89-110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916515614367
Aytur, S.A., Hecht, J., & Kirshen, P. (2015). Aligning climate change adaptation planning with adaptive governance: Lessons from Exeter, NH. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education (Special Issue - Water Diplomacy), 155, 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2015.03198.x
D’Amore, C. & Mitten, D. (2015). Nurtured nature: The connection between care for children and care for the environment. In P.L. Thomas, P. Carr, J. Gorlewski, & B. Porfilio (Eds.), Pedagogies of kindness and respect: On the lives and education of children (pp. Peter Lang.
Litz, K., & Mitten, D. (2013). Inspiring environmental stewardship: Developing a sense of place, critical thinking skills, and ecoliteracy to establish an environmental ethic of care. Pathways: The Ontario Journal of Outdoor Education, 25(2), 4–8. http://www.coeo.org/pathwaysjournal.html
Carlson, C., Aytur, S. A., Gardner, K., & Rogers, S. (2012). Complexity in built environment, health, and destination walking: A neighborhood-scale analysis. Journal of Urban Health, 89(2), 270-84. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-011-9652-8
Norton, C. L., & Holguin, B. (2012). Restoration not incarceration: An environmentally based pilot initiative for working with young offenders. In M. Gray, J. Coates, & T. Hetherington (Eds.), Environmental social work (pp. 172-192). Routledge.
Rogers, S., Aytur, S.A., Gardner, K., & Carlson, C. (2012). Measuring community sustainability: Exploring the intersection of the built environment and social capital with a participatory case study. Journal of Environmental Studies and Science, 2(2), 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-012-0068-x
Norton, C. L. (2012). Social work and the environment: An ecosocial approach. International Journal of Social Welfare, 21(3), 299-308. https://doi.rog/10.1111/j.1468-2397.2011.00853.x
Norton, C. L., & Holguin, B. (2011). Promoting ecological health: An exploratory study of an environmentally based program for formerly incarcerated young adults. Ecopsychology, 3(3), 205-212. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2011.0040
Eyler, A., Lankford, T., Chriqui, J., Evenson, K. R., Kruger, J., Tompkins, N., Voorhees, C., Zieff, S., Aytur, S. A., & Brownson, R. (2010). An analysis of state legislation on community trails. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 7(Supplement 1), S40-S47. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.7.s1.s40
Norton, C. L. (2009). Ecopsychology and social work: Creating an interdisciplinary framework for redefining person-in-environment. Ecopsychology, 1(3), 138-145.
Aytur, S.A., Rodriguez, D., Evenson, K., Catellier, D., & Rosamond, W. (2008). The sociodemographics of land use planning: Relationships to physical activity, accessibility, and equity. Health & Place, 14(3), 367-85.
