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Outdoor equipment lending is emerging as a collaborative consumption practice in Norway’s sharing economy, potentially providing a solution to the adverse climate and environmental impacts connected with the country’s outdoor culture. Little is known, however, of how to upscale such practices when owning equipment is culturally embedded. This article contributes to an emerging literature on how emotions, knowledge, and environmental values may contribute to participation in collaborative consumption and responds to calls for research on cultural and contextual elements of sharing practices. Through ethnographic fieldwork and interviews, we explore the outdoor equipment lending outlet TURBO in the city of Tromsø, Norway. We ask, how can collaborative consumption of equipment provide a sustainable solution to the societal goal of democratic participation in outdoor life. Building on practice theory, our analyses reveal a shift in focus from low-income and immigrant families to broader outreach and inclusion of many new user groups. In the encounters taking place at TURBO, emotions of trust and affinity, knowledge of how to access the outdoors, and environmental values are shared in dynamic interaction between lenders and borrowers. The direct effect on private consumption lies outside the scope of this research, but we argue that collaborative consumption of equipment provides potential climate and environmental benefits through the lending of donated equipment, by extending life cycles of equipment through reuse and repair, and when borrowing equipment supersedes traditional consumption. Moreover, the practices at TURBO destigmatise borrowing instead of buying and contribute to the democratisation of the outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractInteractive technology has a complicated relationship with recreation in nature. Many people have praised, and many have lamented the impact of interactive technology on recreation in nature. Because nature recreation has important wellness benefits and interactive technology is likely to remain a part of nature recreation, there is a need to design interactive technology for nature recreation. Unfortunately, little generalized knowledge exists on how to design such technology. We create new intermediate design knowledge for interactive technology in nature recreation by drawing from others’ work, our prior work, and specifically Borgmann and Verbeek’s philosophies of technology. Our contribution is a framework based on a decomposition of engagement into nine facets related to engagement with place, time, and community. Four examples demonstrate the descriptive and generative power of the framework. This framework may enable the creation of interactive systems that complement rather than compete with nature recreation and may better preserve the wellness benefits of nature recreation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood education (ECE) settings play a crucial role in promoting physical and social development among children aged 3–7 years. This systematic review sought to examine the associations between characteristics of ECE outdoor environments, social interactions, physical activity, and motor competence. The secondary aim examines previously applied methods to capture children's behaviour in the context of their social and physical environment. Methods: This review used the PRISMA framework and study quality was assessed using the mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT). Keyword searches were conducted in seven databases. Studies were eligible if children were aged 3–7 years in ECE; physical activity, social interactions and/or motor competence were measured; location and/or social context were measured. Results were synthesised using an effect direct plot, a table of associations, and narrative synthesis. Results: Twenty-three studies from eight countries met the inclusion criteria. Intervention and controlled cross-sectional studies (n = 9) favoured high-quality outdoor environments rich in affordances, portable play equipment, and natural features to increase children's physical activity, social interactions, and cooperative play. Cross-sectional and descriptive studies (n = 14) positively associated open grassy space, portable and fixed equipment, wheeled toys, and paths with physical activity (p < 0.05). Based on limited evidence, playground size and active games in small groups were associated with greater MC. Conclusions: The findings highlight the benefit of creating diverse affordance rich outdoor environments in early childhood settings to promote physical and social development. Limitations include variability in study designs and protocols for conducting systematic observations, thus emphasising the need for standardised approaches to future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical challenge for the commercialization of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is their operational stability. PSCs’ outdoor operation exposes the cells to a combination of stress factors that are difficult to reproduce by indoor testing due to diurnal and seasonal variations. This highlights the need for outdoor testing under operational conditions. The effect of climate conditions on outdoor operational lifetime/ degradation of n‐i‐p PSCs is systematically studied herein. Their lifetime indicators are determined in different seasons, and correlated with the outdoor irradiance and temperatures measured simultaneously. Based on this outdoor measurement analysis and indoor light cycling stability tests, it is suggested that ambient temperatures induce a more significant effect than the irradiance on the PSC's lifetime/ degradation. The study also suggests different roles played by the temperatures during the diurnal light versus dark periods: the day/ light time maximum temperatures have a more significant effect on the long‐term degradation. In contrast, minimum temperatures during the night/ dark cycles significantly affected the diurnal reversible degradation and the initial fast degradation. The results show that the commonly used lifetime indicators T80 and T50 are climate‐dependent, and their use for comparative purposes is valid only if measured in similar climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Compassion fatigue and burnout are two distinct forms of mental health distress faced by educational workers. Researchers have shown a high level of both phenomena across the field of education; however, a better understanding of what educational workers already do for positive mental and emotional health is needed. Methods: This research study examined three years of data, collected via survey, inquiring into the various interventions, namely supports and resources, that educational workers use to support positive mental health. Results: Quantitative data analysis via descriptive and inferential statistics revealed that educational workers relied heavily on their personal support network followed distantly by medical professionals and other interventions, revealing a gap that needs to be addressed by employers. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed a trend towards increased use of environmental interventions to promote positive mental wellbeing. Conclusions: The data analysis suggested areas of focus required to ensure workplace wellbeing, and that programs too focused on individual or self-directed interventions would not be well received by educators. Suggestions for other interventions that might be helpful for leaders and policy-makers are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Climate change, as the greatest challenge of the century, has widespread effects on workers. These changes can lead to an increase in heat-related diseases, loss of jobs, and economic damage to businesses, change labor migration patterns and a decrease in job productivity. Therefore, considering the fact that climate change is currently and in the future considered one of the most important environmental challenges, long-term forecasting of climate variables to understand the extent of changes and consequently taking necessary measures to reduce the adverse effects of climate change should be of concern to various experts, including environmental science professionals. In this regard, public health experts, in line with their mission (the science of prevention), are seeking and organizing strategies to reduce these harmful effects on the health of communities and workers. Conducting research related to climate change for better preparedness for adaptation to this phenomenon and also reducing the costs of damages caused by these changes is very essential.

We explore motivations for the use and non-use of headphones while hiking. In order to understand why people bring, or don't bring, headphones while hiking we analyzed 247 written responses to the question "why do you prefer to bring (or not bring) headphones when hiking?" We study headphones, rather than other forms of interactive computing like mobile phones, because headphone use and non-use splits survey respondents nearly in half with 51.5% stating that they do prefer to bring headphones while hiking and 48.5% stating that they do not. Those who bring headphones did so to enhance their hike by listening to music or other audio and to avoid social interaction. Those who do not bring headphones do so to fully enjoy the sounds of nature, to invite social interaction and to increase safety. Our results suggest that within the context of hiking as constructed in the United States, use and non-use decisions are motivated by shaping the intended hiking experience, social factors and safety. We view these motivations for non-use not as obstacles to be overcome in the proliferation of technology into hiking, but as nuanced themes to be considered as part of understanding technology in the broader context of hiking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many previous studies have measured elementary-aged students' connection to nature (CTN), but few have explicitly considered how the use of different terminology (e.g. 'nature' versus 'the outdoors') can influence those connections. We utilized a quasi-experimental design to test for differences in affective and self-reported connections to nature among diverse groups of fourth and fifth grade students from two elementary schools in Wake County, North Carolina. We used Mann–Whitney U tests to compare these outcomes between two versions of a survey, one using the word 'nature' (n = 112) and one using the word 'outdoors' (n = 113), for (1) the whole sample (n = 225) (2) between boys and girls, and (3) between students of color and white students. Self-reported CTN did not vary significantly based on terminology used, but we did find some differences in levels of emotional affinity that students associated with each term. Our results suggest that the differences in which young audiences perceive the terms 'nature' versus 'outdoors' are nuanced and may offer insight into how language about the environment may invoke different emotions among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding heat stress in dairy cows is important for ensuring their welfare and productivity. While the Temperature Humidity Index is commonly used to determine heat stress conditions it does not consider outdoor factors (e.g. wind speed and solar radiation). To address this, the Grazing Heat Load Index (GHLI) which predicts respiration rate, an indicator of heat stress, was previously developed using data from the Waikato region in New Zealand. This study updated the GHLI using a weather data and animal heat stress indicators (e.g. respiration rate and drooling), collected from dairy herds in the Northland, Waikato, Canterbury, and Southland regions. A mixed-effects linear model, which included air temperature, solar radiation and wind speed as inputs was developed using data from these diverse locations. The updated model slightly outperformed the previous model on a validation dataset when predicting respiration rate. While air temperature remained the primary driver of respiration rate, solar radiation was an exacerbating factor, whereas wind exerted a mitigating effect. Challenges persist in characterising heat stress in conditions such as high wind speed. Non-linear modelling techniques could enhance the predictive capability of the GHLI model, thereby refining heat stress assessment in pasture-based dairy systems nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents Excursiona, an application that provides substantial value to group excursions. Excursiona promotes collaboration and awareness during the excursion, as the group members navigate the map. Moreover, users can share pictures of interesting points they discover and interact in the chat room. The application has great potential in fields that benefit from outdoor collaboration, with application cases on children with special needs or firefighters. Regarding the technological approach, Excursiona has been developed in Flutter, making it compatible with iOS and Android operating systems, which along other technological tools has enhanced the possibilities of the project. Finally, an evaluation with users has allowed the testing of the system and the evaluation of the collaborative and awareness features.

AbstractThe purpose of this qualitative constructivist grounded theory study was to develop a model to explain potential mechanisms of change in the nature-based pediatric occupational therapy process, based on analysis of the perspectives of occupational therapy practitioners currently engaging in nature-based practice with children. Using 27 photos and interview data from 22 participants the Ecology of Change in Outdoor Therapy (ECO-Therapy) Model was developed. The model suggests mechanisms of change in nature-based pediatric occupational therapy may involve six iterative phases: Longing for Freedom, Embarking on Adventure, Dancing with Nature, Claiming Self-Agency, Braving Real-Life Challenges, and Growing Adaptive Capacity. The practitioner and child experiencing these phases throughout the nature-based occupational therapy process may lead to improved participation and performance in the child’s daily life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States, leaving survivors with profound mobility challenges that impact independent community ambulation. Evidence shows assistance at the hip during walking may be beneficial for stroke survivors. In this cross-over design study, we examine the impact of a novel hip exoskeleton on both functional and patient reported outcomes measuring speed, fall risk, gait symmetry, energy expenditure and perceived walking ability during both indoors and outdoors in single and serial counting dual task paradigms. Nine ambulatory stroke survivors with hemiplegia were included. No differences were seen between the exoskeleton and baseline conditions for any outcomes. Only the patient reported outcome in which subjects were asked to rate their ability to walk outdoors approached statistical significance (p = 0.051) with greater improvement reported for the exoskeleton condition. When asked to rate several key factors about the exoskeleton, weight and assistance emerged as primary perceived negative factors of the exoskeleton underscoring the need for improvements to the technology in this area. Despite lack of differences across groups, some individuals responded positively to the exoskeleton for several functional outcomes measured, highlighting the need for additional exploration into the use of personalized hip exoskeletons for post-stroke rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundHypovitaminosis D may be common in tropical countries and is linked to disorders of phospho-calcium metabolism, rickets, muscle pain, immune system deficiencies, and increased susceptibility to microbial infections.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in apparently healthy university workers in Loja, Ecuador.MethodsA cross-sectional study was completed in a private Ecuadorian university from May 2023 to September 2023, involving 440 participants. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire created to assess risk factors influencing vitamin D levels. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH)D concentrations were measured utilizing immunoenzymatic methods. Altered states (insufficiency or deficiency) of vitamin D were defined with serum values

Early childhood education (ECE) settings play a crucial role in promoting physical and social development among children aged 3–7 years. This systematic review sought to examine the associations between characteristics of ECE outdoor environments, social interactions, physical activity, and motor competence. The secondary aim examines previously applied methods to capture children’s behaviour in the context of their social and physical environment. Methods: This review used the PRISMA framework and study quality was assessed using the mixed-methods appraisal tool (MMAT). Keyword searches were conducted in seven databases. Studies were eligible if children were aged 3–7 years in ECE; physical activity, social interactions and/or motor competence were measured; location and/or social context were measured. Results were synthesised using an effect direct plot, a table of associations, and narrative synthesis. Results: Twenty-three studies from eight countries met the inclusion criteria. Intervention and controlled cross-sectional studies (n = 9) favoured high-quality outdoor environments rich in affordances, portable play equipment, and natural features to increase children’s physical activity, social interactions, and cooperative play. Cross-sectional and descriptive studies (n = 14) positively associated open grassy space, portable and fixed equipment, wheeled toys, and paths with physical activity (p < 0.05). Based on limited evidence, playground size and active games in small groups were associated with greater MC. Conclusions: The findings highlight the benefit of creating diverse affordance rich outdoor environments in early childhood settings to promote physical and social development. Limitations include variability in study designs and protocols for conducting systematic observations, thus emphasising the need for standardised approaches to future research.

This study aims to evaluate agreement among subjective thermal comfort, thermal sensation, thermal perception, and thermal tolerance indices, according to pedestrians in downtown Santa Maria, southern Brazil, which has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Between August 2015 and July 2016 (three periods), 1728 questionnaires were applied. Evaluation of the dependence of statistical variables was based on gender and age, at three periods of time: August 2015 (864 respondents), January 2016 (432 respondents), and July 2016 (432 respondents). Statistical evaluation was based on Pearson's chi-square test using RStudio software, and a significance level (α) of 5% for thermal comfort, thermal sensation, thermal preference, and thermal tolerance was used. Results indicated that age and gender affect the relationship between the variables. Thermal comfort and thermal tolerance presented the best correlation and coherence, regardless of age or gender. This study contributes to knowledge on the local microclimate and can contribute to urban planning to implement strategies that improve pedestrians' thermal comfort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This special issue integrates gender analysis into the global history of outdoor activities in the Age of Empire by focusing on masculinities, a field that has received renewed attention from scholars. The premise of the special issue is that social constructions of masculinities in imperial settings functioned twofold. They operated simultaneously as methods to spread Western-colonial hegemonic values and as a means to expand territorial domains into far-off lands. In examining outdoor experiences, without taking the dominance of 'imperial' men over non-Europeans for granted, the contributions here presented develop an intersectional understanding of the conditions in which fashioning and self-perception of masculine roles were constantly contested and negotiated. Outdoor experiences, as seen in this special issue, were formative spaces of empire: while made possible thanks to the wide imperial networks in the colonial world, they existed on the margins of imperial rule. At the 'frontier' and in colonial battle-grounds, but also as leisure or free-time activities in transcultural contexts, outdoor experiences served to transform boys into men, and for men to test and perform hegemonic ideas of manhood and hence of imperial power. The essays are in two sections that highlight the dual processes of being and becoming 'manly' in the imperial outdoors. The first four contributions focus on archetypical roles of adult men in empires: the mountaineer, the hunter, the sportsman and the soldier. The second section approaches cases of scouting as formative spaces for boys in contexts of decolonisation in the early 1900s. The case-studies included in this special issue cover multiple imperial formations from the American Midwest, the Middle East to the British and Dutch Indies. These diverse cases serve to open up often Anglo-centric historiographies of gender and empire by emphasising the global momentum of new masculinities that were embedded in a trans-imperial fashion between ca. 1860 and 1960. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the relationship between outdoor sports and the age of empire on the American frontier using the lens of gender performance. Focused on the years from the mid to the late nineteenth century, it provides an exploration of hunting as a vector of imperial masculine journey and a physical and imaginative pursuit where hunters stalked and shot the iconic animals of the western states on behalf of settler colonialism. In the first part of the paper, contemporary testimonies are used to plot the ways in which hunting desires to own the animal body fuelled a powerful homosocial culture grounded in ideas of primal pageantry. Sport and game in this context represented essential elements of a performative leisure economy in which pursuit and capture dictated the terms of human-animal engagement and refracted broader impositions of colonial political authority. From here, it turns to dynamics of community on the game trail where the primacy of the sporting hero was confirmed and recalibrated along racial, class and gender lines, before travelling indoors to examine how the afterlife of the hunt (expressed in taxidermy) allowed the authority of the victorious hunter to be performed in the 'great indoors' and for colonial claims over space to be materially and symbolically affirmed. Today, the stories of the imperial hunter elite and their taxidermy trophies represent traumatic historical artefacts. However, they also denote important remnants of empire whose complicated provenance helps to explain how mutually supportive mechanisms of masculinity and colonialism operated to sanction the killing and (later) the conservation of game species. Offering a closer look at 'the bison in the room' and its embodied story of pursuit and capture, this paper provides valuable insights into the dynamics of sport in colonial space and the value of performance as a useful category for contextualising human-environmental relations in the age of empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the feasibility of producing biodiesel feedstock from Chlorella sp. GN1, the growth, lipid, and fatty acid profile in long-term outdoor cultivation during four seasons were studied. The alga grew well in the four seasons, and the dry weight (2.73 g/L) and specific growth rate (0.652 day−1) reached their highest values in the autumn. Nitrogen deficiency induced all the lipid contents to exceed 40% of the dry weight in the four seasons, and higher lipid contents (> 50% of the dry cell weight) were achieved in autumn and summer. The highest lipid content (52.8%) was acquired in autumn. Additionally, in the four seasons, C16 and C18 were primary fatty acids (> 90%) in the alga, which were ideal fatty acid components for biodiesel. Moreover, more saturated fatty acids were synthesized in cells during summer and autumn, while the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids reached the highest level in the winter. The study indicated that the alga has great prospects for biodiesel feedstock preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfamiliar Landscapes is a collection of texts from academics and practitioners that explores the relationship between young people and unfamiliar landscapes. The book challenges established norms and encourages a more inclusive approach to outdoor engagement for young people. In this review essay I reflect on my own experiences of the outdoors focusing on themes prominent within the book: the importance of engaging diverse groups in the outdoors, landscapes as sensed across multiple registers, and the role of adults in mediating young people's relationships with landscapes. The book provides an invaluable contribution to current debates in a range of disciplines and contexts highlighting the importance of understanding young people's varied experiences and how they engage with unfamiliar landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest schools are distinctive outdoor spaces that are often regarded as an alternative to mainstream education. Their increasing popularity in the United Kingdom is often attributed to a perceived decrease in children's outdoor play, due to a concomitant increase in children's use of digital technologies in the home; further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic. This study explores how iPads can enhance outdoor learning activities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 Key Stage 2 children selected from two UK primary schools. The interviews explored the experiences and opinions of the children about the role of iPads in the forest school space using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings suggest that Forest School spaces can accommodate new technologies through accommodation of the outdoor environment and technology. Suggestions for future research include the meaningful integration of iPads into Forest School practice while considering the relative influences of space and place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the presence of conjunctival ultraviolet autofluorescence (CUVAF) with the level and progression of myopia and the impact of reduced sunlight exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement (PC). Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out using three cohorts, children (9–17 years old), young adults (18–25 years old), and adults (>40 years old) with myopia (≤0.75D) and at least three annual eye examinations (before and after PC). All participants underwent an automatic objective refraction and CUVAF area analysis. All the participants filled out a questionnaire regarding lifestyle and myopia history. Results: The 298 recruited participants showed that during the PC, children's and young adults' myopia progression rate increased on average by −0.50 and −0.30 D/year, respectively, compared with the pre-pandemic level (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01). A significantly greater progression was observed in those with low baseline myopia compared to those with moderate or high myopia (p < 0.01). CUVAF shows its protective effect associated with outdoor activity (OA) with regard to the age of onset of myopia and mean diopters (p < 0.01). In fact, although there were no differences in the increase in diopters between children with and without CUVAF during the PC, those who had CUVAF started with lower gains (−0.3 D/year) compared to those who did not (−0.5 D/year; p < 0.05). The myopia treatments (atropine drops, Ortho-K, and MiSight® contact lenses) showed a reduction effect in myopic progression rate post-PC in comparison with non-treated children (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Conclusions: The strict restriction of OA during PC led to the rate of myopia progression doubling among children and young adults. This progression occurred mainly in children with previously low myopia, and CUVAF, as a biomarker of OA, reflects its potential to provide benefits in the form of recommended behavioral changes to protect against the development of myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood myopia represents a global concern with increasing prevalence in recent decades. Lifestyle factors significantly impact myopia. Aim: To evaluate lifestyle factors in myopic children from a metropolitan area in Europe. Methods: This was a descriptive study including myopic subjects aged 4–18 years. Patient demographic and clinical data were collected, including cycloplegic refraction in spherical equivalent refraction (SER) and axial length (AL). In addition, a questionnaire on lifestyle factors was conducted between September 2022 and April 2023. Results: A total of 321 myopic children were included, aged 10.72 ± 3.05 years, of whom 51.4% were boys, with SER −2.25 ± 1.9 D and AL 24.54 ± 0.98 mm. The mean age of myopia onset was 7.69 ± 3.05 years. A total of 59.8% had family history of myopia. Those children who had <2 h/day of screen time (on weekdays) presented SER −2 ± 1.91 D, compared to those who had >2 h/day, SER: −2.50 ±1.88 D (p = 0.009). Children who spent <2 h/day doing near work after school were less myopic compared to those who spent >2 h/day (SER: −1.75 ± 1.83 vs. SER: −2.75 ± 1.82, respectively, p = 0.03). However, no significant association was observed between SER and AL and time spent outdoors nor between SER and AL and academic performance (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Screen time and near-work time appear to be lifestyle factors related to myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the current situation of outdoor play for children in Sámi Early Childhood Education and Care institutions (ECECs) in Norway. The main objective is to discover how Sámi ECEC practices contribute to outdoor play and learning in early childhood education and community contexts by addressing the following research questions: How do Sámi ECEC staff emphasize outdoor activities and play in their daily practice, and how can these activities be regarded as a way of promoting mental and physical health and well-being? The sample comprises practitioners from seven Sámi ECEC institutions (ECECs) participating in focus-group and individual interviews. The main focus of the interviews was on Sámi ECECs as health-promoting arenas, and outdoor activities appeared to be important in this context. Stepwise-Deductive Induction was used as a qualitative research strategy in the analysis. The staff underline the importance of letting children attempt to be autonomous when it comes to physical and practical activities. They point to the importance of knowing the children and encouraging autonomous achievements. Traditionally, Sámi upbringing places emphasis on doing handicraft and daily work together with the children. The staff describe doing such daily outdoor activities as harvesting, handicraft, and food preparation together with the children as a way of maintaining Sámi culture. The main conclusion is that outdoor activities are important for promoting, experiencing, and contributing to Sámi pedagogy and children’s well-being in the Sámi ECECs.

In the past decades, the frontier between entertainment and politics has been shrinking, as politicians and political parties use tactis from the entertainment field to gather electorate. This work studies the use of this kind of tactics by Iniciativa Liberal in 2019's Europeans and Legislatives, in order to grasp how this emergent political party used humor to grab the attention of its potential electorate. The research applies a semiotic analysis to a corpus made of some of the party's 2019 outdoors. The results point to a use of analogies of popular culture and satire in the construction of humor. This tactics were used for differentiation from other Portuguese political parties and to clarify the party's political ideals in memorable phrases. Humor was still used to liberate tension in the electorate in relation to problems of the Portuguese political landscape, furthering an emotional connection through laughter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Daily plans are the key tool for teachers to ensure their delivery meets the expectations of the programme, and math activities are one of the important activities required to be offered daily in the early years to form the foundations of future math knowledge. As outdoor environments provide various learning opportunities, assessing the math activities offered in daily plans is necessary, in part to review teachers' practices. Therefore, analysing the preschool teachers' daily plans was the aim of this research. Semi-structured interviews with preschool teachers and some shared daily plan examples were used to collect data. The findings show a discrepancy between teachers' statements and the plans used. Although the participating teachers pointed to the use of the outdoors for math activities, the shared daily plans were limited in practice in their use of the out-of-classroom opportunities. The daily plans that teachers offered were mainly paper-based classroom activities instead of illustrating a broad use of various learning environments and opportunities. This finding indicates that preschool teachers might benefit from professional development courses that encourage them to address the early mathematics needs of children in their daily plans and through pedagogic practices that use a wide range of outdoor learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in coaching and coaching psychology have considered the outdoors as an alternative space within which to conduct coaching, in addition to the more traditional indoor environments. Research into walking coaching is therefore in its infancy and whilst the growing body of research in eco-therapy is relevant to coaching, little empirical research has been conducted as to how different types of landscapes may serve helping conversations, more specifically coaching. Drawing on the experiences of walking coaching clients, this study examines which landscapes are beneficial for coaching and why. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five walking coaching clients and analysed using semantic thematic analysis. Four themes were developed that identified landscapes as needing to be: i) expansive and spacious; ii) having variety; iii) a natural, less controlled environment; and iv) ones that challenge and support the self. These aspects not only provided the conditions for effective and insightful coaching, but also aligned themselves to the coaching process and relationship itself. Furthermore, participants were clear on what they needed from their environment for them to receive the full benefits of walking coaching. It is concluded that as the landscape is central to the process, it is important for coaches and coaching psychologists to consult with clients as to the types of outdoor environments that may be most beneficial for their coaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of curing conditions including temperatures (0°C, 5°C, 10°C, 20°C and 40 °C), relative humidities (30%RH, 60%RH and 90%RH) and outdoor curing on the strength and capillary water absorption of styrene‐butadiene copolymer (SB) modified calcium sulphoaluminate (CSA) cement mortar cured for 360 days were studied. The results showed that when the addition of SB reached 10% and more, the flexural strength increased and the capillary water absorption decreased significantly. Appropriate temperature and relatively high humidity were conducive to the development of flexural and compressive strength. The capillary water absorption increased with increasing temperature and decreasing humidity. Compared with curing under different temperatures and relative humidities controlled by laboratory, the modified mortar cured outdoors with more than 10% SB addition had higher strength and lower capillary water absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers a personal account of loss and how improvised movement in a studio and outdoors offered sacred holding through grieving. The author shares vivid descriptive accounts of dancing through grief, 'at the edge' as she calls it; yielding to gravity and meeting the stories, memories and emotions that flooded and engulfed her in the wake of the loss of her mother. Losing a loved one is an existential experience all of us must face one day. This intimate presentation of the author's experience invites the reader to consider how looking death and traumatic loss in the face, turning to empathy and compassion for ourself and to an embodied ecological practice, cracks us open and creates the ground for a reconfiguration of self. Such a sensory arriving to the power of the more-or-other-than human may serve us professionally, she argues, at times of overwhelm such as those we are living through currently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a widespread ungulate, the populations of which have recently increased throughout most of its range. This increase has caused negative impacts on ecosystems, biodiversity, and society. Nowadays, the wild boar is considered both a valuable game and a pest. Wildlife managers need to know the habits and motivations of wild boar hunters, a key stakeholder group, for effectively managing this controversial mammal. We carried out face-to-face interviews with 134 wild boar hunters in the Evros Prefecture, in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, northern Greece to determine their hunting habits and their motivation for hunting. Most hunters owned a hunting dog (84.3%), hunted in groups of eight to nine people for 48 days, traveled 60 km, stayed outdoors for 4 nights, and spent weekly EUR 61 on average in each hunting season. Two motivations for wild boar hunting were prominent among the hunters (assessed on a 5-point scale; 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree): a strong recreation motivation (hunting as a recreational activity; mean score 4.159 ± 1.144 SD) and a considerable utility motivation (hunting for its use values; 3.404 ± 1.11). Both recreation and utility motivations were positively associated with the preference for further increases in wild boar populations. Sociodemographic characteristics and hunting habits variously affected motivations and preferred future population trends. The findings revealed specific habits and strong motivations among hunters. Such findings will be useful for designing and implementing education and outreach programs for informing hunters about the negative impacts of wild boars and the need for their control. The participation of hunters in the management process will be critical for its success.

Nature-based interventions represent promising candidates for supporting mothers and infants in the postnatal period, which is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience mental health difficulties. Possible mechanisms by which nature-based interventions may support postnatal health include those of a biological/physiological nature (for example natural light optimising circadian rhythm, improving microbiome health, providing opportunities for physical activity), relational/social pathways, and cognitive and creative pathways. A conceptual understanding of these possible mechanisms will aid the design and evaluation of postnatal nature-based interventions.

Digital tools in preschool teaching are often presented as something threatening in the public debate, often in relation to health risks, such as sedentary behaviour. This article finds new ways to discuss this through an investigation of what conditions the use of mobile documentation technology in relation to both storytelling and movement in preschool education. We discuss how the physical and the digital can relate to each other in preschool teaching. With a particular focus on bodily aspects and storytelling, we explore new ways of approaching children’s perspectives with a point of departure in mobile digital documentation. Based on data material consisting of children's documentation of their immediate environment with the help of action cameras (that is, small digital film cameras that are applied to the body with the help of a helmet or harness). The bodily, pedagogical, and ethical consequences of combining the physical and the digital in preschool education are discussed. The data is analyzed with inspiration from a social anthropological perspective with a focus on the epistemological couplet emic/etic. The analyzes are characterized by what could be called an "epic" approach to the child filming and to each other during their movements in the surroundings of the preschool. The study offers an example of how movement can be staged in preschool education. To this end, the combination of physical and digital elements is deemed to be meritorious.

This article engages with new materialist posthumanist philosophy to conceptually approach an ethics of outdoor environmental education with the focus on a pupil's body. Thinking with place-responsive pedagogy, I aim to extend a conversation toward exploring a child's body as a place. Place-responsive pedagogy, while it challenges a commonly endorsed child/brain/self/anthropocentrism by paying more attention to a place, its history, and human-nonhuman entanglements, still positions children as intellectual observers (of places) and multisensorial body-mind thinkers. I propose to attend to pupils/their movements as to ontogenetic phenomena. These phenomena necessarily emerge from the surplus of child-place relations. They are intelligent, complex, transmogrifying, attuning with the emerging ecologies, and growing with/from a place. Such conceptualisation disrupts an often-empty rhetoric that 'humans are part of nature', offering an account of an (onto)ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing concern about the ways in which neoliberalism is impacting Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), particularly in relation to infants and toddlers. The neoliberal agenda positions the outdoors as risky and a place to be physically active, potentially excluding the youngest children from these spaces. Drawing upon case study data from a larger project exploring outdoor provision for infants and toddlers in England, we demonstrate the critical leadership role owner/managers can play. They do this by creating different kinds of pedagogic spaces (cultural, physical and reflective) for practitioners to develop their outdoor practices. We argue that the creation of such spaces requires explicit acts of resistance and disruption to neoliberal understandings about the place of infants and toddlers outdoors. Our research demonstrates the potential for owner/managers to act as critical pedagogues creating spaces called hope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While people with intellectual disabilities tend to refrain from physical activity, outdoor physical activity programs increase motivation to engage in physical activity. Method: Eighty adults with intellectual disabilities participated in a 12‐month outdoor physical activity program. Attendance was used to assess feasibility. Aerobic capacity (6‐min walk test), lower extremity endurance (30‐s chair stand), and mobility (timed up and go) were assessed at three‐time points: before, during, and after the program. Six interviews were also conducted with six staff members and participants. Results: The physical activity program was feasible, with all six groups completing the year‐long activity. The six‐minute walk and timed‐up‐and‐go tests improved significantly. The qualitative analysis indicates the program's strengths (instructors' qualities and programs' social component) and weaknesses (dependency on weather and bureaucracy). Conclusion: Among adults with intellectual disabilities, a long‐term outdoor physical activity program is feasible as a means for increasing aerobic capacity and improving mobility ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locus of Control (LOC) is measured by a brief survey designed to determine an 'internal' or 'external' locus. Internal LOC signifies ownership of the consequences of one's actions. Individuals with a more internal LOC tend to have higher determents of positive mental health. This study investigated the impact on the LOC of university students after a 25-day program focused on adventure-based eco-tourism where the participants hiked, camped, white water rafted and took part in other adventure-based activities. We found the results further support previous studies that determined adventure programs enhanced internality measured quantitatively through Locus of Control. Qualitative responses indicated greater self-reliance due to enhanced belief in ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservar Património is the property of Associacao Profissional de Conservadores-Restauradores de Portugal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research builds on the recently published paper (Garden, 2022c), which explored through interviews the use of iPads as cameras to enhance Forest School practice. Children’s perspectives of the Forest School space captured what was important to them on camera (Garden, 2022c). Working with the same group of 32 Key Stage 2 children selected from two UK primary schools, the research explored the images captured on iPad cameras during the follow-on session. The unstructured interviews explored the children’s feelings and meanings associated with the images captured in the Forest School space using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The photographs can be understood within the themes of ‘play with technology’, ‘soft fascination’ and ‘place attachment’, all of which are inherent in the Forest School ethos. Suggestions for future research include reflections on the ways the capturing of images of Forest School can encourage peer collaboration whilst considering the relative influence of space.

Abstract Background The postnatal period is a vulnerable time for mothers to experience stress and mental health difficulties. There is increasing evidence that spending time in nature is beneficial for wellbeing. Nature-based interventions have been developed to support mental health, but not specifically tailored for mothers during the postnatal period. Understanding mothers’ views and experiences of nature would help determine the suitability for and potential impact of such interventions on postnatal wellbeing. Aims To explore mothers’ views on the impact of spending time in nature on their postnatal mental wellbeing. Methods Focus groups were held with mothers of young children (under five), including mothers from migrant and refugee communities, mothers living with mental health difficulties, and disabled mothers. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Four focus groups were held, with a total of 30 participants. Six themes were developed: (1) mothers’ experiences of what constitutes ‘nature’; (2) sensing nature improves wellbeing; (3) natural spaces facilitate human connection; (4) nature provides escape and relief from daily indoor stressors; (5) nature allows new perspectives; and (6) mothers face a variety of environmental, practical, psychological, physical, socioeconomic, and cultural barriers to spending time in nature during the postnatal period. Conclusions Mothers report significant benefits to their postnatal wellbeing when spending time in nature. Further research is warranted to understand whether nature-based interventions have the potential to support postnatal wellbeing, socially, mentally, and physically.

Multiple studies have proven the multiple health benefits of engaging children outdoors, and in activities such as gardening. Of utmost importance is staying safe while outside. This column addresses three, year round aspects of outdoor safety, sun, plants, and insects. The brief annotated bibliography covers sites focused on information and education for families, educators, and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Management for Global Sustainability is the property of Ateneo de Manila University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is unsurprising that the Pew Research Center's "Jewish Americans in 2020" study and report emphasized politics, anti-Semitism, and coronavirus disease 22019 (COVID-19), but there were missed opportunities to collect data and analyze Jewish environmentalism. The Pew data indicated that high percentages of Jews find mining and fulfillment from "being outdoors and experiencing nature" (Pew Research Center 2019–2020 Survey of U.S. Jews Final Topline, 2021c, 3) and that they were concerned with the Trump Administration's handling of the environment (Pew Research Center 2021c, 8). In addition, the growth of Jewish environmental organizations suggests that the younger generations of Jewish Americans are gravitating towards this work. The data from these surveys and scholarship on Jewish environmentalism will be analyzed alongside my own research on Jewish environmentalism and the Jewish community farming movement. I argue here that based on the data from Pew and other sources like the Public Religion Research Institute, a majority of Jewish Americans are invested in the environment and are concerned about the climate crisis, so future surveys of the Jewish community should incorporate more questions and deeper analysis on this critical contemporary issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Aedes aegypti, Ae albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, three mosquito species of medical importance, were found coexisting in residential neighborhoods of urban and semiurban areas. Aedes aegypti was mostly present indoor houses compared to Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. On the contrary, in cemeteries of the urban area, Ae. aegypti was found in lower densities compared to Ae. albopictus and Cx. Quinquefasciatus, which were the most abundant. The identification of these species and the knowledge of their distribution are essential for entomological surveillance in the prevention of outbreaks of vector-borne diseases. Tapachula, Mexico, a tropical city, is an endemic area for dengue, in addition to several outbreaks in the last decade with chikungunya and zika. As part of the migratory corridor from Central to North America and the risks of scattered infectious diseases that this implies, the identification and distribution of potential disease vectors in and around residential areas are essential in terms of entomological surveillance for the prevention of disease outbreaks. The identification of mosquito species of medical importance coexisting in houses and cemeteries in Tapachula and two semiurban sites in southern Chiapas was investigated. Adult mosquitoes were collected from May to December 2018, resting inside and outside houses and in the tombstones and fallen tree leaves in cemeteries. A total of 10,883 mosquitoes belonging to three vector species were collected across 20 sites; 6738 were from neighborhood houses, of which 55.4% were Culex quinquefasciatus, 41.6% Aedes aegypti, and 2.9% Ae. albopictus. Aedes aegypti was the most common mosquito resting inside houses (56.7%), while Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were mostly found resting outside houses (75.7%). In the cemeteries, Cx. quinquefasciatus (60.8%) and Ae. albopictus (37.3%) were the most abundant, while Ae. aegypti (1.9%) was the least abundant. This is the first report to identify adults of three major disease vector species coexisting in the domestic environment of urban and semiurban sites and Ae. albopictus adult resting inside of urban houses in Mexico. It would be opportune to consider comprehensive strategies that can be applied in this region to control the three species at the same time and avoid outbreaks of the diseases they transmit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban parks, where people interact with nature, be socialize and relieve stress, are located in urban open green spaces, and their importance has increased even more with pandemi in todays. Parks should be designed within the framework of design approaches that allow everyone to benefit equally and should serve all users in the city. Especially special arrangements are necessary for people with disabilities who are known as the disadvantaged group among urban people use these parks. Designs should be improved in accordance with the standars determined for the people with disabilities. It's required to evaluate the factors that will be constraints for them and to ensure effective use. In this study, four city parks (Reşat Oyal Kültürpark, Merinos Park, Soğanlı Botanic Park and Hüdavendigar City Park) located in Bursa and serving all the people of the city were evaluated. The observation and evaluation techniques were used for determine the parks, entrances, parking lots, road circulation, etc. Afterward, the data were analyzed by evaluating within the scope of the standards available for people with disabilities and their suitability. As a result, it was observed that the parks partially comply with the standards and there are some important situations that will cause problems for people with disabilities. Although there are no items such as tactile surfaces and reinforcement buttons in the parks, it has been determined that there are deficiencies such as level differences on the road floors, the absence of stairs and ramp solutions, and also the inconsistency of the dimensions of the reinforcement elements. In this case, In this case, the obstacles in front of the people with disabilities may be removed and a comfortable circulation may be provided by solving the existing problems and completing the deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]