Newsletter from Thursday, September 2nd, 2021
Dear NCH2 Community,
We hope you and your families are staying safe and well. Please submit materials for the next newsletter by Sept. 15th, 2021 so we can make sure to include them. Submit items by emailing [email protected].
This week's newsletter includes upcoming local events, information on national and international conferences, a career opportunity, and links to articles in the research literature and popular press.
This week's newsletter includes upcoming local events, information on national and international conferences, a career opportunity, and links to articles in the research literature and popular press.
Local Events
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Take a Hike Challenge
Date: Sept. 1 to Oct. 27 Description: This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends. We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award. For more information, a Take a Hike! Tracker, and registration click here. |
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Faith in Place's Green Team Summit
Date: September 12-14, 202 Location: via Virtual Platform Description: We believe our environmental and social crises are rooted in disconnection. During this summit, we will explore ways to heal our connection with our land, body, mind, spirit, and community. From walking through vividly green wetlands in Shawnee National Forest, to touring a farm, and gathering in a racial healing circle, this virtual Summit will honor our interconnectedness and inspire our environmental work through healing. For more information and registration, click here. Photo by Zetong Li from Pexels |
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Walk with a Future Doc Chicago
Date & Location: Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Description: Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. For more information and registration, click here. |
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The Walder Foundation: Resilient by Nature Project.
Instead of resuming NCH2 Virtual Coffees and Discussions in September, we encourage you to register for and attend these events hosted by the Walder Foundation. How might we… …Develop a Vibrant NBS Ecosystem in Chicago? Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. Learn more and register: https://www.rxnproject.org/events/ecosystem-what-is-required-to-create-a-thriving-nbs-sector-in-chicago …Align and Scale Green Infrastructure Efforts? Wednesday Oct 6, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. Learn more and register: https://www.rxnproject.org/events/ecosystem-what-is-required-to-create-a-thriving-nbs-sector-in-chicago-ara4p Photo by Lara Jameson from Pexels |
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National and International Conferences
Natural Capital Project Virtual Event: “Bringing the Value of Nature into the Economic Mainstream”
Date: Sept. 7th, 2021
Time: 10:00am-11:30am PT
Location: via Virtual Platform
Description: Nature provides numerous benefits to people and essential life support, but the values of nature are often largely invisible in market economies (“nature works for free”). The ongoing partnership between the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), a global network of researchers and policy makers conducting quantitative analysis of international trade and environmental policies, and the Natural Capital Project is working to change this. The integration of global economic models with ecosystem service models can quantify how nature contributes to the economic bottom-line including income, employment, and international trade that are central to government and corporate decision-making.
For more information and registration, click here.
Date: Sept. 7th, 2021
Time: 10:00am-11:30am PT
Location: via Virtual Platform
Description: Nature provides numerous benefits to people and essential life support, but the values of nature are often largely invisible in market economies (“nature works for free”). The ongoing partnership between the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), a global network of researchers and policy makers conducting quantitative analysis of international trade and environmental policies, and the Natural Capital Project is working to change this. The integration of global economic models with ecosystem service models can quantify how nature contributes to the economic bottom-line including income, employment, and international trade that are central to government and corporate decision-making.
For more information and registration, click here.
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University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines
Date: October 12-14, 2021 Location: via Zoom Description: Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H. For more information and registration, click here. Photo by Belle Co from Pexels |
2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment
Date: October 18-20, 2021
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Description: The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work. The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story.
Early Bird Registration ends August 20th.
Deadline for award nominations and proposal/abstract submissions has been extend through Saturday, August 21 at midnight.
Due to the changing status of COVID-19 SHIFT will be accepting a limited number of remote presentations. Some sessions will be live -streamed. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available.
For more information and registration, click here.
Date: October 18-20, 2021
Location: Grand Junction, Colorado
Description: The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work. The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story.
Early Bird Registration ends August 20th.
Deadline for award nominations and proposal/abstract submissions has been extend through Saturday, August 21 at midnight.
Due to the changing status of COVID-19 SHIFT will be accepting a limited number of remote presentations. Some sessions will be live -streamed. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available.
For more information and registration, click here.
Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation?
Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).
GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program
Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).
GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program
Current Research
Nature and Psychology : Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being. Sullivan, W. C. and D. Li (2021). Nature and Attention. A. R. Schutte, J. C. Torquati and J. R. Stevens. Cham, Springer International Publishing: 7-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69020-5_2
Authors’ Abstract: Our capacity to pay attention—to employ top-down attention by directing our focus toward one idea or task while excluding from our consciousness a host of competing stimuli and thoughts—is key to every human achievement. But top-down attention is a limited resource that fatigues with use. Research demonstrates that having contact with nature, even in otherwise dense urban settings, can restore our ability to focus. Thus, access to natural elements in the form of parks, interconnected green corridors, street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, and green walls do more that provide attractive places for people to live, work, and play. They help people recover from the attentional fatigue that is part of everyday life. In doing so, these landscape elements help us achieve our goals in life. One implication of these findings is that we should redouble our efforts to ensure that we provide nature at every doorstep.
NCH2 Comments: This is the second chapter in an edited book that is part of the Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. The 67th Symposium was titled “Nature and Psychology. Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being”. This chapter provides an introduction to one of the central theories of ecopsychology –Attention Restoration Theory. The other seven chapters are equally informative and written by leaders in the field. The URL takes you to a webpage from which you can download the entire book for free.
Nature and Psychology : Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being. Sullivan, W. C. and D. Li (2021). Nature and Attention. A. R. Schutte, J. C. Torquati and J. R. Stevens. Cham, Springer International Publishing: 7-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69020-5_2
Authors’ Abstract: Our capacity to pay attention—to employ top-down attention by directing our focus toward one idea or task while excluding from our consciousness a host of competing stimuli and thoughts—is key to every human achievement. But top-down attention is a limited resource that fatigues with use. Research demonstrates that having contact with nature, even in otherwise dense urban settings, can restore our ability to focus. Thus, access to natural elements in the form of parks, interconnected green corridors, street trees, rain gardens, green roofs, and green walls do more that provide attractive places for people to live, work, and play. They help people recover from the attentional fatigue that is part of everyday life. In doing so, these landscape elements help us achieve our goals in life. One implication of these findings is that we should redouble our efforts to ensure that we provide nature at every doorstep.
NCH2 Comments: This is the second chapter in an edited book that is part of the Nebraska Symposium on Motivation. The 67th Symposium was titled “Nature and Psychology. Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being”. This chapter provides an introduction to one of the central theories of ecopsychology –Attention Restoration Theory. The other seven chapters are equally informative and written by leaders in the field. The URL takes you to a webpage from which you can download the entire book for free.
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In the News
Overview: This Thomson Reuters Foundation News article discusses the growing faction of the U.S. medical community is prescribing time outside the same way they would traditional medication. While obesity and anxiety have spiked during the pandemic, the pandemic has also highlighted the health benefits of spending more time outdoors. Nature prescriptions are new but may have substantial benefits. Databases of parks and public land, as well as park prescription programs can help doctors and their patients find fitting outdoor prescriptions. Read more here: Growing numbers of doctors are prescribing calibrated doses of time outside to treat ailments including obesity and anxiety. Carey L. Biron. Thomson Reuters Foundation. August 2021. https://news.trust.org/item/20210831100001-qppwk Photo by Eva Elijas from Pexels |
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Overview: This Nature World News article discusses Madrid's move to counteract the city's island of heat by surrounding itself with a sea of green. Their urban forest project will entail planting almost 500,000 trees within a 46-mile (75-kilometer) ring surrounding the city. The trees should be able to absorb about 175,000 tons of CO2 each year once they reach maturity. It also touches on the increasing need and benefits of urban forests. Filtering air and water, controlling storm water, conserving energy, and providing animal habitat and shade are all benefits of urban woods.
Read more here: Madrid Will Plant a Massive Urban Forest to Combat CO2 Emissions in City. Rain Jordan. Nature World News. July 2021. https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/46850/20210726/madrid-will-plant-massive-urban-forest-combat-co2-emissions-city.htm |