WQED and Tree Pittsburgh are partnering up for “Growing Greener,” to reach new audiences and engage children and families in environmental and nature-based programming. Together, we will reach more children with outdoor experiences and environmental education designed to create life-long environmental stewards.
Researchers have identified early childhood (defined as birth to eight) as a particularly crucial time for developing environmental literacy. Numerous studies have associated positive childhood experiences in nature with the nascence of adult environmental concern and participation in environmental behaviors. Exposure to nature and outdoor education benefits children physically, mentally, and impacts their ability to learn and thrive academically. A Stanford University review found that environmental education helps children develop academic skills such as critical thinking, decision-making, and systems thinking, producing lifelong learners and effective problem solvers.
