Educative Ecological Experiences: Reconnecting With Nature

• In Event: Arts, Educational Criticism, and Connoisseurship

Abstract

This study explores educative ecological experiences through the methodology of autocriticism alongside conventional educational connoisseurship and criticism. Ecological experiences are characterized by connectedness, a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and knowingness. Through formal, informal, and incidental interviews, five types of ecological experience have emerged: aesthetic ecological experience: engaging our senses; adventurous ecological experience: engaging the unknown; flow ecological experience: engaging our skill; spiritual ecological experience: engaging our intuition; communal ecological experience: engaging with like-minded others. Creating educative ecological experiences for ourselves toward the aim of re/connecting with nature helps us understand the kinds of potentially meaningful experiences we can teach children, adolescents, and adults to cultivate for themselves as we work together to heal the ecological crisis.

Author

• Christy McConnell, University of Northern Colorado