Healing Power of Nature

Happy Earth Day (today) and Arbor Day (tomorrow)! The article by Vicki Bohling-Phillipi that provides the foundation for the Out of the Box Training Kit, “Using the Power of Nature to Help Children Heal" begins like this:

“‘There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrain of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter.’
Rachel Carson, A Sense of Wonder

These words, written more than 40 years ago by well-known author and naturalist Rachel Carson in her book, A Sense of Wonder, continue to be important today — maybe even more so than when they were first written — because our classrooms and homes are often filled with children who are hurting in one way or another and need the healing influence that a close, personal connection with nature provides.”

When this Training Kit was developed, none of us could have anticipated the challenges children would be facing on a global scale right now; nevertheless there is support and wisdom to be found in this resource that is quite applicable to today’s reality. Connections with nature can provide an antidote to children’s worry (and our own).

Anne Frank wrote:
“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely, or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy amidst the simple beauty of nature. ...I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”

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