What Teenagers Are Saying About Connecting to Nature
In honor of Earth Day this week, we’re rounding up student responses to our prompt “How Do You Connect to Nature?”
Inspired by New York Times reporting on organizations that are trying to help more people of color spend time outside, we invited teenagers to tell us about all the ways they get into the great outdoors, and what that time in the fresh air means to them.
They told us about stargazing, horseback riding, hiking, surfing, skiing and more. And they shared how being in nature helps them relieve stress, be more present and learn to notice the details. Read a selection of their comments below.
Thank you to those who shared their thoughts on our writing prompts this week, including students from Gray-New Gloucester High School in Gray, Maine, and Philip J. Patino High School in Fresno, Calif.
Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
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Teenagers shared their favorite outdoor activities.
In order to connect with nature, I fish. I picked up fishing a year or two ago and I love it. You learn so much and connect with so many different people who share the same interests. Another reason I love fishing is for the rush of the fight, there are so many species of fish that all fight differently. I highly recommend fishing as another opportunity to connect to nature.
Some people say hiking and skiing are just for exercise and not really about connecting with nature. They think the goal is to finish the trail or race down the mountain without noticing what’s around you. I agree that both activities are fun and physically challenging, but they’re also so much more than that. I feel closer to nature when I do these activities. Hiking helps me slow down and enjoy the trees, fresh air, and sounds of birds and animals. Skiing might be fast, but I still stop to take in the view of snowy mountains and quiet forests. Both activities are exciting, but they also make me appreciate how amazing nature is. They make me feel like I’m a part of it, and not just passing through.
— Connor, Glenbard West High School
One of my favorite ways to connect with nature is riding my horses. I also love going to nature parks with my boyfriend and appreciating the lakes. Nature is wonderful, and I am so happy that I am able to spend so much time in it.
I like going on walks, taking photos of the sky or landscape, and listening to music while looking at the trees blowing and the beautiful sky. Being outside helps me clear my mind and appreciate my surroundings. I also enjoy doing work outside when I can, since it makes me feel more relaxed and connected to nature.
— Jonathan, Philip J. Patino High School, Fresno, CA
I enjoy spending time outdoors in the summer and winter. During the summer I spend most of my time outdoors, whether it is going to the beach with friends or going for walks and watching the sunset. During the winter I go snowboarding a lot or ice skating on a frozen lake upstate. A few years ago I went on a hike upstate during the summer with my family. The views were gorgeous and the weather was amazing. It was one of my favorite moments enjoying nature with my family.
— Demi, W.T. Clarke High School, Westbury
Spending time outdoors is essential for my day to day life. Being in nature and away from all of the stresses of life really gives me peace. Whenever I’m nervous or overwhelmed I can just go outside, find somewhere secluded, and just relax. The way I do this most is through surfing. The rhythm of the waves and the smells of the ocean have really become a safe haven for me. Also just going to the beach in general and watching the sunset can really bring my mind off things. The beach is my happy place, and I’m really blessed to live so close to it.
— Jack, Fountain Valley High School
Some said that being in nature brings them a sense of peace, freedom and relief from stress.
Sitting or laying outside on the grass or in a park is just relaxing enough that you can shut your brain off and not have to worry about anything. Spending time with nature can really improve mental health as well, so that’s a bonus. What I love to do out in nature is just lay and close my eyes while hearing the birds chirp and water flow.
— Elijah, Spirit Lake High School
Personally, I love the outdoors. I love to go swimming, hiking, mountain climbing, etc. Being in nature is relaxing. It makes all your problems go away and helps you just appreciate the world around you without being distracted by social media, homework, stress, and every other struggle in the world.
— Nikka, Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
I can say confidently that when I find the time, I’m going on walks at least twice a week. The solace and peace that you find in nature is amazing, AND FREE. I notice way more animals, beautiful trees, and overall beauty of my neighborhood. If the weather is nice and I have no work to do, I kind of don’t want to be anywhere but outside. I can easily begin to view my house as a cage, a comfortable cage, but a cage nonetheless. I honestly think I’ll start setting aside time to explore the outdoors more because there are so many benefits. I can listen to music and watch geese go by, or watch in silence and be alone with my thoughts.
— Sterling, Cumberland Polytechnic High School, Fayetteville, NC
Others said that it has taught them to slow down, notice details and appreciate beauty.
When I was in cross country, I hated every second of it. However, there was one practice course that I hated slightly less than the others. It was on a pretty bike trail lined with trees and other plants. The sun would always shine through the gaps in a mesmerizing way and it was a good distraction from how hot and tired I was. I would think to myself, “I would never go on this trail or see any of this if I wasn’t being forced to run, so that’s nice, I guess.” Now I try and go on walks often to admire nature around town and distract myself from stress. I always make a point to connect with nature on the trails as a reminder to be optimistic.
When it comes to the outdoors, I am a huge fan! I have always spent time outside with my family to bond or help with yard work … But, the one place that I connect with nature the most is my home country, Puerto Rico. I think they have the most beautiful and breathtaking scenery I’ve ever seen, and that may be a little biased. One way I can explain nature there on the island is raw and pure. The air is so fresh and the trees and vegetation are so green. The oceans over there are such a clear and bright, crystal blue. Every time I go visit Puerto Rico, I have to take a minute to just take in what I’m seeing because it’s not every day that I’m able to see nature’s beauty.
— Amaylee, Cumberland Polytechnic High School, Fayetteville, NC
Photography has also deepened my appreciation for nature. It’s made me notice details I might have overlooked, like the way light filters through trees or the unique clouds in the sky. Where I live, outdoor activities like hiking and biking are possible, but the beach for me is one of the best ways to connect with nature. There’s something really calming about the sound of the waves and the feeling of sand under my feet. Watching the ocean, especially during sunrise or sunset, makes me feel at home, making my worries fade away. Even just walking along the shore or taking photos of the water makes me appreciate the outdoors so much more.
— Justin, Fountain Valley High School
And still others said time outside is a way to connect with those they love most.
I like to go on walks with my mom when it’s nice out, and honestly it is really peaceful. It helps me calm down, gather myself, and allows me to just breathe without too many thoughts. I’m really hoping my mom and I can start our walks again since it’s starting to get warmer, especially because I enjoy spending time with her.
My favorite way to connect with nature is being out on the water. Whether it’s on the boat or out on the ice, I love being on the lake. While I do prefer being out on the boat with friends, tanning, and blasting music, I don’t mind being out on the ice sliding around. My absolute favorite thing to do, though, is soak up the sun with friends. On a boat, dock, or even on the lawn are my favorite ways to “connect” and just be in nature.
I connect to nature the most when I’m at my grandparents’ house. Whenever I’m at their house, I always seem to get dragged out of the house to go ice skating, swimming in the summers, and just to play. When I go outside I disconnect from my phone, set it down, forget where I put it. I have no other worries in the world when I’m playing with my cousins in my grandparents’ backyard.
Several students also discussed the barriers they and others might face in accessing nature.
Hiking and spending time outdoors have always been some of my favorite activities, whenever I have a chance to travel or spend time away from home. Some of my earliest memories are from hiking around national parks with my family, running through waterfalls, feeding tiny fish, and looking out across rivers on overlooks. These times I spent with my family and friends are ones that I hold closest to my heart. I love nature and the outdoors, even though I am not able to go out nearly as much as I want. This is mainly due to logistical reasons, whether it being not having a car to go places, being over an hour away from trails I enjoy, or being caught up in the constant movement of life. The ability to get out in nature and being able to hike a trail gives such an immense sense of freedom that I never feel with any other adventure I take. I always find myself yearning to get out of the chaos which plagues urban environments and reach a place where I can connect with nature.
— Ian, Cumberland Polytechnic High School, Fayetteville, NC
I do face barriers to spending time in nature. I live in an up-and-coming suburban area; houses are close together and look nearly identical. It creates a dull atmosphere, but I try to balance it by sitting outside on my patio. I wish I were more surrounded by nature and had more opportunities for outdoor activities … If I could change anything, I would like to have more parks, forests, or hiking spots close to home. Having more accessible outdoor spaces would make it easier to connect with nature and improve my overall well-being.
I do like connecting to nature but many times, I run out of time to do that. During the school year, I have school during the day when the sun is up and then I have gymnastics practice. However, during the summer I have more time to go to gardens, go on hikes and run along the Schuylkill River. Also, I sometimes go to overnight camps that are based in the mountains and we do a lot of outdoor activities such as fishing, archery, volleyball, swimming and boating. Many of these camps are also device free which allows me to hang out with my friends more and none of us are able to be distracted by a phone. My favorite thing is to go on hikes since it’s outside and I like walking on rocks over rivers in the shade.
— Andria, Masterman School, Philadelphia, PA
I live in a place where I am surrounded by many natural environments every day, and I would not be used to a life where I would not be able to hear birds chirping in the morning or have the ability to go out and just lay in the grass. But I also acknowledge that I am a person of privilege, and have never found it difficult or inappropriate for me to go hiking, swimming, camping, etc. Because this article helped me understand how lucky I am to simply walk outside and immerse myself in nature, it also helped me realize that not everyone is able or even socially approved of doing so. So while I don’t really have a difficult time going out in nature, this article inspired me to encourage others to go outside and ignore what is socially acceptable.
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