Experience in a Protected Area of the Atlantic Forest Changed the Way Children and Teenagers Described Nature

Abstract

We have shared natural spaces and processes with other living beings for a long time. However, the idea of separation between people and nature, marked by rational mentality, and the unprecedented urbanization of the Western world, has generated unexpected environmental impacts. In this study, we considered that direct exposure of children and teenagers to the natural environment with little human intervention, such as protected areas, could positively influence their knowledge and feelings toward their surroundings, thus, contributing to environmental consciousness. In a multimethod study, we explored how children and teenagers between 8 and 17 years described and perceived nature, before and after a visit to the Serra do Conduru State Park in Bahia, Brazil. Participants were asked to draw on white paper using colored pencils, and were given with the following instruction: "Draw what comes into your mind when we say the word nature,"and then, based on the drawing, they answered the following questions: "What did you draw"and "what is happening in the drawing?"Content analysis was used to analyze the information gathered. Three categories emerged from the participant answers: elements of nature, landscape, and nature value types. Statistical analysis was used to test the frequency of each category, before and after the experience, along with qualitative analysis of the descriptions of the meanings attributed to nature, emphasizing different elements and their relationships. The results showed that after the visit, the participants showed cognitive and emotional proximity with the visited environment, evidencing significant changes in their perceptions of person-nature interaction, specific knowledge of the park ecosystem, and relationships provided by the visit itinerary.