A Child's View of the Urban Forest

Abstract

One hundred twenty elementary school children in Minnesota were given cameras for one school week and instructed to photograph their outdoor world. The children represented four different grade levels and three population regions: urban, suburban and rural. This study is an alternative to the photograph evaluation surveys given to adults or children, and provides insight into a child's view of the urban forest. A high percentage of the photographs from all regions and all grade levels included trees. Children from urban areas photographed fewer playground scenes than did suburban and rural children. Youngerchildren photographed more people and playgrounds than older children did.