Stay Healthy In Nature Everyday: Family Nature Outings in a Low Income Population

Despite mounting evidence that nature matters for human health, we are not aware of any
prospective intervention trials looking at the use of nature as a health intervention. Like
other protective factors, such as the presence of a caring adult, safe play places, greater
stimulation, the presence of green-space in a child's life has been empirically linked to
greater resilience. Nature has been proposed as a buffer to stress through several pathways:
by providing a space for friends and families to gather (thereby increasing social support
and improving family relationships), by increasing opportunities for physical activity, and
by improving cognition. Research to date suggests that participation in outdoor activities
facilitates a sense of connectedness to place. This sense of attachment may also provide a
form of social support. Families served by Children's Hospital Oakland Primary Care Clinic
experience high levels of stress. As a safety-net clinic, the primary care clinic serves a
diverse set of patients, with a common thread of poverty. The Stay Healthy In Nature program
was developed to encourage stress management skills through play and physical activity in
parks. The program uses a combination of facilitated and independent outings into local parks
to encourage sustained behavior change and measurable health benefits.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Child must be 4 years and older, a patient in our clinic, physically able, available
for follow up, able to answer questionnaire

- Caregiver must be 18 or older, legal guardian, physically able, able for follow up,
able to answer questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

- Enrolled in a weight loss program, unable to be physically active, unable to give
informed consent, unable to follow up for study duration.