Because nature therapy programs can include many activities, there are a wide array of ways to A.C.E. Nature!

We at NiB have a special love for urban gardening, hiking, and outdoor yoga/meditation. Some other types and ideas include:

• Adventure therapy. This uses activities that explore nature and can be done in an individual or group setting.
  Rafting and rock climbing are good examples.

• Animal-assisted interventions or therapy. Both of these options include spending time with animals. Animal-assisted interventions use locations like farms where you can pet or feed the animals. On the other hand, animal-assisted therapy focuses on building a therapeutic relationship with animals like dogs or houses.

• Arts and crafts. Like the name suggests, this type combines creative crafts with nature. You might use your creative skills to paint in a green space, like a park or a forest. This type also includes using natural materials like clay, grass, or wood or using green spaces as inspiration for art.

• Conservation. Conservation pairs protection spaces in nature with physical exercise.

• Dark nature. Dark nature activities take place at night, so you might practice stargazing, for example.

• Green exercise. Here, you’ll do physical activities in green spaces. That could be running, going on a walk, or taking a bike ride, for example.

• Therapeutic farming. With this type, you’ll participate in farming activities, so you might grow crops or take care of farm animals.

• Therapeutic horticulture. This involves gardening, so you might grow food in community gardens. Sometimes therapeutic horticulture leads to other activities, like selling home-grown crops at a farmer’s market.

• Wilderness therapy. This type of therapy works well in a group. You’ll spend time in the wild doing activities like hiking or making shelters.

There’s no right or wrong way. Just YOUR way!

Admire. Connect. Explore.