The 2nd national Nature & Health Conference

 

This conference has been held

 

Registration

 

Abstract compilation

Programme

 

Theme: Children & adolescents

7. and 8. November 2011

Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen invites to The 2nd National conference within Natur and Health with focus on children and adolescents.

 

Well supported by research there is a growing attention on the effect of nature on human health. Research shows that nature can have a positive effect on reducing children’s stress level, and children who spend much time out of doors in nature environments also become nature consumers as adults creating a virtuous circle.

The conference presents national and international researchers and practitioners within nature and public health and new Danish research will be presented focusing on several health benefits for children and adolescents who spend time outdoors in nature. Given this it is a paradox that children and adolescents of today become more and more dissociated to nature. At the conference the famous author and debater Richard Louv with speak about how the present generation of American children risk becoming the first growing up not having a relation to nature. Tendencies show that the Nordic countries are heading the same direction. Fortunately many initiatives exist among nature schools, municipalities, health centres, and private organisations, which all motivate children and adolescents to involve themselves in outdoor activities, resulting in improved mental and physical health.
 

The purpose of the conference:

• To inspire and motivate the development of health promoting activities in nature for children and adolescents
• To present research that shows the effect of the relation between nature and the health of children and adolescents
• To present projects from praxis working with improving the health of or preventing bad health among children and adolescents
• To create a forum for future interdisciplinary collaboration among the many different people and professions involved
• To offer a research seminar for national and international researchers working within the theme of the conference (see ’call for abstracts’)
  
  The research seminar is open to all interested members of the audience.

Target groups

The conference is intended for a broad audience who is interested in nature, health, children and adolescents including:

• Local authority employees within e.g. child care, education, social services, health care, and the fields of environment, nature and planning 
• Private companies from the ’green’ and the ’white’ sector
• Researchers and Ph.d. students
• Nature- og outdoor recreation organisations
• Private persons and students who take an interest in the theme of the conference 

The Nature & Health conference can be viewed in the context of an international research conference focusing on ’Nature & Public Health’ Conference November 9th (for further information click here). The international research conference is a pre-conference to the yearly European Public Health Conference November 10.-12., arranged by the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and this year taking place in Denmark.

 

Program introduction

Day one we have the honour to introduce author and journalist Richard Louv (U.S), whose thought provoking book ’Last Child in the Woods’ has played a big part in drawing attention to the many problems associated with children’s dissociated relation to nature. This year Louv is coming up with the successor called ‘Human Restoration and the End of Nature-Deficit Disorder’. Furthermore researchers from ’The Natural Learning Initiative’, NC State University, U.S., brain scientist and author Keld Fredens (DK), and researchers from Danish universities present on-going projects and results within the topic of children and adolescents, nature and health. Day one will be held at ‘The Seasons’ at Humlebæk north of Copenhagen at the beautiful nature based home farm Krogerup, where we will experience how children are involved in both growing and preparing the food.

Day 2 has two parallel sessions; one is an international research seminar and the other consists of different workshops (all in Danish) where the participants have the opportunity to learn about ‘best practice’ emphasising active involvement and exchange of experience. The different workshops take place parallel from 9.30am – 12.30pm and again from 1.30pm – 4.30pm. All registered participants will be notified when registration for the workshops and seminar is open (app. two weeks before the conference).

This day will take place close to the forest where the Forestry College greet the participants with nice surroundings and good opportunities for having the workshops outdoors. 

 

Time and location

7th November 08.30 am - 06.00 pm at the Seasons, Krogerupvej 3c, 3050 Humlebæk, Denmark
8th November 08.30 am - 04.30 pm at the Forestry College, Nødebovej 77a, 3480 Fredensborg, Denmark

Transportation to and from the Central Station in Copenhagen will be provided.

 

Hotel suggestions in Copenhagen

Hotel Guldsmeden
Hotel 27 
Hotel Fox

 

Price

Dkr. 1.850/3.700 (€ 250/500) for respectively one and two days. The price is excl. VAT.

 

 

	Price, subscribers to Forest & Landscape Factsheets	Price, others
Day 1	€ 210	€ 250
Day 2	€ 210	€ 250
Day 1 + 2	€ 420	€ 500
Bus transport day 1	€ 20	€ 20
Bus transport day 2	€ 20	€ 20

 

The conference is arranged by Forest and Landscape, University of Copenhagen.

Conference responsible

Associate Professor Ulrika K. Stigsdotter & Consultant Poul Hjulmann Seidler