Nature-Based Experiences for children in Foster Care
Why Nature?
Nature-based experiential activities at Joy Meadows are an essential method to provide children impacted by foster care the opportunity to find stability, healing, and joy, which is at the core of our mission.
An element of nature is present in all of our activities. When children are given the chance to discover their inherent strengths in a nature-based environment, their sense of identity, self-esteem, self-regulation, and connections with others will improve. Our nature-based activities are part of everything from planned outdoor events with families, to individual sessions interacting with animals or plants, to therapy, to day camps exploring all of the adventures of the great outdoors. Children are given the opportunity to experience and interact with nature in meaningful ways at Joy Meadows:
Animal interactions provide children with a unique form of support so they can build critical skills such as emotional regulation, self-esteem, empathy, trust, and responsibility.
Horticulture activities support social, psychological, and physical well-being.
Extracurricular activities can provide youth with social, emotional, spiritual, and educational enrichment and just plain fun.
Children in the foster care system have faced adverse childhood experiences, including trauma, poverty, separation, abuse, neglect, loss, and disruption, that hinder healthy development. These children have also frequently not had access to the type of childhood opportunities, including extracurricular activities and exposure to nature, which research shows can mitigate the impact of those adverse experiences and support healthy development.
Nature-based experiential activities at Joy Meadows can bring back the wonder, hope, and joy of childhood that is often lost by children who come from hard places.
Nature Based Model
The Healing Power of Nature. The human-animal contact can have a profound effect on a child.
Animal Interactions
There are many opportunities at Joy Meadows for therapy that is guided by a licensed professional counselor, occupational therapist, or speech pathologist to help children with a goal-directed intervention to address trauma.
However, there are also opportunities at Joy Meadows for children to receive the benefits of therapeutic activities and interventions, such as animals, art, or gardening, but in a less formal setting, which is why we use the Animal-Assisted Activities model.
Animal interactions are used to provide a unique form of support to children’s learning, physical health, and emotional well-being. When children are able to relieve their emotional pressures, they learn to better regulate their moods and find a new sense of calm. An animal can be essential to nurturing those calm interactions and helping children learn how to regulate their emotions. Children can respond to animals in a way that they often cannot connect with people. They are a safe confidante and can bring about meaningful connections.
Difference between Animal-Assisted Therapies (AAT) and Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA):
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a goal-directed intervention in which an animal that meets specific criteria is an integral part of the treatment process. AAT is directed and/or delivered by a health/human service professional with specialized expertise and within the scope of practices of his/her profession in a more structured treatment plan process.
Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) provide opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance the quality of life. AAA is delivered in a variety of environments by specially trained professionals and/or volunteers in association with animals that meet specific criteria. Specific treatment goals are not planned for each visit. At Joy Meadows, we currently implement AAA methods with our animal interactions.
Learn about Joy Meadows Equine Sessions for children in foster care.
Horticulture Activities
The horticulture therapeutic benefits for people with physical, emotional, mental, and social challenges are numerous and greatly benefit children in foster care who have experienced trauma.
Garden therapy stimulates the senses, helps release stress, alleviates depression, improves creativity, promotes pleasant emotions, improves motor skills and reduces negativity. The benefits of therapeutic horticulture can be found in social horticulture activities with children, where clinically defined therapeutic goals are not required, but access to nature-based activities are presented to children so they can experience the benefits and well-being just by active involvement with horticulture. At Joy Meadows, this takes place using the therapeutic benefits of horticulture in a less formal delivery as children and parents walk through the garden; or in summer day camps as part of the program, at large events where families can pick from the garden and orchard, or in an individual session where they are guided one-on-one with a horticulture activity.
What is social horticulture?
Social horticulture, sometimes referred to as community horticulture, is a leisure or recreational activity related to plants and gardening. (AHTA defined). No specific treatment goals are defined, nor is a therapist present. The focus is on social interaction and horticulture activities.
The therapeutic aspects of plants and plant-related activities are implemented in a more leisurely setting for interactions with the garden and orchard, but the benefits are the same in repetitive motions, regulating activities, a sense of achievement, calm, and enjoyment. The relational aspect is a focus, using horticulture activities as a means of connection.
Learn about Joy Meadows Garden/Horticulture Sessions for children in foster care.
Extracurricular Nature Activities
Extracurricular activities, which include community activities such as music, dance, art, sports, and volunteer projects, are a vital part of childhood and adolescence. They help young people discover new interests, make connections with peers and supportive adults, and develop independence, self-esteem, and resilience.
Despite the proven emotional and educational benefits, the majority of foster youth face several ongoing barriers to participation in such activities. There are often registration fees, expensive equipment or supplies, in addition to transportation challenges, and frequent moves to new foster homes, which add logistical challenges. Some children impacted by foster care do not have the emotional or behavioral stability to join organized sports teams or activity classes that are not equipped to deal with trauma.
Joy Meadows works to remove the barriers to participation in extracurricular activities for children impacted by foster care. In addition to the animal interactions, we offer art classes, cooking classes, family events, nature trails, day camps, and special events, all taking place within the beautiful outdoor setting of our Linwood, Kansas property. We incorporate nature-activities into our extra-curricular classes and events to give foster children exposure to the benefits of a nature environment.
Learn about Joy Meadows Camps and activities for children in foster care.