Personal Responses to
Outdoor Environments
Outdoor & Environmental Studies
Exploring Outdoor Experiences
Martin Eriksson
Some Responses to Nature
 Fear.
 Contemplation.
 Appreciation/Awe.
 Inspiration.
Fear
Many of our responses to nature are
responses of fear.
 Looking at story books many pictures
give the impression nature should be
feared.
 Nature as wilderness, something wild
and untamed.
 Think of a personal experience where
you have been afraid of nature.

What is your initial response to these?
Picture Facts

The spider in the picture is a Wolf
Spider. It is considered harmless to us.

The snake is a white lipped snake and
although it has venom the venom is
considered not dangerous to humans.
Discussion
Do we fear nature because we don’t
understand it?
 Do we fear nature because we have
learnt this through our culture?
 When we usually think of nature it is big
and vast. Does this make us feel small,
insignificant and perhaps vulnerable?
 Copy down these questions and
respond to them with some examples.

Contemplation
Quiet.
 Peaceful.
 Slower pace.
 Allows us to relax,
think and ponder life.
 Time out from hustle
and bustle to reflect.

Discussion
Often nature is a good place to
contemplate.
 Is this just because it is quiet and
relaxing?
 Is it because we are away from family,
friends, school, and work and can think
about life away from or without them.
 Is it contemplation about us and nature?
 Copy down and respond to the above in
writing.

Appreciation/Awe





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Looks beautiful.
Breath of fresh air
makes us feel good.
Sounds of birds, wind in
trees, trickle of creek.
Smell of salt air, rain,
shrubs.
Good weather.
Respect combined with
fear or wonder.
Something different.
Discussion
Think of a place of nature that you
appreciate.
 Does your appreciation mean you
respect it?
 What is it about this place that you
appreciate?
 How does it make you feel and why?
 Write questions and your responses.


Compare the pictures. Which do you
appreciate more? Cute and cuddlies!
Inspiration
Many people are
inspired to express
thoughts and feelings
about nature. Some
examples of this are:
 Write poetry
 Paint landscapes
 Sketch flowers or birds
 Write stories, describing
places of nature

The Man From Snowy River
And down by Kosciusko, where the pine-clad
ridges raise
Their torn and rugged battlements on high,
Where the air is clear as crystal, and the
white stars fairly blaze