The arts and place-based pedagogies : transformative and creative learning to move students from awareness to action

Introduction: Increasingly, children are becoming alienated and detached from their natural world. Predicated on this stance, educators involved in teaching and learning in outdoors environments need to philosophically rethink their modus operandi. 'Touched by the Earth', is a year-long place-based enrichment program using multi-modal creative methods with young adolescent participants. Objectives: Past attempts to promote a durable connection of nature with children have at times, been labeled piecemeal and ineffectual. Our paper explores how the Arts may be incorporated into immersive place-based programs and how creative work can heighten connectivity with the environment. Methods: Our research addressed the questions: How does an experiential learning program impact upon participant learning? How can the Arts amplify a personal relationship with the environment? Data was collected through interviews as well as student generated material such as artifacts, video and photos and field observation. Results: The pivotal role the Arts play in embodied and multi-sensory learning for participants was clearly evident from our findings. Conclusion: We posit that the transformation may, in fact, be termed 'love' or 'affection' and that place-based, interdisciplinary and immersive modalities galvanise a deeper appreciation of the natural environment.