“That Was the Happiest Time of My Life”: Understanding Childhood Eco-Connections in Appalachian Communities

Abstract

The goal of this study was to explore facets of childhood eco-connections, using retrospective qualitative data from adults. One hundred and forty-five adults from predominantly rural and small-town communities in southern Appalachia (71.7% female), average age 36.23 years (SD = 12.08) participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews on key life experiences and the places they grew up. Mentions about place-related childhood memories or interactions were grouped into four themes based on exploratory thematic content analysis: nature nostalgia (positive reminiscences about nature experiences); nature immersion (extensive contact with the natural world during childhood); formative experiences with nature (nature interactions that taught a skill or life lesson); and rhythms of nature (appreciation of seasonal or cyclical patterns). Childhood eco-connections are multifaceted and often emerge from early impactful or intense experiences. Pro-environmentalism messages to youth may benefit from more references to childhood eco-connections.

Connection to nature: A student perspective

“…In the connection to nature literature we reviewed, few used qualitative approaches, with most focusing on K-12 populations (Barthel et al, 2018;Michaelson et al, 2020;Tugurian & Carrier, 2017). Hamby et al (2022) conducted interviews with adults, exploring their connection to nature; however, this work narrowly focused on how the participants' childhood experiences shaped their "eco-connections. "…”