I’m a member of a team of researchers and practitioners designing a quick, easy to use manual focused on assessing program outcomes for small non-profits delivering programs aimed at connecting children to the natural world. Often times small organizations do not have the staff, money, or resources to manage this process. Although there are ample resources focusing on outcome assessment, we are focusing on emotional and connection to place/community-oriented outcomes. As part of this process, we are gathering any current tools that organizations may be using to measure participants’ emotional connection to nature following an environmental program at a camp, after school program, overnight program, or day program. In particular we are focused on the following outcomes:

Fascination with natural world
Curiosity about natural world
Joy in natural world
Comfort in natural world
Love of natural world
Imagination
Connection to Place
Connection to Community

If anyone is part of an environmental education organization that is measuring these outcomes, would you be willing to share your measurement tools? We think this will be beneficial to others assessing these important outcomes. We look forward to sharing the manual with you all very shortly. Thank you!