How Nature and Awe Help Every Learner Thrive

We all know the transformative power of nature—whether it’s the joy we feel after a walk in the park, the serenity of breathing in the ocean air, or the awe of watching a sunset. Research confirms that spending time in nature offers endless benefits for both the body and the mind—ranging from improved mood and greater connection to increased positive emotions and better immune function. For autistic individuals, nature provides unique sensory experiences that support emotional regulation, curiosity, and social engagement.

Yet, humans are spending less and less time in nature. For many learners—especially neurodiverse and disabled learners—access to nature is limited by systemic barriers. We need nature now more than ever, and we must ensure that nature and its wellbeing benefits are accessible to all.

As a proud partner of Greater Good in Education, Proof Positive Autism Wellbeing Alliance draws inspiration from their science-backed resources and practices. Greater Good in Education’s nature-focused resources—like A Nature Awe Journal, A Gratitude Poem to the World, and Gratitude Nature Walk—have shaped our approach to spreading the science and skills of happiness to the autism community. One practice in particular—Finding Awe Through Our Senses—influenced how we think about making nature connections accessible for all learners.

Grounded in the science of awe and the restorative effects of nature, Finding Awe Through Our Senses demonstrates that connecting to nature doesn’t require an ocean or a national park; it can be found in small, intentional moments—anywhere, anytime.

In this practice, students are invited to slow down, take a deep breath, and choose a sense to engage—sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell. They might observe the transformation of a cloud, savor the taste of a piece of fruit, listen to birds or nearby sounds, touch a natural object, or notice a smell as they walk. They are then guided to reflect on what emotions these sensory experiences bring up. This practice reminded us that sensory experiences are not only a simple way to connect with nature, but also one of the most inclusive and accessible, particularly for autistic and neurodiverse learners.

Finding Awe Through Our Senses emphasizes pausing, noticing, and reflecting on sensory experiences. Inspired by this, we created a Nature Connection Personal Reflection where learners identify a favorite place in nature using multiple options:

Offering varied expression styles ensures that students who communicate best through visuals, art, or simple choices can fully participate.

The “hear” activity in Finding Awe Through Our Senses invites students to close their eyes and listen for sounds like birds, cars, or winds. We extended this into Nature BINGO, where learners use their sense of hearing to identify nature-related sounds. This adaptation adds structure, predictability, and play—key supports for neurodiverse learners.

Finding Awe Through Our Senses encourages students to notice whether sensory experiences evoke certain emotions, like calm, interest, or awe. We adapted this with an activity where students can look at nature images or watch short nature videos and identify which emotions come up for them. This helps learners build the connection between nature, sensory experiences, and emotions in an accessible way.

Greater Good in Education’s nature-based resources inspired our Nature Prescriptions skill—an evidence-informed happiness skill designed to help every learner create a personalized plan to intentionally connect with nature each week. Research suggests that at least 120 minutes per week (that’s just 2 hours) is the dose of nature we need to thrive—but those minutes can be flexible and adapted to the needs of each learner. Nature is everywhere and for everyone. For autistic individuals, this might mean:

The key is to find what works for each learner—the spaces, textures, sounds, and sensory experiences that bring a sense of joy, serenity, and connection.

Our Nature Prescriptions skill wouldn’t exist without Greater Good Science Center’s research and inspiration. Their commitment to making wellbeing skills understandable and actionable has helped us ensure that autistic and neurodiverse learners—who are often left out of wellbeing conversations—can meaningfully access nature-based happiness skills.

Together, we share a vision: a world where every learner, across abilities, can experience awe, joy, and belonging in nature. When wellbeing is accessible, every learner can thrive.