Case Studies

Below are a series of case studies about designed projects and programs that connect people with nature. To search design projects, click on case studies called PLACE. For programs, click on case studies called PROGRAMS. We hope you will look at all the incredible case studies that prioritize nature and health.

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A young participant shows excitement for the bike ride; he is accompanied by a program staff wearing a neon vest.

Program

Portland Wheelers

Portland, ME

A sidewalk, path, and landscaped garden beds with flat-roofed, wood-sided buildings on either side.

Place

Power To Be Basecamp

Victoria, British Columbia

Children play in and around large, hollowed-out logs set in a flat area covered with bark mulch with trees in the background.

Place

Regenstein Learning Campus at the Chicago Botanic Garden

Glencoe, IL

Two children play on modern-styled exercise equipment with an adult standing near one of them. There are trees, shrubs, and perennials planted on either side and a street with parked cars in the background.

Place

Ricardo Lara Linear Park

Lynwood, CA

A cyclist rides a bike along a forest trail, which is bordered by thick, green trees that give way to deeper forestry. The cyclist looks ahead to scout the trail before them; they also wear a bright yellow helmet and gloves for safety.

Program

Richmond Cycling Corps

Richmond, VA

Adults and youth stand by a rock dam built inside a dirt path with grass on the sides and trees in the background.

Program

River Source: Watershed Restoration with New Mexico Youth and Communities

Santa Fe, NM

A group of people are kayaking down the CA Delta. The water itself is calm aside from the ripples caused by the kayaks. The blue sky above boasts no traces of clouds, promising a sunny day ahead for the participants.

Program

Saved By Nature

Campbell, CA

Sensory Arts Garden

Place

Sensory Arts Garden at The Els Center of Excellence

Jupiter, FL

Nighttime aerial view shows the illuminated park with a crowd of people sitting on the lawn and the city skyline in the background.

Place

SoundScape Park

Miami Beach, FL

A close-up shot of Dan riding his trike with a confident grin.

Program

Spokes Fighting Strokes

Arizona City, AZ

People walking and riding bicycles on a path with tall grass on either side of the path and mountains in the background.

Place

Story Mill Community Park

Bozeman, MT

A large group of participants line up for a photo at the edge of a hill. They are all dressed in biking gear and have their arms thrown up in the air as a sign of triumph; some also have bikes by their sides. The background is a beautiful shot of a vast canyon, with rolling green hills that disappear far into the horizon. The clear sky overhead is lit up by a bright sun.

Program

The Cycle Effect - Building Belonging on Bikes

Eagle, CO

Low wooden balance beam structures for children are scattered throughout a grove of fledgling trees. Full-grown trees stand tall in the back of the grove.

Place

The Orchard at White Street Park

Suwanee, GA

The exterior of the Outdoor Care Retreat. Its wooden structure stands tall against a summer blue sky; glass windows provide the cabin ample lighting. Photo credit: Maren Lindheim.

Place

The Outdoor Care Retreat

Oslo, Norway

People sitting on stepped concrete seating in a gently sloping grassy hillside.

Place

Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park, Phase 1

Council Bluffs, IA

A young child stands smiling, ankle-deep in the shallow seasonal creek, holding a jug from which he pours. Behind him, a large log bridges the water, foliage draped across it.

Program

Treeline Enrichment, LLC

Plant City, FL

An aerial view of the garden, with the multi-story Unicare Bakke hospital in the background. Groves of mature, leafy trees flank the vertical axes of the rehabilitation garden.

Place

Unicare Bakke Hospital Rehabilitation Garden

Halden, Norway

Program participants and the Hunters of Color & Holla Mentors stand together to pose for a picture during an outdoor archery activity.

Program

Urban Nature Partners PDX

Portland, OR

The 360 camera recreates the landscape to look like a perfect, planet-like sphere, with people standing in a grassy circle in the middle of the planet. Blue sunny sky surrounds the "planet".

Program

Virtual Reality and Nature (VRN) Lab

Clemson, SC

Multiple people are walking in small groups along a tree-lined path, many are wearing blue Walk with a Doc t-shirts, and all are smiling.

Program

Walk with a Doc

Columbus, OH

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