Poets and writers have long lauded the beauty and necessity of nature. More recent literature and research has provided support for the healthful benefits of the natural environment. This literature spans the breadth of many disciplines. Yet, very little occupational therapy literature focuses on the natural environment. This is somewhat surprising given occupational therapy’s focus on space and place.
This thesis explores the experience of participation in natural environment occupations by adult members of the Sierra Club. Five Sierra Club members were interviewed and two local Sierra Club outings were observed. Qualitative data analysis revealed two major themes: childhood beginnings and adult values, and positive health benefits. This research adds to the paucity of occupational therapy literature on the natural environment and sheds light on the various benefits of natural environment occupations.
","abstract_html":"<p>Poets and writers have long lauded the beauty and necessity of nature. More recent literature and research has provided support for the healthful benefits of the natural environment. This literature spans the breadth of many disciplines. Yet, very little occupational therapy literature focuses on the natural environment. This is somewhat surprising given occupational therapy’s focus on space and place.</p> <p>This thesis explores the experience of participation in natural environment occupations by adult members of the Sierra Club. Five Sierra Club members were interviewed and two local Sierra Club outings were observed. Qualitative data analysis revealed two major themes: childhood beginnings and adult values, and positive health benefits. This research adds to the paucity of occupational therapy literature on the natural environment and sheds light on the various benefits of natural environment occupations.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ture, Tulin Roselynn"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Health Sciences","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Elizabeth Francis, PhD, OTR, Chair","Judy Olson, PhD, OTR","Kathy Siler, MS, OTR"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2008-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z","subjects":["Human ecology","Nature Psychological aspects","Occupational therapy Philosophy","Occupational therapy Environmental aspects","Occupational Therapy"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/183","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Elizabeth Francis, PhD, OTR, Chair","Judy Olson, PhD, OTR","Kathy Siler, MS, OTR"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ture, Tulin Roselynn"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Health Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Human ecology","Nature Psychological aspects","Occupational therapy Philosophy","Occupational therapy Environmental aspects","Occupational Therapy"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/183"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Poets and writers have long lauded the beauty and necessity of nature. More recent literature and research has provided support for the healthful benefits of the natural environment. This literature spans the breadth of many disciplines. Yet, very little occupational therapy literature focuses on the natural environment. This is somewhat surprising given occupational therapy’s focus on space and place.
This thesis explores the experience of participation in natural environment occupations by adult members of the Sierra Club. Five Sierra Club members were interviewed and two local Sierra Club outings were observed. Qualitative data analysis revealed two major themes: childhood beginnings and adult values, and positive health benefits. This research adds to the paucity of occupational therapy literature on the natural environment and sheds light on the various benefits of natural environment occupations.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The meaning of natural environment occupations: Exploring the experiences of Sierra Club members"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Elizabeth Francis, PhD, OTR, Chair","Judy Olson, PhD, OTR","Kathy Siler, MS, OTR"],"dc:creator":["Ture, Tulin Roselynn"],"dc:description.abstract":["Poets and writers have long lauded the beauty and necessity of nature. More recent literature and research has provided support for the healthful benefits of the natural environment. This literature spans the breadth of many disciplines. Yet, very little occupational therapy literature focuses on the natural environment. This is somewhat surprising given occupational therapy’s focus on space and place.
This thesis explores the experience of participation in natural environment occupations by adult members of the Sierra Club. Five Sierra Club members were interviewed and two local Sierra Club outings were observed. Qualitative data analysis revealed two major themes: childhood beginnings and adult values, and positive health benefits. This research adds to the paucity of occupational therapy literature on the natural environment and sheds light on the various benefits of natural environment occupations.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/183"],"dc:subject":["Human ecology","Nature Psychological aspects","Occupational therapy Philosophy","Occupational therapy Environmental aspects","Occupational Therapy"],"dc:title":["The meaning of natural environment occupations: Exploring the experiences of Sierra Club members"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Health Sciences"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:30Z"}