Why the outdoors is good for you.

The Transformative Power of Nature: How Thing Adventures Leads the Way

At Thing Adventures, we are passionate about the outdoors and believe in its profound impact on mental and physical well-being. One of our missions is to provide individuals, especially those with physical and cognitive disabilities, with opportunities to experience the benefits of nature. Our approach is validated by recent academic research, demonstrating that being in the outdoors among nature is an effective modality for improving psychological and behavioural outcomes in participants.

Programs with Nature: A Research-Backed Approach

A Meta-Analysis of Adventure Therapy Outcomes and Moderators by Daniel J. Bowen and James T. Neill provides compelling evidence for the efficacy of participants being in nature. This comprehensive study reviewed 197 studies, encompassing 2,908 effect sizes and 206 unique samples, making it “the most robust meta-analysis of its kind to date​”.

Key Findings:

1. Short-Term Gains: The meta-analysis found a moderate short-term effect size (g = .47) for nature interaction, indicating significant improvements in participants' psychosocial functioning. This effect was larger compared to alternative treatments (g = .14) and no treatment groups (g = .08)​​.

2. Long-Term Benefits: Nature's benefits are not fleeting. The study showed that the positive changes observed in the short term were maintained over the long term (g = .03), underscoring the lasting impact of these programs​​.

3. Broad Applicability: Being in the outdoors was effective across various outcome categories, including clinical measures, self-concept, and behavioural improvements. The strongest effects were noted in clinical and self-concept measures, highlighting nature's capacity to foster significant psychological growth

How Thing Adventures Implements Research Findings

At Thing Adventures, we integrate the principles of research into our programs, aligning our services with these research-backed methodologies to ensure maximum benefit for all of our participants.

1. Holistic Engagement: Our programs are designed to engage participants on cognitive, emotional, and behavioural levels. Activities such as hiking, camping, and team-building exercises are crafted to promote personal growth and resilience.

2. Inclusive and Accessible: We emphasise accessible experiences and tourism, ensuring that our experiences are inclusive for individuals with various disabilities. Our staff are trained to adapt activities to meet the unique needs of each participant, making the outdoors accessible to everyone.

3. Sustained Support: Understanding the long-term benefits of nature interaction, we offer ongoing support and follow-up programs to help participants maintain their progress and continue benefiting from their experiences with us.

Why Choose Thing Adventures?

Our commitment to evidence-based practices sets us apart as leaders in the field of accessible experiences in nature. By incorporating the latest research findings into our programs, we provide an enriching and transformative experience that promotes well-being and fosters a deeper connection with nature.

Join us at Thing Adventures, where the beauty of the outdoors helps our participants to embark on a journey towards improved health and happiness.