A Path to Reconnect with the Outdoors using the Nature Triangle
- Alexander Kwapis
- Aug 2
- 3 min read
We all know the importance of a balanced diet, but what if the same principle applied to our relationship with nature? The Nature Triangle offers a new way to think about our exposure to the natural world, a way to nourish our body, mind, and spirit through the right balance of daily, weekly, and occasional nature experiences. In today's busy world, we often forget the healing power of nature, but just like the food pyramid helps us maintain a healthy diet, the Nature Triangle can guide us toward a balanced connection with nature for greater well-being.
Exposure to nature, just like the food pyramid, requires a balance of smaller, frequent nature servings with occasional deeper and more intense experiences.
At Wild Dirt, we embrace this holistic approach to nature. Let's explore how we can integrate nature into our lives through daily "nature servings" that align with the Nature Triangle, fostering emotional balance, creativity, and overall health.
The Nature Triangle: A Framework for Reconnecting with Nature
The Nature Triangle helps us achieve a healthy balance between daily, weekly, and monthly interactions with nature. Here's how the levels of nature exposure break down:
1. Micro Nature Interactions (Base Level)
These small, everyday experiences with nature are the foundation of your nature diet. From a brief walk in your neighborhood park to watering your plants or watching wildlife through your window, these moments of nature exposure help reduce stress, enhance mental clarity, and improve mood. It's the essential "snack" of nature.
2. Engagement with Urban Green Spaces (Middle Level)
These activities are more immersive and involve local or country parks, forests, and waterways. You can experience activities like day trips, hiking, bike rides, kayaking, and outdoor sports. They offer a deeper connection to nature, helping you feel more grounded and rejuvenated. A weekly nature engagement might include running or hiking through your local park or spending time with friends and family outdoors.
3. Deep Nature Engagement (Monthly Nature)
A monthly nature experience could include a weekend camping trip, a visit to a secluded state, regional, or national park, or hiking in a less urbanized environment. These more immersive trips allow for personal reflection, more profound relaxation, and a stronger connection to the earth. They're designed to provide rejuvenation from the pace of daily life.
4. Profound Immersion in Wilderness (Highest Tier)
These experiences involve extended trips into wilderness areas or untouched natural environments. Whether it's a multi-day camping trip in the mountains, deep in a national park, or eco-tourism, this level offers the most profound connection to nature, where awe and wonder abound. These profound immersions help you truly reconnect with the earth, providing long-lasting rejuvenation.
Why a Balanced Nature Diet Matters
Studies show that exposure to nature lowers stress, enhances cognitive function, improves mood, and fosters creativity. Like a balanced diet, different types of natural experiences are necessary to achieve optimal mental, emotional, and physical health. Each level of the Nature Triangle provides a unique kind of benefit, and a balanced mix of experiences is key.
By incorporating all four levels of nature into your routine, from quick daily interactions to profound wilderness immersions, you can reap the full benefits of nature for your overall well-being.
References & Resources:
Beatley, Tim. (2013). Nature as Essential Nutrition: Exploring the Nature Pyramid. City Green.
Selhub, E. & Logan, A. C. (2014). Your Brain On Nature. Collins Publishers.
Louv, Richard. (2005). Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books.
