TREND 10 – Get Out(side)
Category: Environmental & Technological
Trend Highlights
Environmental Engagement: Using natural settings to alleviate technology’s negative mental health impacts.
Intergenerational Programs: Initiatives that connect young people and the elderly through outdoor activities.
Knowledge Gaps: Addressing the divide in technological literacy across different age groups.
Community Building: Enhancing social bonds and sense of belonging through shared environmental experiences.
Mental Health Benefits: Reducing loneliness and sadness by promoting outdoor activities and intergenerational interactions.
Trend Description
Amidst the rapid advancement of technology and its pervasive integration into daily life, there is an emerging movement focused on leveraging the natural environment to mitigate the negative impacts of tech, particularly addressing issues of loneliness and isolation. This phenomenon is characterized by outdoor activities and programs to foster a sense of community and well-being across multiple generations. Research has shown that spending time can significantly reduce feelings of sadness and isolation, often exacerbated by prolonged technology use. This movement also underscores the growing awareness of the knowledge gaps that arise as technology evolves, particularly between younger and older generations. By creating programs that bring these generations together, such as intergenerational support initiatives and community-building activities, the movement aims to bridge these gaps and promote mutual understanding and shared learning experiences.
This shift is particularly significant in recognizing the complex interplay between technological progress and human well-being. By promoting environmental engagement, the movement addresses the psychological and social deficits associated with excessive technology use and fosters resilience and adaptability in an AI-driven world. The integration of nature-based solutions to combat the adverse effects of technology is gaining traction as it becomes evident that the environment plays a crucial role in maintaining mental health and social cohesion. Programs encouraging intergenerational interactions in natural settings help preserve and transfer knowledge and build stronger, more connected communities.
Supporting Signals
Loneliness and belonging in narrative environments
Beyond Traditional Learning: Exploring Innovative Approaches to Higher Education
Friendships important for belonging, wellness and a healthy life
Camp Kin provides queer youth in the Comox Valley with a sense of community, belonging
Plausible Short-Term Impacts
Buildings have lack of access to windows/sunshine. Worse mental health.
Possible Long-Term Outcomes
Global exchange programs with integrated best practices
Fully accessible spaces
Doctors prescribing the ‘outdoors’ as a therapeutic option.
Expansion of wilderness therapy/programs to be multigenerational or welcome to all ages
Creation of adult day camps
Natural Capital
Promoting outdoor activities and intergenerational programs strengthens social capital by
building connections across age groups and fostering community. These initiatives create
opportunities for shared learning and mutual support, enhancing social bonds and reducing
feelings of isolation.
Financial Capital
The emphasis on intergenerational learning and community-building through naturebased activities contributes to cultural capital by preserving and passing down cultural
practices, knowledge, and values related to the environment. This trend fosters a deeper
appreciation of cultural heritage and promotes the integration of traditional wisdom with
modern approaches to well-being and community resilience.
Manufactured Capital
Investments in outdoor programs and community initiatives that leverage nature for
mental health benefits can generate economic returns by reducing healthcare costs
associated with mental health issues. However, funding these programs might require
reallocating resources from other areas, potentially impacting financial priorities in sectors
heavily reliant on indoor, tech-driven environments.
Human Capital
This trend emphasizes using natural environments to combat the mental health impacts
of technology, encouraging the preservation and appreciation of natural spaces. As more
people engage with nature, efforts may increase to protect and sustain these environments,
leading to better conservation practices.
Social Capital
While this trend seeks to mitigate technology’s negative impacts, it also highlights the need
for a balanced approach to digital capital. By encouraging outdoor activities, there may be
a push to use technology more mindfully, potentially leading to innovations that integrate
digital tools with nature-based experiences healthily and sustainably.
Political Capital
As the benefits of outdoor activities for mental health and community cohesion become
more evident, there may be increased advocacy for policies that protect natural spaces
and fund nature-based programs. Governments and institutions that support these
initiatives could gain political capital by aligning with public interest in mental health and
environmental sustainability.
Digital Capital
The trend could inspire the design of built environments that integrate more natural
elements into urban settings, such as green spaces and outdoor areas. This shift might
also reduce the emphasis on purely technological solutions in favor of more balanced,
nature-inclusive approaches to community planning and development.
Cultural Capital
Engaging with nature and participating in intergenerational outdoor activities can enhance
human capital by improving mental health, increasing physical activity, and fostering the
transfer of knowledge and skills between generations. This contributes to a more resilient
and adaptable population better equipped to navigate the challenges of a tech-driven
world.