Nature Intelligence

What is Nature Intelligence

Nature Intelligence, or NQ, is a multidimensional concept comprising human qualities to connect to nature

in a cognitive, emotional and spiritual manner, and to actively use these qualities to support both one’s mental and social health and well-being as well as the well-being of nature and the planet.

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Graphically, NQ is represented by a flower with four petals, each of them representing 4 key dimensions that are comprised with the following specific competencies.

What is our understanding of NQ?

In our understanding Nature Intelligence (NQ) fits within a broader view of intelligence as a multiple set of abilities and it’s a new concept that builds upon existing ideas on intelligence in general (you can read more about this in the theoretical framework). This moves us to assume that NQ is a capacity that is both an inherited potential and an acquired competence. It can, as such, be effectively influenced by educational programs, habits and context.

We defined Nature Intelligence as the capacity of individuals to identify themselves as part of the natural world and to experience feelings of care and respect for it. It is the capacity of knowing and deeply understanding its cycles and to use this knowledge to actively promote sustainable changes when it comes to the well-being of individuals, society, the planet and the ecosystem.

Within this broader view, NQ in itself can be seen as a multidimensional concept that combines nature-based competences in the cognitive, emotional, spiritual and action domains.

Action

is the ability to use emotional, cognitive and spiritual competencies for regulating one’s own health and the planet’s health, as well as for socializing with peers. The competencies within this dimension are:

Health: recognising and using the relaxing and empowering capacities of nature for self-regulation and health
Engagement: being motivated and capable to engage in actions that make the planet greener and more sustainable
Socialization: choosing nature as a place to spend time with friends and using a shared interest for nature to strengthen connections with peers

Emotion

reflects a sensation of kinship and an affective individual experience of connection with nature, both psychologically and physically, through direct embodied experience and an open-mind to the pleasant as well as the challenging and more uneasy side of nature. The competencies within this dimension are:

Connectedness: it’s about identifying oneself as part of nature, sincerely caring for other living beings, living in harmony and balance with nature.
Embodiment: a direct connection with nature through physical contact, which also implies resilience against more adverse conditions in nature, such as bad weather or dirt
Open-mindedness: it’s about enjoying all aspects of nature, even the things that might be scary or disgusting

Cognition

taps into the intuitive and experiential competencies of environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. These include:

Literacy: an intuitive understanding of the dimensions, elements, patterns and processes of nature
Curiosity: an interest in nature and awareness of the intrinsic value of nature
Outdoor skills: having practical knowledge and basic skills for staying outdoors and living in nature

Spirit

refers to a feeling of transcendence and interconnectedness, based on the realization that the natural world that surrounds us is alive and intelligent, just as humans are. The competencies within this dimension are:

Transcendence: a ‘flow experience’ (also known as ‘magical moments’ or ‘peak experiences’) during which one feels lifted beyond the hustle and bustle of daily life and connected to something bigger
Mindfulness: having a mindful sensory experience of nature
Authenticity: the capacity to be true to oneself, to be an authentic person guided by one’s own inner principles, as a precondition for, and outcome of, spiritual experiences with nature

Our project outputs

Publications

Residential training

Online training

In our first product, we aim to lay a solid theoretical foundation for this brand-new concept of Nature Intelligence. We will bring together scientific knowledge, insights from experienced youth workers and the thoughts and perceptions of young people.

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After exploration of the topic of nature intelligence and creating the curriculum we would like to send these outcomes out to the world, so that they can serve the wider public. We will organise testing residential course with the first group of youth workers, who would like to develop their competences in promoting and facilitating nature intelligence development in their communities.

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Our past experiences changed the way we learn, that is why we decided to develop an online training course for all of you who cannot be present on our residential training course or you want to learn your own way. We are currently developing the concept of nature intelligence in youth work and when we do, our next step is to develop a residential training course.

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