Knowledge of Neighborhood Nature Is Associated with Strong Sense of Place among Milwaukee Youth

Abstract

Sense of place hasbeen well studied, but the relationship between children’s sense of place and their knowledge of local natural areas is not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between knowledge of neighborhood natural areas and sense of place among a sample of urban children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The study surveyed fifth-and sixth-grade studentsand applied multilevel statistical analyses to examine relationships. Children who knew of a neighborhood natural area where they could play reported a statistically significantly stronger sense of place. Our findings have implications for urban planning and environmental education.