
Author Katharine Burke recognized a growing malaise in response to the climate crisis and asked herself how we, as teachers, can help these capable yet vulnerable young people develop the ecological literacy and personal resilience they need. She provoked her students to think and act ecologically. She then invited other teachers to participate in action research for developing nature connectedness with the students. This book shares those transformative stories, concepts, and methods of connecting with nature for life. Earthwards shifts the lens from using nature as a throwaway object to understanding nature as a living organism. This crucial paradigm shift comes through peak experiences of nature. The educator’s job is both to create the conditions for such transformative ecological experiences and then to bring out the students’ observations, feelings, thoughts, and questions.