Looking back, I understand the urgency of this research. I had just moved from Brazil, from the small town of Paraty where I was immersed in and connected to nature, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In this new context, I could not recognize nature in the way I knew it, not only because of the change in the biome, but also because I had moved to a big city. In this new context I had to expand the concept of what nature is, find ways to connect with it and acknowledge its benefits and importance for people’s health and the health of the planet. For that, I re-examined my background as a Caiçara from a traditional community in Brazil to find ways of understanding how the values of community and place are the basis of cultural identity and the feeling of belonging.

Following a practice-led research focused on awareness of nature, I developed, applied and analyzed educational artistic activities with respect to nature around the city of Rotterdam, specific to those who live in cities and/or have little access to nature. The activities were in the form of workshops inspired by Joseph Cornell’s book Sharing Nature, in which he presents a four-step theme for learning about nature, and also by my own expertise. The ensuing reports on activities, interviews and a bibliography served as a basis for the theoretical body of the text. On top of that, my position as a member of a traditional community, an immigrant, and artist-educator helped me to form critical thinking.

The research has shown that for those who have little access to nature, or who live in cities, connecting with it requires a state of mind of appreciation and awe. In this context, the educator is a facilitator who guides the experience in order to provide the tools and means necessary for that state of mind to arise. The results of the educational practices show that the connection with nature happens at a subtle level – that is, it is fragile, almost immeasurable and ephemeral. It needs to be nurtured, re-linked, and constantly revised to be active. The theoretical body of knowledge related to the concept of nature and nature’s importance for us makes it possible to understand how the economical-political structures of society are designed to push man away from nature – therefore, from his own inner being and self-healing. Taking this into account, the goal of these educational practices is to make people aware of the presence of nature everywhere and its indisputable importance and connection with human beings and life on Earth. However, this work proved to be both arduous and constant in terms of accessing the necessary state of mind and environment for this.