Urban green spaces as participatory learning laboratories

Abstract

Built environment education can deepen young people's understanding of everyday environments. It allows them to pursue their interests, to explore the environment, and to practice skills and group action. Participatory practices, when integrated into built environment education, address young people's rights to influence decisions that affect them and provide young people with opportunities to develop action competence, which can influence long-term environmental action. Green spaces within cities provide rich learning laboratories as sites that support opportunities for young people to explore, play and learn about nature within the city. Case studies from Growing Up Boulder illustrate how green spaces can be used as sites for participatory built environment education in which students consider nature, social and cultural environments as part of their urban experience. While many models for environmental education exist, built environment education holds promise as an integrative context for participatory learning in the city.