Considering language

Within this research project, we are using the term outdoor health as an umbrella term for a broad range of related approaches that support human health and wellbeing. All these approaches share ‘nature’, ‘the outdoors’, ‘country’ or ‘place’ as a common feature. All approaches share an intention to improve participant health or wellbeing. Some of the approaches under this umbrella include indigenous healing practices, bush adventure therapy, outdoor therapy, forest therapy, ecotherapy, equine facilitated approaches and more. In fact within the literature reviewed so far for this project in excess of 48 named varieties of service, program, intervention or approach were identified that share ‘nature’ as a common element.

The use of terms outdoor health is being adopted in the Australian context via the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy. https://outdoorhealthcare.org.au/#background