The state of art of nature-based programs in the educational, training, therapeutic, and leisure areas in Italy: results of a mapping research project

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to outline a quantitative and qualitative map of the Italian organizations working in the socio-educational, training, therapeutic, and leisure areas, that use nature-based methodologies. The second goal is to understand the professional identities of these organizations, through an analysis of their history, practical proposals, practitioners’ qualifications, evaluation practices. 99 participants, selected through nonprobability sampling, answered a questionnaire that was partly developed with the collaboration of stakeholders’ representatives. The conclusions focus on a reflection on the findings and on the perspectives for further research. This paper follows another one named “The state of art of naturebased programs in the educational, training, therapeutic, and leisure areas in Italy: conceptual framework and possible categorization of sectors/contexts.”, which had the aim to outline the Italian state of art regarding the terminology and the differentiation of the various nature-based areas.