NCEL's Outdoors as a Health Solution Briefing Book examines the human health benefits of time outdoors and the policy options for states to access these benefits across nine distinct categories. States are championing the outdoors as a health solution and seeking to make outdoor access more equitable!

Explore these innovative policy proposals that promote nature as a means to advance holistic health models, physical activity and mental health, healthy schools and schoolyards, childhood well-being, greener neighborhoods, outdoor careers, and a safer outdoors.

Access to the outdoors offers countless health benefits across all ages, activities, and regions, including improved cognitive function, reduced stress and anger, increased physical activity, and better relationship-building in children.