The Healing Power of Nature - Norwegian Journal of Friluftsliv

Friluftsliv
That there is a cultural phenomenon of friluftsliv and that so many people feel that immense draw
to be free in nature is both evidence of a connection and a cause to research this connection. While
friluftsliv is tangible in that people live it; it is also intangible as it is hard to define. Friluftsliv is described
as a way of life, especially for people living in more rural areas. For people from the city coming to
natural areas for adventure and pleasure friluftsliv has perhaps become a term for this certain kind of
outdoor recreation.
In Norway, friluftsliv is taught, as in students doing a year of friluftsliv study before entering the
workforce or before college, or as a college major. Friluftsliv also enters educational pedagogy as in
friluftsliv kindergartens where the philosophy is that the children will learn better through having all of
this phase of their educational experience primarily outdoors.
Friluftsliv may be genetic, learned as a cultural practice, or both, or some other origin altogether.
The concept of friluftsliv is a thread seen in many of the other concepts reported on here.
Traditional ecological knowledge
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), sometimes known as traditional environmental knowledge is
defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity, Article 8 (j):
Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge, innovations and practices of
indigenous and local communities around the world. Developed from experience gained
over the centuries and adapted to the local culture and environment, traditional
knowledge is transmitted orally from generation to generation. It tends to be
collectively owned and takes the form of stories, songs, folklore, proverbs, cultural
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