Care Outdoors Reviews

Gayle Byck

5 star rating

“I learned so much from Monica and her Care Outdoors program. I loved the course content, connecting with my cohort, and focusing on nature!”

“I learned so much from Monica and her Care Outdoors program. I loved the course content, connecting with my cohort, and focusing on nature!”

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Connie Fluegel

5 star rating

“I strongly encourage EVERYONE to take this class! And, then take ACTION! This course was very well organized, easy to navigate, engaging, well thought out, and provided a wealth of information and resources to continue our learning. Monica also...”

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“I strongly encourage EVERYONE to take this class! And, then take ACTION! This course was very well organized, easy to navigate, engaging, well thought out, and provided a wealth of information and resources to continue our learning. Monica also did an excellent job leading our Online/Live discussions. I would definitely recommend this course to any and all ages that want to learn more about “care outdoors” and how to implement it. A huge thank you to Monica for the work she is doing and for her inspiration to help others learn and do more in the field of eco-gerontology. Connie Fluegel, MA (Business and Adult Education from the University of Minnesota) and TX (Texan) P.S. You’re never to old to learn or to start a new beginning. ”

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Georgene Nitzsche

5 star rating

“What was most meaningful to me about the Care Outdoors Program was discovering a connection to Nature that I have never felt before. As a city dweller, I often move quickly through my days without really noticing the nature around me. This program...”

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“What was most meaningful to me about the Care Outdoors Program was discovering a connection to Nature that I have never felt before. As a city dweller, I often move quickly through my days without really noticing the nature around me. This program encouraged me to slow down and pay attention to the small green spaces woven into my daily routines - many of which were in my own backyard! As an older adult, I appreciated feeling curiosity and presence return in a gentle, natural way. It reminded me that nature isn’t distant—it’s here with me, enriching my life in simple but powerful ways. It has been a wonderful learning experience, and Monica is an amazing educator. ”

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Begins September 17 • Join by August 1 and enjoy a $100 Early Participation Savings with code SUMMER26 🌱

An experiential learning program designed to help individuals and organizations bring evidence-based, nature-connected care into practice and help shape the future of aging, care, and healthy longevity.

Grounded in Green Care, evidence-informed practice, and real-world application, Care Outdoors Companion Training combines experiential learning, reflective practices, and live community sessions to support professional development, embodied learning, and meaningful connection. Care Outdoors is helping advance a new green care standard that recognizes Nature as an essential partner in health, wellbeing, belonging, and healthy longevity. Join a growing community bringing nature-connected care into aging services, home care, and community settings.

6 Modules of Experiential Learning!

Cultivate the knowledge, skills, and embodied practices needed to bring nature-connected companion care into aging services, home care, and community settings.

  • The Dire Need for Care Outdoors

  • Reimagining Care: Our Relationship with Nature

  • Green Care Approaches

  • The Emerging Field of Eco Gerontology

  • Sensory Engagement with Nature & Removing Barriers

  • Growing a Nature-Based Care Practice & Career Pathways

Nature IS Our #1 Care Ally!

'Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.' –Laura Ingalls Wilder.

Enroll TODAY!

Why Participate?

Community of Practice

Connect with a growing community of caregivers, educators, practitioners, advocates, and changemakers exploring nature-connected care. Share ideas, challenges, and practical strategies while helping shape the future of Care Outdoors and Eco Gerontology.

Accountability & Support

Stay engaged and inspired through live sessions, reflective practices, and meaningful connections with fellow participants.

Flexible Learning

Learn at your own pace through online modules, experiential outdoor practices, and real-world application that fits your schedule.

Live Community Sessions

Each live session includes a brief presentation followed by interactive discussion, reflection, and opportunities to share stories, insights, and discoveries.

Six 1-Hour Live Sessions

Thursdays
10:00 AM PST | 1:00 PM EST

September 17, 2026
September 24, 2026
October 1, 2026
October 8, 2026
October 15, 2026
October 22, 2026

Care Outdoors Community

Continue the conversation through the Care Outdoors Community, where participants share stories, photographs, resources, ideas, and inspiration.

Course Content

Explore evidence-informed Green Care and nature-connected care practices that support health, wellbeing, belonging, and quality of life. Learn practical strategies for facilitating meaningful outdoor experiences in aging services, home care, and community settings.

Organizational Partnerships

Customized team training and organizational learning pathways are available for aging services providers, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, universities, parks and recreation agencies, and community-based programs.

Contact: [email protected]



Why Outdoor Engagement Matters

"My wish is to stay always like this, living quietly in a corner of Nature." –Claude Monet

  • Being indoors for extended periods can negatively impact mood, potentially leading to depression and stress, which can, in turn, disrupt sleep patterns.

  • Research shows lack of exposure to natural sunlight, which helps regulate the body's sleep-wake rhythms, can further exacerbate sleep issues.

  • Prolonged lack of natural sunlight can lead to various health effects, including weakened immune system, low energy levels, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), weaker bones, and weight gain, due to reduced production of vitamin D and serotonin, disruption of circadian rhythm, and slowed metabolism.

  • Decreased outdoor activity leads to reduced physical movement compared to being outdoors, where activities like walking are more common, potentially contributing to a sedentary lifestyle with associated health risks.

The Evidence-Based Benefits of Care Outdoors

  • Reduces Feelings of Loneliness and Isolation

  • Inspires Awe and Gratitude

  • Increases Physical Activity

  • Fosters Connectedness & Promotes Social Inclusion

  • Improves Cognitive Function & Reduces Stress

  • Strengthens Immunity & Bolsters Digestion

  • Improves Sleep and Hydration

  • Generates Joy, Calm, Gratitude, Pain Reduction, Wellbeing

Included with Your Participation

Care Outdoors Companion Guide & Practice Journal

Receive the Care Outdoors Companion Guide & Practice Journal, mailed directly to your home and designed to support experiential learning, reflection, and nature-connected practices throughout the training. These resources provide practical tools, guided reflections, and opportunities to deepen your connection with Nature while integrating Care Outdoors principles into everyday life and practice.
Care Outdoors Companion Booklet included

Program Learning Objectives

Experience the Benefits of Nature-Connected Care

Explore evidence-informed Green Care and nature-connected care practices that support wellbeing, belonging, engagement, and quality of life across aging services, home care, and community settings.

Deepen Relationships with Nature for Wellbeing

Develop practical approaches for integrating Nature into everyday care and living experiences using insights from the science of awe and Nature Connectedness.

Understand the Care Outdoors & Eco Gerontology Lens

Explore the emerging field of Eco Gerontology and discover how Nature can enrich age-friendly, livable, and person-directed approaches to aging, care, and community wellbeing.

Facilitate Meaningful Outdoor Experiences

Apply creative, person-centered outdoor practices that foster Reciprocal-Shared Care, meaningful engagement, social inclusion, and community connection.

Build a Nature-Connected Culture of Care

Green Care, Green Social Prescribing, and nature-based approaches to health and wellbeing are gaining momentum around the world.

Care Outdoors Companion Training equips organizations, care providers, and community leaders with practical tools to integrate evidence-informed, nature-connected care into aging services, home care, adult day programs, and community settings.

Participants learn how to foster purpose, joy, meaningful engagement, belonging, and quality of life while helping reduce isolation and support workforce wellbeing.

Through a blend of online learning, live community sessions, and experiential outdoor practices, participants gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to bring nature-connected care into real-world settings.

Organizational partnerships and team learning pathways are available.

Join a Growing Community of Care Outdoors Leaders

Upon successful completion of the program, participants receive a Care Outdoors Certificate recognizing their training in evidence-informed, nature-connected care and Green Care approaches.

More importantly, participants join a growing community of Care Outdoors Leaders committed to bringing meaningful connections with Nature into aging services, home care, adult day programs, healthcare, and community settings.

Care Outdoors supports a new green care standard that recognizes Nature as an essential partner in health, wellbeing, belonging, and healthy longevity.

Whether you are a caregiver, activity professional, healthcare provider, educator, community leader, or advocate, you will leave with practical tools, experiential knowledge, and a deeper understanding of how Nature can support healthier people, communities, and care systems.

As Green Care, Green Social Prescribing, and nature-based approaches to health and wellbeing continue to gain momentum around the world, Care Outdoors positions participants and organizations at the forefront of this growing movement.

For organizations, Care Outdoors offers a professional development pathway that can strengthen staff wellbeing, expand meaningful engagement opportunities, and help cultivate a more nature-connected culture of care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this training for?

Care Outdoors Companion Training is designed for caregivers, activity professionals, home care providers, adult day services staff, aging services organizations, healthcare professionals, students, educators, volunteers, and community leaders interested in nature-connected care and Green Care approaches.

Do I need prior experience?

No. The training is designed for both newcomers and experienced professionals seeking to integrate nature-connected care into their work, programs, organizations, or communities.

How long is the program?

Care Outdoors Companion Training is a six-week learning experience that combines self-paced online learning, experiential outdoor practices, and six live community sessions.

Participants receive six months of access to the course materials, providing ample time to revisit lessons, complete reflections, and integrate the practices into their work and daily life.

Is this a self-paced course?

Yes. Participants complete the online modules at their own pace while also participating in live community sessions and experiential outdoor practices throughout the program.

What is included with participation?

Participation includes:

• Access to all course modules

• Six live community sessions

• The Care Outdoors Companion Guide & Practice Journal mailed directly to your home

• Access to the Care Outdoors Community

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who successfully complete the program receive a Care Outdoors Companion Certificate recognizing their training in evidence-informed, nature-connected care and Green Care approaches.

Do I need access to wilderness or large outdoor spaces?

No. Care Outdoors practices can be adapted to a wide variety of environments, including gardens, patios, courtyards, neighborhoods, parks, care communities, and other accessible outdoor spaces.

Can organizations participate as a team?

Yes. Organizational partnerships and team learning pathways are available for aging services providers, home care agencies, adult day programs, healthcare organizations, nonprofits, universities, parks and recreation agencies, and community-based programs.

Please contact Monica at [email protected] to discuss organizational partnerships and team participation opportunities.

What if I miss a live session?

All live community sessions are recorded and made available within the course platform, allowing participants to stay engaged and access the material at a time that works best for them.

Meet Monica

LIVE LEARN GROW

Monica Eastway is an educator, speaker, gerontologist, and pioneer in the emerging field of Eco Gerontology. Her work explores how relationships between people, communities, places, and the living world shape health, wellbeing, belonging, and longevity across the lifespan. Drawing upon more than 25 years of experience in health, wellbeing, aging, and community-based practice, Monica develops educational programs, community conversations, and partnerships that bridge Gerontology, Nature Connectedness, Green Care, ecology, and regenerative thinking. She is the founder of The Eco Gerontology Initiative and creator of the Care Outdoors Companion Training and Eco Gerontology Foundational Certificate, advancing research, education, and practice that places Nature at the heart of how we understand and support aging in a rapidly changing world. Monica holds a Master of Science in Gerontology from the University of Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Toledo. Through education, speaking, partnerships, and community engagement, she is helping cultivate healthier, more nature-connected, and regenerative futures for all generations. Join a growing community helping shape the emerging field of Eco Gerontology.

Monica Eastway

Meet Monica

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