Nature walks with education workers: an ecophenomenological study of aesthetic experiences

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the multisensory experiences of workers from the school community of Pinheiros (Espírito Santo) with~in⁴ nature. The research is based on ecophenomenological references, which consider the ecological and philosophical dimensions of the human being in the different interactions with the more-than-human. Data was produced from participant observation and walks with four participants from the school community. Records consisted of photos, videos, and descriptions, supported by the methodological movement known as sensory ethnography, of/in the multisensory dives into the aesthetic experiences of the research participants. The experiences of each participant gave rise to (eco)narratives, which were analyzed in accordance with the phenomenological references. The emerging aspects came from the (eco)narratives triangulation and answered our research question. Therefore, the emerging aspects are conceived as the multisensory experiences that emerged during the walks with the school community’s workers: 1) Finitude of human existence in relation to the Atlantic Forest; 2) Protagonism of the more-than-human; 3) Fluidity of the microclimates of the Atlantic Forest; 4) Correspondence between bodies. Although this study did not aim to prescribe nature walks as a manual to be followed for less anthropocentric environmental education practices, we advocate that this form of occupation of nature can imply environmental education practices in which more-than-humans are in symmetrical conditions in the process and also awaken ethical feelings of respect for the otherness of other elements, beyond human beings.