Diverse factors are contributing to the rise of mental health disorders among children. Exposure to nature has the potential to addess the complex needs of this population. This capstone project investigated the effect of a nature-based occupational therapy intervention on children and adolescents with anxiety and depression who attended a paddleboarding program at a local oupatient clinic. A quantitative research approach was conducted using a prospective, pretest to posttest cohort design. A control group was not included. The study was grounded in the theoretical principles of the ecology of human performance and the four-quadrant model of facilitated learning. Results indicate statistically significant improvements in the study participants’ occupational performance and satisfaction scores. No statistical relationship was found on the adaptive behavior index change scores. The current study adds to the emergent body of literature on the mental health benefits of nature.
