“I don't like it, but it is nice…”: A qualitative study of Canadian young people and contemporary experiences of nature

Youth experiences in nature are changing. This paper presents results of a qualitative study that was conducted with 74 Canadian young people (ages 10–18). Our goal was to learn from Canadian youth about how they navigate, understand, and interpret their experiences in nature. Findings demonstrate that young people experience nature in multidimensional, unpredictable, complex, and sometimes contradictory, ways. This study generates insights about the responsibility of adults to facilitate opportunities for experiences in nature that are responsive to the changing landscapes of young people, and that are not burdened by outdated tropes and constraining gender socialization.