Editing Land lab (section)

== Mental health benefits for students being outside ==
[[File:Biochar Burn Barrel.jpg|alt=Biochar (charcoal) is produced in this double burn barrel.  Chunks of woody biomass are placed within an inner barrel, feedstock to "cook" the inner biomass is placed around the inner barrel, and then the feedstock is ignited.  This converts the woody biomass into almost pure carbon.  The carbon biochar is then used to amend compost.  This sequesters carbon, and provides a good home more microbes in the soil.  Some advanced biochar units can capture the heat for heating homes, water, air, and even produce electricity with the aid of a stirling engine.|thumb|Biochar (charcoal) is produced in this double burn barrel.  Chunks of woody biomass are placed within an inner barrel, feedstock to "cook" the inner biomass is placed around the inner barrel, and then the feedstock is ignited.  This converts the woody biomass into almost pure carbon.  The carbon biochar is then used to amend compost.  This sequesters carbon, and provides a good home more microbes in the soil.  Some advanced biochar units can capture the heat for heating homes, water, air, and even produce electricity with the aid of a stirling engine.]]
In today's digital world, many students spend inordinate amounts of time on a screen both at home and at school.  Inherent limits exist to project based learning that takes place entirely behind a screen or within a classroom.

Land labs help break students out of a digital environment by providing much needed time outdoors.  Studies have shown that as our digital landscape of social media has exploded in popularity, depression and mental struggles have increased dramatically in students.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.braininstitute.pitt.edu/using-lots-social-media-sites-raises-depression-risk |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=www.braininstitute.pitt.edu}}</ref>

Studies also show that student's mental health benefits immensely from being outdoors and participating in hands on projects with meaningful outcomes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Meredith |first1=Genevive R. |last2=Rakow |first2=Donald A. |last3=Eldermire |first3=Erin R. B. |last4=Madsen |first4=Cecelia G. |last5=Shelley |first5=Steven P. |last6=Sachs |first6=Naomi A. |date=2020 |title=Minimum Time Dose in Nature to Positively Impact the Mental Health of College-Aged Students, and How to Measure It: A Scoping Review |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=10 |page=2942 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02942 |pmid=31993007 |pmc=6970969 |issn=1664-1078 |doi-access=free }}</ref>