Creating school connectedness can enhance the overall development and academic progress for youth. The purpose of this article is to provide teachers with both a theoretical and applied understanding of how to develop and support school connectedness with students through recreation-based learning activities. The theoretical concepts grounded within Self-Determination Theory that can support the need for student relatedness (e.g., feeling cared for and/or emotionally heard) are discussed. In addition, practical evidence-based strategies are outlined from a two-year school and community-based program conducted in Arizona called Therapeutic and Inclusive Recreation Programming.