Clip: Tracker Jon Young on Mentoring...

For decades, tracker and author Jon Young has been mentoring children and adults in practices to build community and connect with the natural world. We featured his insights in Mother Nature’s Child and, from time to time, we like to share out-takes from our interview with him. His ideas about mentoring may be of special interest to parents and teachers!...

Clip: In Nature Preschoolers Build Confi...

When we filmed preschoolers navigating the woods in Rock Creek Park for our film, Mother Nature’s Child, we found that what the researchers say is true: rather than bullying, children on an outdoor adventure together tend to support and encourage each other. Building confidence on nature outings? Look at Lucy turn back to survey the challenge she just surmounted (crossing the stream, stepping stone by stepping stone) before she heads up the hill! Children can grow in every way when you take them...

Richard Louv: Play and Executive Functio...

In our interview with author Richard Louv for Mother Nature’s Child, he spoke about the important connection between free play and the development of “executive function” in children. Here’s an out-take from our interview. We wish we’d had time in the film to go into more depth about all the ways that play and time outside benefit children’s development and...

Clip from Post Film Discussion...

A year ago, the Burlington, VT premiere of Mother Nature’s Child was attended by an audience of more than 200, most of whom stayed for the post-film discussion with a panel moderated by Walter Poleman, lecturer and Associate Director of the Field Naturalist Graduate Program at the University of Vermont. Here one viewer asks about how the Baltimore schools in the film were able to create programs to get their students outside. Director Camilla Rockwell responds briefly and refers the question to Walter to talk about what is happening in Burlington. An additional...

Clip: Amazing Guys from Holistic Life Fo...

How exciting to see that Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio is taking note of the amazing work that Ali, Atman and Andy are doing in the Baltimore schools! This is a terrific summary of the programs they offer through the Holistic Life Foundation. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see this model spread in schools around the country? We are so PROUD to have included the Holistic guys and their outdoor environmental work with kids in Mother Nature’s Child. Please share this video with others – who knows where the inspiration might...