MNC INTERVIEW OUT-TAKES...

Welcome to Mother Nature’s Child. We’d like to remind you that, besides a trailer and information about the film, creative personnel, screening events, viewer comments, resources, and ordering information, the website also offers out-takes from interviews we shot. Scroll down to “Categories” and select “Interviews” to find interesting clips that, due to time constraints or other editing concerns, didn’t make it into the film. We will continue to post these out-takes and hope that you will share your own comments and...

Freedom to Roam?...

When we interviewed parents for Mother Nature’s Child, we heard different perspectives about how much freedom kids should be allowed. Should they be able to explore their neighborhood on their own? How much of their time should be structured and scheduled? What about downtime? Here the mother of a nine year old boy talks about her approach. What’s yours? Leave a...

Personal <-> Planetary Health...

Andy Gonzales, along with Ali and Atman Smith, started the Holistic Life Foundation in Baltimore where they work with inner city children, taking them out into nature. We featured their work in Mother Nature’s Child. Andy, Atman and Ali also teach the kids yoga! Here’s what Andy has to say to the children about...

Dirt Time...

While researching and producing Mother Nature’s Child, I realized it would be a good idea to examine my own relationship to nature. In the fall of 2008, I attended a “Spirit and Nature” retreat at Shelburne Farms, a stunningly beautiful outdoor education center on the Vermont shore of Lake Champlain. Over the course of five days and nights, we explored our connection to the natural world on many levels. Through a surprising range of exercises and experiences, four remarkable mentors introduced us to the natural history of the land where we were staying,...

Jon Young: Information only?...

Jon Young mentors children (and adults) as they connect with nature. (Read his book about mentoring, Coyote’s Guide to Connecting with Nature). In our interview, he spoke about the difference between insisting that a child acquire “information” about the natural world and allowing their innate curiosity to guide them. Their own desire to investigate playfully forges a deep connection to nature — and information is automatically part of that process. The result is a child eager and excited to learn more. Time in nature creates a sparkle – you...