Teacher of the Year Selection...

We are very excited to hear that clips from Mother Nature’s Child were used to support a presentation for 2011 Maine Teacher of the Year. Ingrid Stressenger, a 4th grade teacher in Cape Elizabeth, ME, was selected as one of twelve semi-finalists for 2011 Maine Teacher of the Year at the July 20th competition at the University of Maine at Orono. The audience was a class of Masters of Arts in Teaching candidates, their professors, former Maine Teachers of the Year, and the scoring panel. Each candidate was asked to give a presentation. Here is Ingrid’s...

MNC Inspires Change at Nature Center!...

In late June, the Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center outside St. Louis sponsored a weekend of activities following their screening of Mother Nature’s Child. We were excited to learn that, when the manager of the center originally previewed the film, she and her staff made significant changes in their policies regarding children’s explorations on and off their trails. We hope her response will inspire a new spirit of adventure for nature centers everywhere. Here is what she has to say: “I’ve been managing a nature center for almost 15 years. There...

Thanks: REI Boston Event Promotion...

We’d like to thank the REI store in Framingham, MA for their assistance in promoting the upcoming free screening of Mother Nature’s Child at the Arnold Arboretum at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 27th. The film will be followed by discussion. REI is a major supporter of all efforts to get children back into contact with...

Screening/Discussion at Shelburne Farms...

Despite flooding of Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms hosted two well-attended screenings of Mother Nature’s Child on May 18th. In the afternoon, forty-two children accompanied by Shelburne Farms staff set out for an adventure on the land while their parents watched the film. A few kids chose to stay and watch  - even toddlers were entranced seeing children like themselves on the screen. The evening screening for 200 took place in the magnificent Breeding Barn pictured here. Three stories high and as large as a cathedral, but with a dirt floor, the barn was perfect...

Grafton Nature Museum Screening...

The Nature Museum in Grafton, Vermont sponsored a great screening event in May which included an energetic post-film discussion with director Camilla Rockwell, David Sobel (featured expert in the film and author of the terrific new book, WILD PLAY) and Rick Gordon, head of The Compass School in Westminster, Vermont. (All pictured here.) Schools are discovering Mother Nature’s Child – there were several teachers in the audience, from preschool through high school. We hope the film will support conversations between teachers, administrators and parents about...