NaturePlay: Taking Childhood Back (Film & Panel Discussion)

At this event, there will be a screening of the award-winning film, "NaturePlay: Taking Childhood Back." Following the film, the presenters will highlight some local research and programming that is studying and supporting nature play for children in our region. Panelists will present a very short overview of their work on behalf of nature play, including:

Members of the Duluth Nature Play Collaborative will highlight the efforts of local preschools, kindergarten classes, adventure clubs, playscape consultants, and university programs - and how we team up to educate, inspire, and advocate for kids and nature in the Northland!

Tom Beery, Ph.D., Minnesota Sea Grant, will present recent research into children’s collecting in nature and place attachment with everyday implications for teachers and parents.

Julie Ernst, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Duluth Environmental and Outdoor Education/Master of Environmental Education Program, along with students of the UMD program, Mandi Wojciehowski and Jenna Zamzow, will share their research investigating the impact of our local nature preschools on children's resilience, creative thinking, executive function skills and curiosity.

Ken Gilbertson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota Duluth Environmental and Outdoor Education/Master of Environmental Education Program, will share how one of the courses recently wrote an award-winning long-range management plan on the value of an installation of NaturePlay sites within the City of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota in 2016.

The event is free and open to the public.

Contact: Tom Beery, Minnesota Sea Grant resilience specialist, tbeery@d.umn.edu, 218-726-7677.