Meet the Man Behind Nature Kids

Kenny & daughter Lavender

Last week I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by documentary filmmaker Kenny Ballentine. He’s the creative force behind the upcoming film Nature Kids, which is all about getting America’s kids back into nature.

Kenny wanted me to talk about why I think getting kids outside in nature is so important – and what’s at stake if we don’t. (You can see a portion of the interview on Facebook; it’s my first, so be gentle.)

After spending just a couple of hours with him bonding over childhood memories of summers in Yosemite and life with an especially high-energy child, I was pretty jazzed about his project and his message. So I thought I’d introduce you to Kenny and his exciting project – one which you can actually help support (more on that below).

First, here’s Kenny’s pitch on the film:

The allure of video games, the demands of school and the stresses of urban living have produced a generation of youth that spend 90% of their childhood indoors. What are the consequences of growing up so detached from the natural world and what can be done about it? Nature Kids is a family friendly, documentary style film with the aim of getting kids back into nature. Follow a young family on an adventurous 50-mile backpacking trip across Yosemite National Park, enjoy animated vignettes from the lives of John Muir, Henry David Thoreau and others, and hear the insights and wisdom of scholars, naturalists, parents and children from around the world. It is time to reunite Mother Nature with her children!

What inspired you to make this film?
It all started in September, 2008 when we brought our then 2-year-old daughter Emerald on a camping trip to Yosemite. To put it mildly, Emerald is a wild child! She is an enthusiastic, hyper and sometimes uncontrollable ball of energy. As early as age 2 it was easy for anyone to see that Emerald, while very intelligent and inquisitive, would probably be one of “those kids” in school. You know, the kid who can’t sit still or pay attention. The one who always gets in trouble for making faces or singing during tests. A kid … well, the kind of kid I was when I was in school! This wasn’t a huge concern to me. After all, I made it through school … barely.

It was on this trip that my wife Amber and I noticed a big change in Emerald’s behavior. It was a change we noticed then and have continued to notice on every outdoor adventure since. As soon as Emerald is outside in nature she seems to immediately gain control of her body and mind. She slows down, focuses and is even contemplative. The acting out, screaming and tantrums disappear as she enters a state of behavior and comfort that I can only describe as “being at home.”

What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned (or the most interesting person you’ve met) since beginning your research?
The most interesting thing (or most shocking thing) I have learned has been how many children have had little to no experience in nature. It breaks my heart to hear that a child has never been to a forest or sometimes even a park.

The most interesting person I have met would have to be Cindy Ross who embarked on a 3000-mile hike with her husband, her two small children, and a pack of llamas! I will be sharing more about her adventure in the film.

How did you like to spend time in nature when you were a kid?
Some of my favorite childhood memories came from my time hiking and camping in Boy Scouts. 20- and 50-mile backpacking trips, swimming, climbing and exploring were a big part of my upbringing. It is hard for me to imagine a childhood without camping.

What is your favorite way to spend time in nature with your kids?
I love to take my girls hiking. They are both great little hikers. They stop to ponder and explore every little thing. My two-year-old likes to stop and sit down in the middle of the trail whenever she finds a bug or an interesting rock. My five-year-old likes to find every possible rock for climbing and every possible puddle for splashing! It is always a blast.

Enjoying family time in nature

Of course we cannot go hiking everyday, so we try to make sure the girls get time to play in the backyard everyday. This is unstructured playtime and it is a joy to watch. The girls like to play with dirt, pick flowers, make potions and look for bugs. They manage to surprise us with new creations and ideas on a daily basis.

Photos: Kenny Ballentine

Nature Kids isn’t just a film; it’s a project you can actually support on a personal level. Hop on over to www.naturekidsmovie.com. Click on “Donate,” and you can pre-order the DVD and receive all sorts of cool thank you gifts.

I’ll help by adding some incentive. I’m going to donate $1 to Nature Kids for every comment left here on or before tomorrow, Thurs., June 16, 2011, at 5 p.m. PST. (I haven’t considered a cap on the amount I’ll donate, so go ahead and “wow” me with your support. Limit one comment per person, please.)