What they do not know, they will not protect, and what they do not protect, they will lose.” — Charles Jordan, The Conservation Fund, PLAY AGAIN
For avid travelers constantly looking for the next exciting and enriching trip, we already know the value of RICH experiences which are only possible by getting out, exploring, and interacting with people and the elements. The more out-of-our-element we are, the more satisfying the experience! We come back changed and grown in some way.
But what about today’s kids and teens? Sadly, being media savvy serves them poorly in the real world outside the four walls and computer screen or a cell phone. And at the end we all lose because the next generation will not be there to care about and protect what really matters: the awe-inspiring landscapes that sustain, inspire, and restore us; the amazing creatures that bring us joy; and the ingenious plants many of which have healing properties. All of this is absolutely essential and yet the young generation is completely disconnected from all that really matters. If they only knew how much FUN it is to engage and explore outside!
To tackle this problem, a new film PLAY AGAIN challenges a group of media-addicted teens to experience their first wilderness adventure and documents their journey and results in inspiring action for a sustainable life connected with nature. The shameful statistic of the developed world is that our generation spends more time in the virtual world than in nature. For the first time in human history, today’s children spend the least amount of time outdoors than ever before! While new media technologies serve to improve our lives in so many ways, what are the implications for the children, the society, and overall for our planet?
To shed light on this important and troubling new trend, this documentary breaks the virtual addiction habit of six typical teenagers who spend majority of their time behind screens, and follows their experiences on their first wilderness adventure without any reminders of civilization, including electricity. This film is an intelligent and inspirational combination of the children’s new experiences in nature supported by the leading experts including journalist Richard Louv, geneticist David Suzuki, neuroscientist Gary Small, sociologist Juliet Schor, and educators Diane Levin and Nancy Carlsson-Paige, among others.
Indeed, the consequences of a childhood removed from nature may be dire not only for that child, but for all of us and for our planet.
If you have a chance, definitely see this film! Here are some of the awards: Best of Fest Award at the Colorado Environmental Film Festival, Best Educational Film Award at EKOFILM in Prague, and Menci? Especial Documental award at FICMA Barcelona International Environmental Film Festival.