Welcome back, Villagers as we explore the power of art to connect us to our own wellbeing, the people around us, and the natural world. Dori's art has a unique capacity to create a bridge between people as they explore and interpret the stunning visuals, colors, and deep meaning behind the world she depicts. In this episode, new host Annie Szarka joins Jay as they chat with Dori Bergman. Dori has a background in adventure education and wilderness therapy and took the leap into an amazing career as an artist. Her art is... deeply moving. Join us as we learn more about her personal journey and explore the deep emotions her path has helped her convey on the canvas. You'll also learn about the Tater. A hero of many stories. Dori's art can be seen on her website at myoutdoorart.com. You can find links to her site on our Village Voices Podcast Facebook page. Turn up the dial, you won't regret it.

Welcome Villagers, to our jaunty relational conservation podcast where we explore topics of outdoor education, positive youth development, community building, nature education, and how they all connect to protect the natural world. In this episode we connected with behavioral ecologist, Emmy-winning filmmaker, TV show host, educator,  and adventurer, Rob Nelson.  We explore the concepts of science communication, the events in his life that sparked his passion for science and then filmmaking, the positive impact of nature on mental health, our evolutionary drive for interpersonal connections, and advice to budding SciCommers... new word... just made it up. Rob also directs a nonprofit called Untamed Science and leads Stone Age Man on his mission to help people bring back their stone age self. His YouTube channel hosts a treasure trove of amazing educational content. Rob recently won an Emmy for his documentary with the Mississippi River Valley Conservancy, 'Mysteries of the Driftless'. You may recognize Rob from one of his 24 television shows: Secrets of the Underground, Life After Chernobyl, and Man-Eating Python of the Sulawesi. You can learn more and visit Rob online at his website StoneAgeMan and on his YouTube channel.  For now, you're here in the Village and turn up the volume to learn about how we can all connect with each other and nature... and maybe even save the place along the way.  

A large helping of play and free exploration, several scoops of project-based learning, add in a cup of mud, a sprinkle of healthy failure topped with reflection and success, and a generous dusting of parental risk-management. And don't forget the side of mud, in case we missed that. That's a recipe for parenting in nature and the potential of homeschooling.  In this episode, we are exploring Parenting in Nature. We love exploring myriad stories through recurring topics here at Village Voices and Parenting in Nature is one of those topics we’ll be revisiting from time-to-time. We’re going to get insights from all sorts of Villagers as we take a look at the benefits and how-to’s of nature play.  For this episode, we were able to learn quite a bit about homeschooling children with an outdoor focus as we chatted with our friend, Linda Hincks. Linda runs Wren Homeschool Consulting in Middle Haddam, Connecticut. Linda Hincks is an educational philosopher. She started her career as a classroom teacher and museum educator, then time stopped and the earth stood still when she heard an article on homeschooling. The rest is a story still being told.  Find us at projectimo.org/village-voices-podcast and check out backstage on Patreon with the Village Voices Benefactor's Backstage for full conversations, special content, and even live events. Visit Linda Hincks on Facebook at Wren Homeschool Consulting.  

In this episode, co-hosts Xavier Fowler and Jay Hyland will be speaking with Dr. Damion Grasso as we explore the connections between outdoor adventure programs, building resilience, and the power of relationships to heal from trauma and adversity. This episode includes discussion topics of childhood adversity, trauma, and post-traumatic stress. Take care of yourself as you take this learning journey with us. Damion is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he is co-lead on the Family Adversity and Resilience Research Program. His research spans the development of validated assessment tools, the study of biological and environmental mechanisms associated with stress and trauma, and the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions for trauma-related mental health impairment. Damion also created the Youth Excellence Project in 2014. The Youth Excellence Project is a Connecticut-based, volunteer-run program that engages male teens in outdoor recreation and mentorship with goals to promote health and build resilience in the face of life challenges. Each year the YEP hosts a cohort of 10-12 youths participate in activities that include hiking, camping, paddling, and other outdoor expeditions. Some of these are day trips, others involve overnight stays. In the summer, they embark on a multi-day expedition. They also partner with various other programs such as Project Imo to help provide these amazing and positive mentorship experiences for the teens.

What makes a young explorer develop a passion for science? How do childhood experiences create a spark of wonder and curiosity that propel people to pursue a lifetime of study? How have scientists used this spark to help grow our knowledge of and affinity for the natural world and drive conservation? Conservation Matters is a recurring theme where we meet scientists, engineers, foresters, educators, science communicators, filmmakers, and all sorts of folks in the Village to find out just how our youth evolve into conservation-focused professionals. We'll learn about their research, their youthful spark, and how these translate into conservation. In this episode, we'll meet with Dr. Charles "Chuck" Smith of Wofford College and the Copperhead Institute. Dr. Smith is an expert in many areas but in this episode, we'll learn a bit about his research into Agkistrodon contortrix, the copperhead snake and what that revealed about climate and drought.

In this episode, we will explore the intersection between adventurous learning and youth social-emotional development. Connect with Shawn Moriaty as we discuss group storming, symbolic objects, check-ins, the power of acknowledging what others in the group do, the impact of group dialogue, and deer invading outhouses. You heard that right. Deer. Invading outhouses. Learn more at https://projectimo.org/ 

Introducing the Village Voices podcast from Project Imo. In Village Voices, we'll explore the concept of relational conservation, a holistic view of the connection between healthy human relationships with each other and with nature.  If this sounds like the kind of learning journey you’d like to take with us, we’d love to have you along. The trails may be winding, but we like it that way. You never know what you’ll learn around the next bend.