The NatureLed™ Podcast

In this episode, Scary or Funny, Caitlin Williams and Kathleen Lockyer talk about the type of risky-free-play called Scary-Funny. 

Caitlin is a wildlife tracker, bird language expert, forest therapy guide, forest therapy trainer, and mentor to many children. 

Some topics we discuss are: What is happening in our nervous system during scary-funny play?

How scary-funny helps us stay young.

Resilience through play.

How life events become traumatic and how scary-funny play can help us build resilience.

The hazards of scary-funny play.

How to introduce this kind of play to increase resilience and not traumatize.

What is the "window of tolerance?"

Learn more at rxoutside.com

In this mini-podcast, I do a little unpacking of a story about a young boy who had been taken out of school for behavioral challenges. 

Two additional pieces of information I didn't mention:

1. Yes, he did return to school, and yes his reading, writing, and behavior all improved after his time with the outdoor program.
2. When introduced skillfully, children become very engaged with the activity of animal tracking because it is a "million-year-old technology" that has been practiced by all of our ancestors. 

Listening time: 8 minutes

This first episode of Nothing Tame is exactly that! A five-minute, off-the-cuff, not edited reflection of the darkest day of the year. 

And of course, there is a necessary correction, which I did not edit out for authenticity's sake! 

Correction: When I say, "The summer solstice is the longest day of the year and the sun is highest in the sky on that day in the northern hemisphere" (which is correct) I meant to say:

"The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and the sun is at the lowest point in the sky" because I go on to say, "and our shadow is the longest." Which when following this statement, is correct. 

Thank you for your willingness to listen to a joyfully flawed human experience.