Project Wild Thing is a film led movement to get more kids (and their folks!) outside and reconnect with nature. The film is an ambitious, feature-length documentary that takes a funny and revealing look at a complex issue, the increasingly disparate connection between children and nature. Take a look at the trailer here.

Filmmaker David Bond is a worried man. His kids’ waking hours are dominated by a cacophony of marketing, and a screen dependence threatening to turn them into glassy-eyed zombies. Like city kids everywhere, they spend way too much time indoors.

Project Wild Thing is a response to kids’ addiction to iPads and consoles, getting obese and insidiously depressed in the process, and parents letting it happen. Growing thoughts that the outdoors are dangerous, pointless and irrelevant. “We think we’ve outgrown nature,” says Bond.  He crafted a a diagram (below) breaking down the barriers to playing outdoor and promoting nature as a brand, so the kids can “get” it and”choose” it; with boyish enthusiasm, he devises wacky ad strategies through billboards and social media to spread the good word (see image below).

Project Wild Thing is much more than a film, this is a growing movement of organisations and individuals who care deeply about the need for nature connected, free-range, roaming and outdoor playing kids in the 21st century.

There are lots of great ideas to inspire outdoor play.  I like Nature Play’s list of 51 things to do before you are 12, and there are also Wild Time vouchers that can be may be used anywhere outside, in the woods, up a tree, by a stream, in the park, in the mud….download your voucher here.

For more inspiration, download the free Wild Time App, or follow these guys on facebook Project Wild Thing, Nature Play QLD.

If you live in Brisbane, then today is your lucky day!  Nature Play QLD are hosting a free screening of the movie Project Wild Thing at 12noon this Friday 29st August at Palace Barracks Cinema.  Yes FREE!!! and you get a chance to meet the film maker David Bond – email rsvp@shoutcommunications.com.au for your tickets.

See you on the outside.