What happens in wilderness therapy doesn鈥檛 just stay at wilderness therapy anymore. The new podcast Skylights, from a bunch of (surprise) wilderness therapists, expands on that concept. Over 18 episodes, the folks at in Durango, Colorado, will dig into a range of current social issues and outdoor-oriented solutions, like advice for helicopter parents about how to let their kids struggle.
Open Sky offers therapeutic nature-based programs mostly for young adults and families. In each episode of the podcast, a different staffer from Open Sky talks about聽topics like motivation or gender identity.聽Host Emily Fernandes, the cofounder and executive director of Open Sky,聽talked to 国产吃瓜黑料 about how the show聽shares wilderness therapy with people who can鈥檛 be out there聽with them,聽and why the lessons of resilience that being in nature teaches can translate to just about anyone.聽
On translating their work into a podcast: I would say wilderness therapy generally is all about connection,聽and the learning and growth that takes place out there happens through relationships. Often those connections and conversations are happening around a fire聽or while looking at an expansive vista. I love the format of the podcast, because it鈥檚 intimate. It鈥檚 almost like the listener is joining in around the metaphorical fire.
On who might benefit from the show: It鈥檚 a hard time to be a young person in this society, and it鈥檚 a hard time to be a parent. More and more people need what we can offer in the wilderness, and the podcast enables us to reach more people and share our approach. We wanted to build a community network that ripples beyond the community base. Hopefully it gives a glimpse into the window of what wilderness therapy is all about. It鈥檚 also a way for alumni stay connected聽and for prospectives to listen and learn.
On the ideas they cover: We鈥檙e tapping into our staff鈥檚 areas of expertise. It鈥檚 a format for people to highlight their passions and specialties. For Morgan Seymour, who did episode one [鈥溾漖, gaming is what she loves talking about. We have an episode about parenting and preparing your child for the road that addresses the ways snowplow parents are clearing the obstacles for their children,聽and how that鈥檚 not necessarily helpful. We have some guided meditations. We鈥檙e also going to cover things like connection and isolation in the age of technology and self-harm. I think people are interested and hungry to hear more about wilderness therapy. It鈥檚 always been powerful, and it鈥檚 even more so in this day and age, when so many people are spending time indoors and on their screens.
On why wilderness therapy feels so relevant right now: The concept of a rite of passage in the wilderness is part of so many cultures. Our Western culture has gotten away from it, but there鈥檚 a sense of independence聽and competence that comes from that environment that builds resilience. Wilderness itself is inherently a powerful place to heal and a powerful place to the nervous system. There鈥檚 the connection to something bigger that happens when you鈥檙e in nature. It鈥檚 the wilderness itself, and the experience of everyday living, like cooking food, building shelter, and carrying a backpack, that you have to take on.
On the goals of the podcast: My hope is that people can have an experience akin to what happens in wilderness therapy while listening to the podcast, even if it鈥檚 just driving in their car and looking at the view in a different way聽or listening to the podcast while they鈥檙e on a run or walk. It鈥檚 a mindfulness practice in and of itself to listen聽and to pay attention, and I think people are craving that.