Woodbury Reports, Inc
Bonners Ferry, Idaho

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Using Nature To Rebuild Families

How would you define Nature?

"When you get down to the brass roots of it, nature is earth and sky and land untouched by humans…something we really cherish" stated today's guest John Winton, the founder of Breakwater Expeditions on Lon Woodbury's Internet Talk Radio Show: "Parent Choices for Struggling Teens" on LATalkRadio. Co-hosting on today's show was Larry Stednitz, PhD, an affiliate of Woodbury Reports, Inc, joining in the talk about using nature to rebuild families

Breakwater Expeditions provides short-term adventures for individual families and groups of families, sometimes for existing schools and programs with the purpose of reuniting family units and building a sense of community. "The sounds of birds and water, the sight of animals roaming free or a huge starry sky at night, this is when you realize how big this world is" Winton shared, "it is bigger than us and we get to experience it in its truest form. And nature in its purest sense pulls us out of the vortex of human kind and the fast paced world we live in and allows us to gain value from it".

When asked "how does a family learn and heal from nature?" John shared some experiences of past trips he has guided with parents and their children, and how by the end of the trip there was deep sharing between parent and child, closeness and a feeling of opening up, a connectedness that happens. "Intimacy occurs, by slowing down and allows for healing" shared Larry Stednitz. "You get to a place of being vulnerable, which sometimes can be scary" said Lon.

"How can parents bring nature into their normal lives?" asked Lon to John. Simply stated "turn off the TV, go for a bike ride with your child, take a walk, a hike or just go out and share some time together. Nature brings value to our lives in many ways…it is big, it is small, it's bold, it's beautiful, it's simple, it's pure, it has rhythm, it has music and it has its own voice."


To listen to the full interview go to: Using Nature to Rebuild Families on LATalkRadio.

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time, Channel One.

John Winton is the Founder/Director of Breakwater Expeditions and has spent 15 years as a wilderness guide for at risk teens and families. John is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, Swift Water Rescuer, an ACA Sea Kayak Instructor, Lead Climbing Instructor, and Professional Ski Instructor of America with an Avalanche Level 1 certificate, in addition to being an American Red Cross Lifeguard.