Thomas Doherty teamed up with Explore Green to present Sustainable Self at Sundance over Labor Day Weekend.

Thomas led the group through a weekend experience that combined education on ecopsychology and mind-body health with nature-based stress management, eco-therapy and deep self-reflection.

Participants added to their restoration by enjoying massage and wellness treatments at the Sundance Spa, horseback riding, and fine dining at the Tree Room restaurant. A highlight of the weekend was a Sundance screening of the new documentary Play Again and discussion with producer and workshop participant Meg Merrill.

presents…

Identity, Coping And Thriving In An Ecological Age

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In this exclusive and timely weekend workshop and film premiere, Dr. Thomas Doherty, a specialist in the psychology of human-nature relationship and environmental issues, will lead participants in a journey of personal discovery and restoration within the beautiful Sundance Resort and the Wasatch Range.

Dr. Doherty—called by The New York Times “the most prominent American advocate of a growing discipline of ecopsychology” — will weave insights from neuroscience, environmental psychology, and mind-body health to create a model of personal sustainability.

Dr. Doherty’s Complete Bio on Explore Green

Participants are invited to the Sundance premiere of “Play Again” an award-winning documentary by Meg Merrill and Tonje Hessen Schei.

Click here to view the Play Again trailer

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3

7:30 PM: The Promise of Ecopsychology

This 90-minute talk will discuss the psychology of environmental issues and human-nature relationships, with a focus on how people develop their beliefs and behaviors regarding the natural environment and ways to cope with stressful events like the current Gulf oil spill.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4

9:00 AM: Nature-Based Stress Reduction

This 2-hour workshop will provide hands-on experience of stress management techniques and mindfulness meditation in natural settings, with a focus on developing motivation and peace of mind regarding the current environmental crisis. The workshop will include an indoor orientation and non-strenuous outdoor activities.

1:00 PM: Positive Psychology and the Environment

In this 2-hour outdoor workshop participants will nurture themselves and celebrate their connections to nature. Dr. Doherty will highlight topics such as the positive and inspiring emotions and experiences people experience in beautiful natural settings, the history of peoples’ sense of place, and the possibility of an expanded “ecological self.”

8:00 PM: Sundance Premiere of “Play Again” with commentary by the film’s producer, Meg Merrill

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5

11:00 AM: Grounded Action

This 90 Minute workshop is the capstone to our weekend. Participants will identify useful personal sustainability practices, and goals and strategies for effective environmental engagement that make sense in the context of their lives.

TO ENROLL:

$250 per person
Students: $100.
for all weekend activities and film premiere.

Sundance Resort will provide a special
discounted room rate for the weekend.

Call 1-801-223-4006 and ask for Mara Gabis
to book your reservation.

About Sundance Resort: Nestled at the base of Utah’s 12,000-foot Mt. Timpanogos, Sundance is a 6,000-acre community destination resort, dedicated to maintaining the balance of art, nature and community. Created by Robert Redford, Sundance is a haven for discovery and inspiration that offers diverse mountain recreation experiences year round. Only an hour’s drive from Salt Lake City and 45 minutes from Park City, Sundance is the resort you’ve dreamed about. Sundance features 95 rustically elegant mountain cottages and 10 mountain homes that echo the simplicity of the natural setting. Award-winning dining, a Native American-inspired spa, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking and an Art Shack that features classes in painting, pottery and jewelry making make Sundance the perfect mountain getaway.

To visit the Sundance website, CLICK HERE

ABOUT PLAY AGAIN

Still from Play Again

One generation from now most people in the U.S. will have spent more time in the virtual world than in nature. New media technologies have improved our lives in countless ways. Information now appears with a click. Overseas friends are part of our daily lives. And even grandma loves Wii.

But what are we missing when we are behind screens? And how does this impact our children’s well being, our society and the very future of our planet?

At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, PLAY AGAIN explores the changing balance between the virtual and natural worlds. Is our connection to nature disappearing down the digital rabbit hole?

This documentary follows six teenagers who, like the “average American child,” spend five to fifteen hours a day behind screens. PLAY AGAIN unplugs these teens and takes them on their first wilderness adventure – no electricity, no cell phone coverage, no virtual reality.

Through the voices of children and leading experts like Richard Louv, Juliet Schor, Bill McKibben, Susan Linn, Diane Levin, Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Charles Jordan, Gary Small and David Suzuki, PLAY AGAIN looks at how the imbalance between the virtual and natural worlds impacts our children’s well being, our society and the very future of our planet.

Ground Productions is now getting ready to release PLAY AGAIN, a documentary that investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature.

PLAY AGAIN offers solutions and encourages action for a sustainable future.

Still from Play Again

At a time when children play more behind screens than outside, PLAY AGAIN unplugs a group of tech savvy teens and takes them on their first wilderness adventure, documenting the wonder that comes from time spent in nature and inspiring action for a sustainable future.

One generation from now most people in the U.S. will have spent more time in the virtual world than in nature. New media technologies have improved our lives in countless ways. Information now appears with a click. Overseas friends are part of our daily lives. And even grandma loves Wii. But what are we missing? And how will this impact our children, our society, and eventually, our planet?

PLAY AGAIN is a character-driven documentary that follows six teenagers. Spending five to fifteen hours a day behind screens, they are “the average American child”. PLAY AGAIN unplugs these teens and takes them into the vast Oregon forest – no electricity, no cell phone coverage, no bathrooms. Through the voices of children and leading experts, PLAY AGAIN investigates the consequences of a childhood removed from nature.

At this crucial time in our history, PLAY AGAIN introduces a new perspective, offers solutions and encourages action.

See Thomas Doherty as featured in the film’s trailer:

Read More About Ground Productions