Lindsey Kleinberg advocates for nature play in the most important way; practicing what she preaches. She shares her experiences raising her family through alternative and nature education, and why it’s important to her. Lindsey describes the benefits home gardening, self-care, and how she approaches creating change. She discusses books, blogging, art, and what she hopes to achieve in her community.

Lindsey Kleinberg is an educator, artist, avid gardener, and nature play advocate. She is the founder of the Finding Place LV, a Reggio-inspired micro school whose mission is to reconnect kids with nature. In addition to her Masters degree, Lindsey is certified  in many areas, including Nature-based outdoor education and School Garden Coordinator.

Intro [0:50]

• Lindsey Kleinberg: mother, educator, artist, gardener, nature play advocate
• Founder of The Finding Place Lehigh Valley (thefindingplace-lv.com)
• More info at moversmindset.com/podcast

Raising a family [2:08]

• Ideas for raising family in a particular way
• Intentional nature opportunities, affects on whole family
• Strong foundations in nature and also values; planting seeds

Aha moments [9:19]

• Rodale Institute volunteering story
• Having everything you need; nature provides it
• The importance of growing things, what you learn

Education and nature [13:57]

• Waldorf: Environment as teacher, play, storytelling, natural learning
• Reggio-Emilio, community learning, art, intergenerational
• Modern time schedules, replenishing, connecting with nature
• Ability to see and then make changes; power of touching dirt

Healing practices [22:13]

• Family healing practices; Yoga, Lovely Little Lotus
• Garden Buddha story
• Simply standing still and being
• Kids constantly outside, always working on something; part of healing
• Grocery store example; addressing needs as humans
• Therapuetic things: Crazy dance parties, painting, playing in mud
• Art Therapy, nature, and alternative education all part of healing journey
• Lindsey’s recent blog post, searching for ‘home’

Letter to your future self [36:39]

• Continue moving forward, look back less
• Nostalgia can be good, but don’t let it prevent you from forward progress
• Plant a seed everyday

Self care and making change [39:31]

• Spent too long not caring for herself, so now thoughtful
• Nature, outdoor time, blogging, reflection
• Making change, self healing thoughts
• Minimum things to do to be okay and a better human
• Remembering how to live, not just exist

Human connection [48:16]

• Sharing your work, making connections in person and online
• Raising a family offline, while trying to work in the world

Books [51:50]

• Let’s Play Books and Now and Then books
• All different topics; education, unschooling, nature, gardening, herbiary and more
• Book most often given away: Julián is a Mermaid, Jessica Love
• Largest book: Hobbit/Lord of the Rings combo book, Welcome to the Museum series
• book you most want, but can’t get: Iwigara

Billboard for the world [59:21]

• ‘stop being a dick’
• ‘Plant seeds of change’
• Bumper sticker discussion

Art [1:02:47]

• Mural in Emmaus
• Leon France installation scavenger hunt
• Interactive art, Juxtahub

Movers Mindset [1:07:01]

• Creating movement, offering a platform
• movement and heart, creating change

3 words [1:11:08]

• Plant a seed

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— Hello, I’m Craig Constantine. 👋

In the Movers Mindset podcast, I talk with movement enthusiasts to learn who they are, what they do, and why they do it. I’m interested in the nature and philosophy of movement and in exploring themes like independence, self-direction, and human excellence. My interests color each conversation and provide some structure to Movers Mindset. But since I like to take the scenic route, every conversation ends up going somewhere unique.

The purpose of Movers Mindset is to create and share great conversations with movement enthusiasts. Each conversation feeds my insatiable curiosity, but I share them to turn on a light for someone else, to inspire them, or to give them their next question.

I appreciate your time and attention, and I don’t take it for granted.

— Thank you!

My personal mission is creating better conversations to spread understanding and compassion. And Movers Mindset is one of the things I do in service of my mission. Drop by constantine.name for my weekly email, my other podcasts, writing and more.

The Movers Mindset project grew from conversations I started having as part of my personal journey rediscovering movement. The project started late in 2015, and it was initially simply a web site that shared others’ writing. The project grew, and in 2017 I started the podcast. I’ve worked extremely hard, but none of this would have been possible without so much help from so many people.

Thanks for listening!