Play has a way of bringing great people together. On 2nd September we welcomed Ricky to the tour and yellow car. He’s been a member of our Board since 2013, and was curious to see what we were up to in Canada firsthand. On his third day, we participated in Integrate Play Solutions double screening and panel. The evening would consist of Project Wild Thing, followed by The Land, and finally a Q&A with Pop-Ups and Pop-Ups Heroes Dr. Mariana Brussoni and Dr. Helen Little.
We were a little starstruck, or I was at least.
One thing that’s always interesting about screening The Land is noticing when people laugh. Sometimes a room will be united in their reactions, roaring together or gasping in unison. Other times you’ll hear a bark of laughter from the shadows. Andy found himself anticipating their reactions, knowing what they’d be seeing happen next. Suzanna sat at the back with Mariana and Helen, watching them watch the film. She said that they enjoyed The Land, which neither had seen before.
“They were wide-eyed too,” she said. “They felt wonder about the same stuff we do.”
It was amazing being on a panel with these two extraordinary researchers and writers, and a testament to the organizing abilities of Kirsten from Integrate Play Solutions. What was more incredible was the feeling of coming together from different disciplines, hearing our answers to questions about risk, freedom and children’s right to self-determination in play backed up by these two experts! It felt affirming, encouraging, and we agreed afterwards that it was so nice to be on a panel with other folks from a different field who really got it.
It’s now only a few days to the IPA conference at Calgary, where we’re excited to meet up with so many Friends of Pop-Ups, and to see both Mariana and Helen again!
To read more about us and our adventure across Canada, check out our dedicated tour page. To see more from us, check out our Facebook, Twitter and on our website.
By Morgan
