After losing her mother in a car wreck (an intense, but not graphic scene), young Amy Alden rejoins her estranged father in Canada. There she rescues goose eggs about to be bulldozed. The goslings hatch, bond with her, and must eventually be taught to fly south for winter—by example. As Amy mothers the geese, she and her dad grow closer. Together they set goals, count the cost and then pilot two lightweight aircraft toward North Carolina in an attempt to guide the geese safely south.

While some teens and adults may be willing to navigate Fly Away Home's caveats, this endearing tale set amid breathtaking scenery is not appropriate for young children. Several profanities mar the dialogue, and Amy's dad is shown from the rear in immodest bikini underwear. At one point, he conveys New Age ideals by assuring his discouraged daughter that her mom is "in the geese, in the sky ... all around you." Also, Amy adopts a nose ring for the final third of the movie—a fashion statement most parents would prefer to discourage.