Nature-Based Kids Activities in Western Australia

What is Forest School?

How Does it Work?

What Do Kids Do?

Are Staff Qualified?

Forest school is where adventure meets learning. It helps people build confidence, make friends, and discover the wonders of nature, rain or shine.

Anyone can enjoy forest school activities. Think of it like outdoor education, survival skills, nature play or similar. It turns the outdoors into a place for hands-on skills, teamwork, and a love for the environment. It is not day-care, family day-care or a baby-sitting service. We actively follow the Forest School pedagogy to facilitate child-led learning and adventures.

Our main program focuses on engaging young people in after-school activities, home school day activities, and school holiday activities (times vary). Topics include everything from mindfulness and resilience building through to forest hikes and muddy/adventure play. This is NOT like day care, school or other adult led education. The focus is on encouraging young people to be themselves, and guide their own engagement and activity.

Our approach is child-led, so throughout the term, children may participate in a variety of activities, including:

  • Nature activities like hiking

  • Den building

  • Whittling and clay making

  • Building with hand tools

  • Flora and fauna identification

  • Nature journaling

  • Scavenger hunts

  • Growing plants, including food

  • Trail maintenance

Every day and every session is different. We may have a mini dam building exercise planned, but the children are engrossed in climbing a tree or building a cubby, so the planned activity is set aside as we help the children deep dive into their experience. We never interrupt their play or investigations, we enhance it.

In addition to these practical, hands-on skills your child builds emotional and interpersonal resilience through:

  • Developing physical and mental strength through exploration

  • Building confidence and resilience through personal challenges

  • Disconnecting from screens and reconnecting with nature

  • Team skills and communication with groups

  • Most importantly, simple manners and respect for themselves, one another, adults and their environment

Rain or shine, our WILD adventures never stop! We believe in the power of unstructured play and experiential learning in nature.

Forest school has a variety of locations and is continually expanding throughout WA. Each term our sessions are finalised, based on the registered ages, number of people in each session, and their needs. We want to ensure the best experience for those who enrol early, meaning, you can help create and tailor the program! Head to the enrol page to find a location near you.

Yes! Susanne, the owner and lead Forest School Facilitator, has a myriad of formal qualifications including: BA Sustainable Development, BA in Tourism and Events, certificates in Education Support and Disability Support. Other qualifications and training include: permaculture design certification, sustainable living, forest schooling, first aid certified, working with children check and police clearance.

In addition, Susanne and her family have spent the last few years traveling all over the world, learning forest school directly from the source, regenerative and no-dig farming techniques, and survival and self-sufficiency skills from leaders in the field.

As we grow with our community, any staff that are engaged, will be appropriately checked and qualified to provide a premium quality forest school and adventure experiences.

We are actively recruiting, so if you are interested in joining our team, reach out > gday@wildones.au with your CV and experience.