Join a welcoming play community that celebrates real childhood moments.
Growing Confident, Curious Little Explorers.
Outdoor Play That Helps Kids Thrive.
Our nature play sessions inspire imagination, build early skills, and bring pure joy to every wild-hearted child.
WELCOME TO WILD CHILD NATURE PLAY
🌿 Welcome to Wild Child Nature Play
Where children are free to explore, imagine, and grow in the great outdoors.
Founded by Stephanie, a passionate advocate for outdoor learning and child-led play, Wild Child Nature Play invites families to step outside, slow down, and rediscover the magic of nature together.
Stephanie created Wild Child Nature Play with a simple belief:
Every child deserves an outdoor childhood filled with wonder, adventure, and connection.
Our carefully crafted, play-based sessions encourage children to follow their curiosity, engage their senses, and build confidence through meaningful experiences in nature. Whether they’re climbing, splashing, digging, collecting, building, or simply watching a butterfly land nearby, children learn best when they are free to explore the world around them.
At Wild Child Nature Play, we celebrate:
🌱 Child-led exploration
🌳 Imaginative, open-ended play
🌼 Nature as the ultimate teacher
💛 Connection between families, community, and the natural world
Join us in creating unforgettable memories, nurturing resilience, and fostering a lasting love for the outdoors — one muddy, magical moment at a time.
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Meet the Founder: Steph
The heart behind Wild Child Nature Play community.
Every great adventure begins with a simple belief — and ours began with the belief that childhood belongs outdoors.
I am passionate nature-lover, educator, and advocate for child-led play. After witnessing how easily modern life pulls families indoors and away from the natural world,
I felt called to create something different, something more meaningful.
What began as a love for nature and early childhood development grew into a mission:
to give children the freedom, joy, and confidence that only outdoor play can offer — and to give parents the space to slow down and enjoy these moments with them.
I saw firsthand how nature transforms children:
how they become braver when they climb a fallen log,
more curious when they discover a beetle under a rock,
more imaginative when sticks become magic wands,
and more connected when parents explore right alongside them.
Determined to share these experiences with my community, I began designing nature play sessions that felt less like a class and more like an invitation — a welcoming space for curiosity, creativity, and connection.
Today, my vision has grown into a thriving nature play community where families come together to explore, learn, and rediscover the simple wonders of the outdoors.
What We Do
🍃 Child-Led, Nature-Based Play
We help families spend more meaningful time outdoors through guided nature play sessions including Playgroup, School Holiday Programs, Birthdays, Incursions and Excursions
Our programs nurture:
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Confidence through real-world exploration
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Creativity through open-ended play
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Calmness and regulation through nature
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Curiosity, joy, and wonder
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Connection — between children, parents, and the natural world
Whether you’re looking to reduce screen time, build connection, or simply let your child be a child… you’re in the right place.
Explore Our Programs]
Explore our Programs
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Little Gardeners Playgroup
Where tiny hands grow big imaginations.
Little Gardeners Playgroup is a nature-inspired outdoor program designed for young children to explore, plant, dig, water, and discover the magic of gardens.
Through hands-on gardening play, children learn how things grow — including their own confidence, curiosity, and connection to the natural world.
🌿 Activities: Digging, planting seeds, watering, harvesting, mud play, nature crafts
🍃 Benefits:
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Encourages responsibility and nurturing
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Builds fine motor skills and sensory awareness
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Teaches patience, growth, and care for the earth
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Provides gentle, calming outdoor time
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Sparks creativity and curiosity about nature
Little Gardeners Playgroup is child-led, hands-on, messy, and magical — the perfect place for kids to connect with nature and watch their world bloom.
Fridays during school terms
10:00-11:30am
Berwick
🌿
Bush Playgroup
Where childhood comes alive in the great outdoors.
Bush Playgroup is an immersive, nature-based outdoor program where children explore, play, and discover in the bush environment.
Designed for young children and their families, this playgroup invites little ones to connect deeply with nature through hands-on adventure, curiosity, and child-led learning.
This is a space where imagination runs wild, play is unstructured, and the bush becomes the ultimate playground.
🍃 What children experience:
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Exploring trails, trees, logs, rocks, and natural landscapes
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Building with sticks, leaves, stones, and bark
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Climbing, balancing, jumping, and healthy risk-taking
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Water play, mud play, and sensory discovery
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Nature crafts and bush-inspired creative moments
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Observing insects, birds, plants, and seasonal changes
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Quiet moments of wonder — listening to birds, sitting under trees, connecting with nature.
Thursdays during school terms
10:00-11:30am
Longwarry
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🌊
Beach Playgroup
Where little explorers discover the magic of the shoreline.
Beach Playgroup is a joyful, nature-based outdoor program held by the sea — a place where children can run, dig, splash, collect, and imagine freely along the shoreline.
Designed for young children and their families, this playgroup celebrates sensory-rich, child-led exploration while helping little ones connect deeply with coastal nature.
Here, the beach becomes their classroom… and their playground.
🌞 What children experience:
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Digging in sand, building sandcastles, creating natural sculptures
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Splashing in shallows, puddles, and rock pools
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Collecting shells, stones, seaweed, driftwood
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Observing crabs, fish, birds, and tide patterns
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Pouring, scooping, filling, and sensory water play
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Imaginative play with natural materials
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Seasonal discoveries — tides, waves, wind patterns, and ocean treasures
Wednesdays during school terms
10:00-11:30am
Tooradin
Christmas Specials
Celebrate the festive season with our special Drouin Bush Play sessions on Tuesday 16th and Thursday 18th December at Picnic Point, Longwarry. From 10:00am to 11:30am, children can partake in holiday-themed nature activities. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for exclusive discount offers.
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What makes Wild Child Nature Play Programs special?
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Child-led exploration
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A calm, nurturing environment
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Space for movement, creativity, curiosity, and imagination
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A strong focus on connection — with nature, with self, and with others
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Meaningful, screen-free experiences
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Sessions guided by facilitators who are passionate about outdoor learning.
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Benefits for children:
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Builds resilience, confidence, and independence
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Supports physical development through climbing, balancing, and exploring
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Encourages creativity and problem-solving
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Strengthens sensory awareness
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Helps emotional regulation through nature’s calming presence
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Develops social skills through cooperative, imaginative play
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Grows appreciation and respect for the natural world
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Benefits for parents:
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A chance to slow down and enjoy the outdoors
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Quality time connecting with their child
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A welcoming, like-minded community
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Inspiration for outdoor play at home
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Mindful moments in nature
✨
The essence of Bush Playgroup
Bush Playgroup isn’t just an activity — it’s an experience.
A weekly invitation for children to be wild, free, curious, and joyful.
A place where families gather, connect, and grow together under the canopy of the trees.
Frequently asked questions
Our Programs
Our Philosophy
✨ Simple. Slow. Connected.
We believe in child-led play, gentle guidance, and the magic of the natural world.
No pressure. No perfection. Just meaningful moments and joyful exploration.
Our Values:
🌿 Nature Connection
🧒 Child-Led Discovery
🤝 Community
🌱 Environmental Care
💛 Warmth & Safety
✨ Curiosity & Wonder
What Families Are Saying
Wild Child Nature Play has been amazing! we've attend 2 terms of bush kinder and have also experienced the playgroup & ponding sessions.
We have 4 kids ranging from 1-12 & they've all enjoyed playing and exploring Nature. The facilitator Steph is incredible and so wonderful with the kids, she asks the best questions to get their minds working she really helps strengthen their imagination & helps foster their confidence in the outdoors.
We are looking forward to the new beach kinder program & cannot wait to see what Wild Child Nature Play has in store for the future! 😀
Steph’s Wild Child Nature Playgroup has quickly become our favorite morning of the week. There is an abundance of activities for the children to explore, be creative and enjoy. Steph does a fantastic job at engaging the children in story time whilst eating our snacks before we adventure off for a bush walk, where we learn all about nature. Steph is informative, sparks inquisitiveness in the children and loves to educate about our findings. I would recommend her playgroup to anyone with young children. It’s clear that these playgroups are Steph’s heart and soul and it shows with the amount of enjoyment it brings all of the children who participate. We are so grateful for our weekly nature playgroup and learning from Steph. 10/10 would recommend.
🌿 5 Stars – A Beautiful Experience for Little Adventurers! 🌿
We absolutely love Wild Child Nature Play! From the moment we arrived, it was clear this was more than just a playgroup — it’s a nurturing, inspiring space where children are free to explore, imagine, and connect with nature.
The sessions are thoughtfully planned but never feel rigid — there’s so much room for child-led play and discovery. Whether it’s building with sticks, splashing in puddles, or searching for bugs, every moment encourages curiosity and confidence. My child has grown so much in independence and creativity since we started coming.
The facilitators are warm, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. You can tell they care deeply about creating a positive, inclusive, and safe outdoor experience for all families.
We especially appreciate the casual booking option — it’s flexible for busy schedules while still offering a sense of community and routine.
Highly recommend for any parents looking to get their little ones off screens and into the wonders of the wild. We leave every session with muddy boots, happy hearts, and lots of stories to tell. 🌱💚
We knew bush kinder would be amazing for our son and it was!
Being there for the session I was able to watch him thrive around other kids, problem solve, use his imagination and strengthen his listening skills. He is home with me full time, so this was a big win for us to watch him learn to take turns, listen to instructions & follow through by completing the task.
We have noticed huge improvements in just 4 weeks with him. He has grown personally in many areas and it’s always something we look forward to attending.
If you’re looking for a welcoming, well organised, fun & educational class for your kids- I highly recommend bush kinder.
Or anything Stephanie runs, she’s fantastic!
Playgroup was wonderful! I personally wanted something that would push us outside, especially in winter and was so glad I found Wild Child! Being in the fresh air once a week (rather than inside like other playgroups) put us both in a good mood. Miss 2yo loved the mud kitchen and going on little nature walks to look for bunnies.
Wednesdays are a weekly highlight!
Playgroup was wonderful! I personally wanted something that would push us outside, especially in winter and was so glad I found Wild Child! Being in the fresh air once a week (rather than inside like other playgroups) put us both in a good mood. Miss 2yo loved the mud kitchen and going on little nature walks to look for bunnies.
Wednesdays are a weekly highlight!
I enjoy being outside and seeing my son play happily and also talking to other adults. Thankyou Steph for all your hard work into making this such a fun experience.
Thanks so much Steph for creating such a fun and thought-out nature play. My little girl loves attending your classes and has really come out of her shell since starting in 2023. I would highly recommend your program to anyone with curious little explorers!
What a great program its great
to see so many children enjoying
being outdoors. Thankyou for running these sessions
as it really encourages outdoor play.
can’t wait for the next session.
