You’ll arrive to our picnic-style basecamp tucked into nature - a shady nook with rugs and cushions, bubbles drifting past, nature books, and a hot cuppa waiting (byo cup with lid). We begin at 9:45 with a short welcome so you know what’s on offer for the day, and a gentle connection activity to help us get to know each other.

From there, the morning stretches out into proper child-led exploration: mud or water play, climbing trees, digging, and all the gloriously messy, hands-on discovery that the outdoors invites. Alongside that, we offer thoughtfully prepared play invitations - seasonal crafts using natural materials, hands on eco-focused activities, loose parts gathered from the landscape, tools for curious hands, and simple provocations that help children lean into the wildness of the space.

Feel free to eat, breastfeed, or change your child whenever you need to. Just remember to check the hazard register when you arrive and to sign in and out.

We bring everything: all craft resources, natural materials, sensory play, the discovery kitchen gear, and any special additions planned for the day.

Behind the scenes, your session fee covers high-quality materials, insurance, hazard management, and our experienced, first-aid-trained facilitators. You simply arrive, settle in, and enjoy a morning filled with fun and adventure with your family.

Our nature playgroup sessions are held in a range of parks, reserves, and natural outdoor spaces across Selwyn and South Christchurch. Most locations are within a 20-minute drive of Rolleston, with regular sessions in areas such as Lincoln, Prebbleton, Tai Tapu, Halswell and Leeston. We rotate locations to give children varied nature play experiences & hands-on local ecological knowledge.

We play in all weather – rain, shine, and wind are part of the adventure! Braving the elements builds resilience and often leads to our best sessions, with kids (and adults!) building shelters, splashing in puddles, and getting creative outdoors.

If conditions are unsafe (severe wind, flooding, extreme heat, lightening), we’ll do our best to arrange an alternative venue with suitable shelter (such as a community centre) so the session can still go ahead.

We don’t offer drop-ins or trial sessions during the term.

Our Forest Kindy programme is built around consistency - the same small group each week. That’s what allows children (and families) to get comfortable and form real friendships over time. We intentionally keep that group stable so we can protect the sense of community we’re growing together.

We know families often want to “try before they commit”, which is completely understandable.

For that reason, we run Wild Days Nature Play sessions in the school holidays. These are a great way to experience our approach to play, nature, and learning in action - just without the ongoing community layer that makes Forest Kindy what it is.

Wild Days are a taste.
Forest Kindy is a home.