2023 Workshops (2025 Workshops Updating Soon)

Jill Rice

Pukekohe, Auckland NZ – Get Outside

Workshop Title: Natural Play by Design

How can we make space for nature play and connection in our teaching and learning environments?
In this safety-conscious, achievement-driven world, space, time and investment in natural environments for children requires a special determination! There are so many rules and regulations to comply with, so many learning outcomes to achieve, and always, competition over how best to use a limited budget. Jill will share with you her passion for natural environments as being essential to children’s learning, and her practical experience from 30+ years of transforming environments in our schools and ECEs to be both safe and engaging in a way that is affordable and achievable. There will be opportunity to discuss particular issues attendees may have in their own centres regarding the incorporation of water, mud, creatures, plants and the like into their own play spaces, useful information regarding navigating the world of risk management and compliance, and tips as to how to make the most of limited space and funds. The key take-away, however, will be inspiration, and a road-map for turning your own spaces into well-designed, nature-rich spaces that are both living and manageable, by way of a number of case-studies where great results have been achieved!

Personal Bio: As landscape architect and passionate play advocate for over 30 years, Jill has specialised in the design of natural play spaces and learning environments that inspire wonder and adventure for children of all abilities. Responding to the environment and the cultural stories and aspirations of local communities, her spaces offer opportunities to play in non-prescriptive ways and to deepen connections with their place. Jill has won design awards for several projects including the Rangitoto College Tranquil Garden, Mt Eden Kindergarten outdoor environment, the Potter Children’s Garden at the Auckland Botanic Gardens and the “Zero Waste Future” Experience Trail at Waitakere Transfer Station, a learning garden made almost entirely out of repurposed “rubbish”.Jill has three adult children and three mokopuna, has had a long association with Play Aotearoa, Recreation Aotearoa and NZILA, is a Board member of GDSNZ, and Director of her company Get Outside, serving communities throughout the motu since 2004.

https://www.getoutside.co.nz/

Kimberley Crisp

The Heart School – Awatoto, Napier, Aotearoa, NZ

Workshop Title: The He’art’ of Rituals

Rituals are the ‘fuel’ for PLAY
And you can’t PLAY on ‘empty’

In this workshop Kimberley will share WHY Rituals are so CRITICAL.
She will give some pedagogy around the relationship between Rituals and The Biological needs of children.
The difference between Routine and Ritual will be discussed.
The power of RYTHMN will be explained and the role this has in anchoring children.
This will be a hearts and hands IN workshop. You will experience a treasured Haven Ritual and have the chance to ‘weave your own magic’ Kimberleys love of Rituals is infectious and the practical tools and ideas will be endless.

Personal Bio: Kimberley is a flower picking … candle burning … potion creating … animal loving bohemian at heart. She and her partner and their 2 rescue fur babies Lincoln and Basil live a life by design creating adventures between their house bus Billie and their Tiny Home ‘Tiny on Te Awa’. Her early childhood years were where she developed a wild love affair with nature. A passionate Nana who took her on beach picnics and where outside in the garden is where they literally lived their days together. Flowers and animals partnered with special Rituals create the ‘anniversaries of the heart’ she so fondly shares today.
www.kimberleycrisp.com

Evelyn Davis

Laingholm, West Auckland, Aotearoa, NZ – Storytelling Threads

Workshop Title: How to playfully improvise known and unknown stories in an outdoor setting

With minimum props, minimum warning and minimum planning? Not hard if you remember a few key basics: stay in the present
moment, be playful, connect with your senses, consider all four temperaments and keep an eye out for loose parts. Evelyn will endeavour to cram all this into 90 minutes of improvised playful storytelling interspersed with simple exercises to support your own
appreciation that yes, it’s in your DNA already. No experience required: just a little imagination, a willingness to take risks and the
desire to have fun.
Personal Bio: With a background in Steiner education, improvised theatre and being an ‘atelierista’ in mainstream kindergartens, Evelyn is keen to share how we can empower children and their oral literacy, by daring to be imperfect and playful storytellers ourselves. During lockdown in 2020, she challenged herself to make a video (all imperfect!) of a different story every day for 100 days, using as many mediums as she could dream up: string games, origami, playdough, puppets, finger verses, storymats, and many more. Evelyn also makes beautiful wet felted storytelling mats.
www.facebook.com/storytellingthreads

Celia Hogan

Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa NZ – Little Kiwis Nature Play

Workshop Title: Managing the Risks of Risky Play

Risky play is not just about physical development it is about building self-confidence, problem-solving and emotional resilience. These skills are transferable to other areas of our lives, they help us to cope when faced with challenging situations and are essential for a child’s healthy overall development. So many adults are hesitant when children take risks, they put roadblocks in the way or project their own fears onto the children they work with. Yet children have been taking risks since the day they were born and taught themselves many things. If we truly see children as capable and competent then we need to let them play in the ways they developmentally need to.
In this session, Celia will unpack the 8 elements of Risky Play, discuss terms like learning injuries and life-altering injuries, identify the difference between risky play and dangerous play and help us to understand our own risk profile and the impact of our language on children’s play. Celia will finish with a korero on managing risks and groups in an outdoor environment to help build the confidence of kaiako to enable positive risky play.

Personal Bio: Celia Hogan is passionate about getting children outdoors and into Nature. She is a strong advocate for nature play, nature connection, risky play, building resilience, and improving mental health and well-being through nature. Celia originally studied outdoor recreation and adult education. For the past 20 years she has worked for a variety of outdoor education and personal development organisations. Celia works hard to change the face of education in New Zealand. She has led a petition to enable full time nature-based kindergartens to start in New Zealand, Celia is the Chair for Nature Education Aotearoa and also sits on the board of Outdoor Education New Zealand. Her personal goal is to see every child spending at least 3 hours outside every day in New Zealand. To make this happen she runs professional development training, workshops and conferences for teachers to boost their confidence and help them to make it happen. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and has survived a variety of crises both professionally and personally to give some real depth to her conversations.
www.littlekiwisnatureplay.com

Wiremu Sarich

Kaitaia, Te Hiku o Te Ika, Aotearoa NZ – Educator

Workshop Title: Taonga Puoro – Voices of the Elements

An interactive experience where participants will connect through the power of music to themselves and our natural environment. Hear and see our collection of individual and diverse Taonga Puoro instruments played by Wiremu, from the Nguru, Porutu, long flute; Tuatara, shell trumpets; to the majestic Koauau Toroa, the royal albatross wing bone flute. Share in the Sounds and Stories of these ancient instruments.

Personal Bio: Wiremu Sarich, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi, Tainui, is a leading exponent in the resurgence of Ngā Taonga Taakaro (traditional Māori games/pastimes). He uses fundamental principles of indigenous methodology to activate sensory awareness. Through basic instruction, physical activity and observation he challenges conventional thought processes to facilitate participants’ understanding of connection to themselves, others and the natural environment.

Michelle Flower

Whangamatā, Aotearoa NZ – Whangamatā Kindergarten Kaiako

Workshop Title: Kei hea te tuna?

At Whangamatā kindergarten what emerged from our Internal Evaluation “What does manaakitanga look like, feel like and sound like in our kindergarten?” Was rich local curriculum learning that was unique to our place and sits soundly alongside the concept of sustainability? Kaiako have been responsive to what presented itself to us by working together with whānau, leading us out into the taiao, sharing pūrākau, and tamariki representing their working theories over a repertoire of modes of meaning-making.

Personal Bio: Kaiako at Whangamatā kindergarten believe that a tamaiti who is gifted in kaitiakitanga will be connected to our taiao. They will take responsibility to nurture and maintain knowledge, resources, and language. They will participate in new learning about our turangawaewae, being involved in te ao Māori pūrākau. Qualities such as protection, pride, passion, agency, and perceptiveness are supported by strong relationships with kaiako who demonstrate this kaupapa. We look forward to meeting you, and sharing the journey of a new team of kaiako coming together to connect with our taiao and embrace the knowledge of our community.

Nick Caulfield & Robz Jones

Raglan, Aotearoa NZ – Nature Connection Aotearoa

Workshop Title: Demonstrating a model of a natural learning space

Come and join us in a practical learning experience. Choose from a range of activities and take a self guided journey within a space created to inspire you.

Personal Bio: Nick has been working with children and adults for the past 14 years. At Ruskin Mill in the UK, he witnessed and engaged with the transformative and healing nature of craftwork. After spending time at Nature Schools in America he embarked on a journey of deep nature connection and brings this, along with his passion for crafts, into his work.
Robz has been journeying with nature connection, as a way of life for the past 10 years, spending much of his time immersed in nature and the outdoors practicing primitive skills and holistic observation. He has since founded Kura Taiao, a community-based Nature School in Raglan where he supports over 80 families. Together, Nick and Robz run workshops for children, adults and families around New Zealand, and provide professional development and consultation with people interested in deepening their nature connection journey.
www.nature-connection.nz

Wendy Lee and Lorraine Sands

Tauranga / Hamilton, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Educational Leadership Project

Workshop Title: Creating vibrant leaderful learning environments

“Ehara taku toa, i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.”

My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, as it was not individual success, but success of a collective. Cooperation of many can bring best results.” Rodd, (2014) brings the wisdom of this whakatauki into the present by saying “leadership in early childhood education becomes the product (success) of the collective endeavour of an interconnected group of educators where power, defined as influence and strength is derived from working collaboratively with others.”

This participatory workshop provides an opportunity for exploring how to embed leadership practices that ensure that everyone within your centre whānau benefits from principles of Te Whāriki:
Leadership that is empowering
Leadership that values reciprocal relationships
Leadership that is holistic and
Leadership that results in a community of learners

Starhawk, (1988) states “Groups are… leaderful, when everyone in the group feels empowered to start and stop things, to challenge others and to meet challenges, to move out in front or to fall back”. In this session we will consider ways to create vibrant leaderful learning environments in which all have the right and the opportunity to be engaged in leadership. This workshop will draw in the ideas of Fish Philosophy linked directly to the principles of Te Whāriki.

Personal Bios: Lorraine has a long-standing commitment to support teachers to engage with the principles and strands of Te Whāriki in ways that strengthen children’s lifelong learning identities. She advocates for this through her work as a professional learning facilitator with Educational Leadership Project and in her role as a learner, teacher, and researcher at Greerton Early Learning Centre. Lorraine’s research has focused on ways leaderful teachers might strengthen and stretch children’s dispositions and the integrated, multiple working theories that emerge when children are in settings that enable them to engage in free play with and alongside teachers who intentionally navigate spaces where co-construction of learning is possible.
Wendy is the Director of the Educational Leadership Project (Ltd), a professional learning provider for the early childhood sector in New Zealand. She has been involved in the early childhood education (ECE) field over the last 45 years as a teacher, tutor, lecturer, manager, professional development facilitator and researcher. Wendy has a deep interest in curriculum, advocacy and leadership issues in ECE. She is very enthusiastic about the power of documentation to strengthen the learner identity of children and is passionate about the importance of the outdoors for all children.
elp.co.nz

Terrayne Whata and Dani Lebo

Whanganui, Aotearoa NZ – Whanganui Intermediate/The ECO School

Workshop Title: Te Ako i Te Ngahere – Interweaving Te Ao Maori into your Forest School Program
We will look at ways to authentically engage in safe cultural practices within forest school and nature play settings in regards to developing rich practices and deep connection to the places and people from your area. We will draw from examples as Pakeha and Māori educators who work together in a reo rua program delivered within a mainstream kura.

Personal Bios: Kia ora. Ko Terrayne Whata tōku ingoa. Born in Christchurch, raised in Rotorua, living in Whanganui with my tamāhine. I am currently teaching at Whanganui Intermediate School as a Te Reo Māori teacher. I am also blessed to be a part of our Forest School Unit.
Kia ora, ko Dani Lebo au. No New Jersey, USA au, engari e noho ana au i Whanganui inaianei ratou ko toku whanau. I run The ECO School and currently work alongside Terrayne at Whanganui Intermediate. I have a BA in International Intercultural Studies, a Masters in International Education, and level 5 Te Reo Māori through Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
www.theecoschool.net

Wiremu Sarich and Anna Tripp

Kaitaia, Te Hiku o Te Ika, Aotearoa NZ – Educators Traditional Maori Games

Workshop Title: Papa Taakaro

Kia kawea tātou e te rēhia – Let us be taken by joy and entertainment! This interactive space will explore the traditional Maori worldview of leisure – the enjoyment of games, pastimes, storytelling, music and performance. Utilising their own skills, creativity and found resources participants in groups will be invited to collectively build ‘te whare rēhia’ – a house of entertainment. This workshop will share insights, ideas and understanding for how teachers and educators can work in natural spaces with tamariki to develop their own whare rēhia.

Personal Bios: Wiremu Sarich, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi, Tainui, is a leading exponent in the resurgence of Ngā Taonga Taakaro (traditional Māori games/pastimes). He uses fundamental principles of indigenous methodology to activate sensory awareness. Through basic instruction, physical activity and observation he challenges conventional thought processes to facilitate participants’ understanding of connection to themselves, others and the natural environment.

Anna Tripp, Te Rarawa, Ngapuhi, Vanua Balavu, is a former early childhood teacher having worked in both Kōhungahunga and Kindergarten. She expresses her own unique connection to the natural world through her enjoyment of crafting aro taakaro, implements of play. Maara kai, maramataka Māori and rongoā Māori are key influences that inform and guide her practice.

Tia Healey-Jellick

Kerikeri, NZ – Native Healing Herbals

Workshop Title: Using Nature for Wellness, Balance and Stability: Kawakawa Balm Making

Tia will take participants on an interactive journey from identification through to preparation and creating balms. She will delve into many aspects of nature and how to bring the experience to your children in a way that opens up and actively engages and inspires them to use nature in many ways for wellness and healing.

Personal Bio: My name is Tia Healey-Jellick I grew up in the Kaitaia area, in the Far North of New Zealand, surrounded by native bush. The forest was my solace, my friend and my healer and I have always been passionate about Aotearoa and her native plants. What started as a passion and a hobby making herbal balms soon turned into a unique business called Native Healing Herbals. As well as making native healing balms and creams I also run workshops to adults and school groups – on how to make balms, using nature to heal and bring wellness and balance. This is an empowering workshop with demonstrations and interactive exercises.
nativehealingherbals.co.nz

Nick Caulfield and Robz Jones

Raglan, Aotearoa NZ – Nature Connection Aotearoa

Workshop Title: Awareness and Holistic Observation

Nick and Robz will look to wake up the natural senses of our human animal through practical games and activities which will help you experience, observe and explore Nature through Native eyes. Discover the mystery and everyday adventures that nature holds when we know how to open our senses to her; and learn ways to share this with your tamariki in fun and engaging ways.

Personal Bios: Nick has been working with children and adults for the past 14 years. At Ruskin Mill in the UK, he witnessed and engaged with the transformative and healing nature of craftwork. After spending time at Nature Schools in America he embarked on a journey of deep nature connection and brings this, along with his passion for crafts, into his work.

Robz has been journeying with nature connection as a way of life for the past 10 years, spending much of his time immersed in nature and the outdoors practicing primitive skills and holistic observation. He has since founded Kura Taiao, a community-based Nature School in Raglan where he supports over 80 families. Together, Nick and Robz run workshops for children, adults and families around New Zealand, and provide professional development and consultation with people interested in deepening their nature connection journey.
www.nature-connection.nz

Kathy Broadhead

Waihi Beach, Western Bay of Plenty, Aotearoa NZ

Workshop Title: Nature Connection – Planting the seed for tamariki to develop deep love and care for Papatūānuku, Mama Nature

Join me to experience how easy it can be to get your tamariki connecting with and learning in nature, in your green spaces. Together we’ll enjoy a variety of nature connection experiences and learn how important time spent connecting with nature is in developing a deep love and care for the natural world. This connection is the foundation for which embodied environmental stewardship and kaitiakitanga is developed, and is an important step to integrate in developing any enviro, or sustainability programme. We’ll also explore the enormous benefits for hauora, holistic wellbeing that come from this connection with nature, for both tamariki and teachers alike. In this nourishing and nurturing workshop you’ll develop your own connection with nature and learn tools, tips, tricks and take away resources to support you in using nature as your classroom and co-teacher.

Personal Bio: I’m Kathy, Founder and Lead Educator of Nature Library NZ, I love sharing the gift of nature with tamariki and teachers alike. I am based in the beautiful Bay of Plenty where I run Nature Kids – Weekday Nature School and Holiday Club. I also facilitate Nature Education Training for Teachers and Kākano Kids In-School Programme all around Aotearoa, NZ. I use nature as my classroom, co-teacher and inspiration to support the growth, development and wellbeing of tamariki (and teachers). My programmes blend intentional experiences, child-led exploration and free nature play. I am a nature lover, and take time to connect with nature everyday. I am a qualified and experienced Environmental Educator with over 20 years in various education roles in NZ and abroad. I am a trained teacher with a MEd, PGDip and a BSc, but I believe nature and experiences with and in nature are the best teachers of all. I know connecting with and learning in nature are the most important things in helping children develop an enduring love and care for the natural world. And, I love sharing how easy this can be through my programmes.

https://www.naturelibrary.co.nz/

Celia Hogan

Ōtautahi Christchurch, Aotearoa NZ – Little Kiwis Nature Play

Workshop Title: Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours

When children behave in challenging ways they are communicating something to us. Being able to understand what their behaviour is communicating, and how we communicate in those times, is a wonderful skill to have. In this workshop, we will explore how we can become behaviour detectives and then communicate to create balance and harmony through mindful and respectful communication skills. We will cover what challenging behaviours might be communicating, the importance of being a regulated and calm adult during these moments, why relationships and connection matter and some communication tools and strategies to support adults to bring calm to themselves and to the situation. There will be a mix of conversation, hands-on learning and listening, using small group work, scenarios and your own real-world situations that we can work through.
Using these strategies will not only help you during these tricky times but also support your children’s emotional resilience, giving them skills for life in regulating their emotions and overcoming frustrations and challenges respectfully.

Personal Bio: Celia Hogan is passionate about getting children outdoors and into Nature. She is a strong advocate for nature play, nature connection, risky play, building resilience, and improving mental health and well-being through nature. Celia originally studied outdoor recreation and adult education. For the past 20 years she has worked for a variety of outdoor education and personal development organisations. Celia works hard to change the face of education in New Zealand. She has led a petition to enable full time nature-based kindergartens to start in New Zealand and her personal goal is to see every child spending at least 3 hours outside every day in New Zealand. To make this happen she runs professional development training, workshops and conferences for teachers to boost their confidence and help them to make it happen. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience and has survived a variety of crisis’ both professionally and personally to give some real depth to her conversations .Celia is a natural and welcoming speaker and manages to juggle speaking engagements, running her Bush Kindy sessions for pre-schoolers and their whanau, and taking her own kids on mini adventures in nature.
littlekiwisnatureplay.com

Debbie Dagger

Paeangaroa, Aotearoa NZ – Paengaroa Kindergarten

Workshop Title: Welcome to our place

Join the teaching team on our journey spanning 13 years of Ngahere kindergarten. We will share our processes of getting started, our highlights and our challenges. We reflect how nature based settings underpin our philosophy, learning outcomes, curriculum design, and changes in our kindergarten environment. We explore how we can manage risk, adventure and unpredictability. Each of us will discuss openly our successes, our mishaps, expectations and sometimes frustrations or hesitancy: all of which can be real. We will explore the notion of our pedagogy changing beyond the kindergarten gate. We celebrate the transformation it has made for our tamariki. Redwood Valley Farm has been our home away from home. We are eager to share it with you.

Personal Bio: I am currently the Head teacher at Paengaroa Kindergarten. I have been fortunate enough to work in this fabulous kindergarten in this rural community. We have been fully supported in establishing regular excursions into the Ngahere (Redwood Valley Farm) for the past 13 years. I have had experience in the ECE sector that spans more than 40 years. I am passionate about nature and the simplicity that it provides in creating complexity in being able to imagine and innovate: I champion childhood!

Merryn Grace

Kaitaia, Aotearoa NZ – Anō Anō

Workshop Title: Beltrane Celebration

“What is all this juice and all this joy?” Spring is bursting and yearning all around us, can you see, feel, smell, hear, taste it? Come and be part of a ritual to celebrate this moment. It’ll be much like our ancestors used to do, but different too, because it is new, it’s now, and it’s uniquely ours. Expect storytelling, crafts, games, sharing, and laughter. Expect to feel like you yourself are spring, and part of this aliveness. Come away with a seed planted in your heart, which will grow if you tend it, and with the tools to create seasonal celebrations throughout the year with your own community.

Personal Bio: Kia ora, my name is Merryn. I grew up in the Manawatū and now live at a place called Earth Spirit, just south of Kaitaia. I am a witch, a student of sacred storytelling, druidry (the nature-based path of my Celtic ancestors), and of listening to the living spirits of the natural world. My life purpose is to keep magic alive, and reignite it where it has been lost. My day jobs are entertaining children (of all ages) with storytelling, facepainting, games, and nature adventures, as well as running handcraft workshops & seasonal celebrations via Anō Anō – The Upcycle Space in Kaitaia.
www.merryngrace.com

Rachel Thompson & Heidi Pritchard

Taupō, Aotearoa NZ – Kids Greening Taupō

Workshop Title: Creating Kaitiaki of the Future

Rachel and Heidi will take participants on a bush walk and show how they use connecting with nature as a way to create the future. They love to see tamariki enthusiastically noticing, discovering and wondering about the flora, fauna and fungi around them, let’s get you doing the same thing! Through storytelling, they will show participants how unique and special our native species are. There will be a focus on understanding the connections in our ecosystem, and the need to protect our native biodiversity. They will share some of their favourite resources, all available from the Kids Greening Taupō website, and discuss ways to use them with different age groups.

Personal Bios: Rachel and Heidi both come from teaching backgrounds, each having taught various age levels in different countries for almost 20 years. They are now education coordinators for Kids Greening Taupō, a not for profit environmental education organisation. They aim to connect tamariki and rangatahi with nature now, to create adults who care about protecting the environment in the future. They also use native restoration work and other conservation work as authentic learning contexts for young people in Taupō. Every school and many ECE centres in Taupō have a native restoration area to use as a learning space. While connecting tamariki with nature, Rachel and Heidi use storytelling about our native plants, animals and fungi to build a sense of wonder and respect for the unique species in Aotearoa. They are enthusiastic and love seeing excited tamariki discovering the miracles of the natural world around them.

Dani Lebo

Whanganui, Aotearoa NZ – The ECO School

Workshop Title: Maker Space

Come enjoy hands-on learning with bushcraft, fire, and knots. You can choose to engage in the mahi you are drawn to – weaving, bushcraft, trapping, fire-making, hammocks, and zip lines. We will help you learn some new skills and add some knowledge to your kete.

Personal Bio: Kia ora, ko Dani Lebo au. No New Jersey, USA au, engari e noho ana au i Whanganui inaianei ratou ko toku whanau. I run The ECO School in Whanganui, providing accessible sustainability education through permaculture courses, community workshops, and nature play programs. Coming from a background in outdoor education, adventure therapy, and teaching I enjoy exploring the interplay between ako and kaiako. I don’t sit still much, and love play in all forms. I have a BA in International Intercultural Studies, a Masters in International Education, and level 5 Te Reo Māori through Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
www.theecoschool.net

Leo Smith

Porirua, NZ – Bushsprouts

Workshop Title: Pest trapping with tamariki; being Kaitiaki

You don’t have to be Gareth Morgan or a hardcore expert to trap pests in your backyard. While some are squeamish or believe children should be sheltered from seeing death, if you’ve spent any time in your local bush you will have noticed the damage to our precious taonga species, caused by pest species. Pest trapping is a way for children to make a big difference for te taiao and to use observation, noticing, testing and other skills to be kaitiaki.

I have been trapping pests with children for nearly 20 years. I’ve helped set up two local pest free groups and regularly work with children to learn about what pests are in the area, why they are pests and what we can do about them. From Kindergarten kids trapping pests to protect their bush and seashore manu, to School kids managing their own trap lines, to college kids testing possum lures and trapping and selling the fur to fund further trapping, I’ve helped many tamariki and rangatahi develop their relationship with nature and become kaitiaki for te taiao.

In this workshop we will:
-Learn a bit about some common pests that are harming our endemic taonga
-Discuss what we can do about them and have a go at some kid-friendly methods of identifying what pests are around and how to control/trap them
-Learn about empowering kids to be kaitiaki for their local areas through action projects, being involved and creating communities of kaitiaki
-Hear about the difference that this makes for te taiao
-Using trapping as a tool for learning and for developing connections with nature, people and communities

Personal Bio: Kia ora, Ko Leo toku ingoa. I am the director of Bush Sprouts / Nature School; we have been empowering childrens’ learning from and through play in nature for 5+ years now. As a child reared on bushwalks every weekend and rockpooling every day after school, I developed a love for being in nature which influences many of the choices I’ve made in life. After studying and then working as an outdoor educator in NZ and overseas for many years, I re-trained into teaching, working at a couple of outdoor education Schools, then ended up working as a Kindergarten teacher and introducing Bush Sprouts for one day every week. I took a leap and started Nature School NZ to do this full time, and have been loving getting kids out into nature for the last 5+ years in Porirua and Wellington.
www.bushsprouts.nz