Nature Play SA

Nature Play SA 🌿 Nature Play SA is a not-for-profit dedicated to increasing the time SA children spend outdoors. Nature Play SA Inc.

aims to increase the time South Australian children spend in unstructured play outdoors and in nature as this is fundamental to a full and healthy childhood. Nature play is, of itself, an intrinsic good and from it flow benefits in health, cognitive, social and emotional development and in the building of resilience and creativity. Experience in nature as a child also leads to environmental stewardship later in life.

01/09/2026

What better way to celebrate NATIONAL WATTLE DAY than the first day of SPRING?!

There’s something special about the bright splash of Wattle gracing our landscapes at this time of year. These nature’s pom-poms are also a fantastic plant for nature play at home. Think:

💛 Still-life painting or drawing
💛 Nature crowns
💛 Sensory trays and colour sorting
💛 Nature bouquets
💛 Decorating playdoh

Remember, nature play doesn’t need to be complicated! Here’s to sping, sunshine and longer days spent out in nature ☀️

📍Visiting Wittunga Botanic Gardens? Keep an eye out for Wattle around the lake at our headquarters.

Bird Appreciation Walks @ Belair National Park 🪶This spring, join Nature Play SA for a series of FREE Bird Appreciation ...
31/08/2026

Bird Appreciation Walks @ Belair National Park 🪶

This spring, join Nature Play SA for a series of FREE Bird Appreciation Walks in Belair National Park - a chance for families, young people and curious nature-lovers to discover the incredible birdlife right on our doorstep.

Slow down, listen and look a little closer as we discover the fascinating birdlife around us. Along the way, we’ll share stories, learn to identify the birds we encounter and enjoy time connecting with nature.

Pick your walk:

🌳 Family Bird Appreciation Walk - For children, young people and their families/carers. Sessions run after school with a focus on exploring and discovering together.

🪶Bird Appreciation Walk - For anyone interested in discovering more about birds. No experience needed, just bring your curiosity!
All attendees will also receive bird resources to take home, so you can keep exploring long after the walk is over.

📍 Belair National Park 🌱 Spring | FREE Entry 🎟️ Places are limited and registrations are essential.

Register now https://events.humanitix.com/host/nature-play-sa

Supported by Green Adelaide, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia

21/08/2026

We’re getting ready to get MUDDY! 🙌🌿

Muddy Hands Festival is back, and we can’t wait to join the City of Tea Tree Gully for another day of messy, muddy, nature-filled fun!

20/08/2026

BACK IN STOCK!

Our best-selling WATERPROOF PLAYSUITS are finally back in stock and ready for ADVENTURE! 🌧️

Designed specifically for active little explorers, they’re available in five sizes in Red or Blue.

Why families love them:
🌧️ Adjustable sizing for longer wear
🍂 Hi-vis safety strips
❄️ Easy-clean fabric
☀️ Hooded design for wet-weather play
🍃 Compact roll-up storage – perfect for outings and little backpacks

Perfect for splashing in puddles, sliding down muddy hills and exploring outdoors, whatever the weather – all without the stress of the mess!

And the best part? Every purchase supports our important not-for-profit work, helping children and families across Australia connect with nature. 🌿

Shop now: https://natureplaysa.org.au/shop/

From Thriving Learners to a growing partnership 🌿Our work with Findon Technical College is a great example of how a Thri...
20/08/2026

From Thriving Learners to a growing partnership 🌿

Our work with Findon Technical College is a great example of how a Thriving Learners program can grow and evolve.

What began as a six-week program supporting emerging educators to build their connection to nature and confidence in nature play has developed into an ongoing partnership. Nature play is now embedded in Findon’s Child Studies curriculum, with students completing a nature play unit each year.

Students and educators have spent time at Wittunga Botanic Garden, our Nature Play SA headquarters exploring nature-based learning and working alongside our team to plan and lead their own experiences.

More recently, two students joined our Playful Nature Pedagogies professional learning alongside practising educators, further building their knowledge, confidence and practical skills.

For us, this is what Thriving Learners can become: a program that continues to grow through strong relationships, practical learning and ongoing support.

Expressions of Interest for Thriving Learners are now open. We’d love to hear from education sites interested in exploring what this could look like in their setting.

https://natureplaysa.org.au/nature-play-sa-thriving-learners-enquiry-form/

Department for Education, South Australia Technical Colleges
Technical Colleges Department for Education, South Australia Findon High School

The best way to create inclusive nature experiences is to listen to the people who experience them.Last week at Myponga ...
18/08/2026

The best way to create inclusive nature experiences is to listen to the people who experience them.

Last week at Myponga Reservoir Reserve, we had the opportunity to do just that with ORANA’s Life Education group.

We were joined by Issac, Elton and their support team from Orana Australia Ltd, as well as Brooke and Annina from SA Water, for a morning exploring what an inclusive and accessible reservoir experience could look and feel like.

Together, we wandered, listened to stories about the plants and wildlife, created watercolour paintings, searched for wildlife and shared ideas about what could make future visits more enjoyable, meaningful and accessible.

We are committed to creating opportunities for everyone to connect with nature. That means listening to people with diverse needs and experiences, understanding what can create barriers, and making sure those perspectives help shape the programs, resources and experiences we develop.

The ideas and perspectives shared will contribute to the development of future reservoir experiences.

The morning was part of SA Water’s Reservoirs for Nature project, which aims to connect people with nature while restoring habitats, enhancing biodiversity and offsetting carbon emissions.

Thank you Issac, Elton, your team and the wonderful individuals that form part of your Life Education group for sharing the morning with us, and to Brooke and Annina from SA Water for joining us. We are grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn and create alongside you.

https://watertalks.sawater.com.au/reservoirs-for-nature

🌿 Help shape the future of Bush Kindy in Australia!Nature Play SA is proud to support researchers at Adelaide University...
18/08/2026

🌿 Help shape the future of Bush Kindy in Australia!

Nature Play SA is proud to support researchers at Adelaide University who are developing a Bush Kindy Toolkit to support high-quality nature-based learning in Australian early childhood education and care services.

And they’d love to hear from you! 🌱

Do you work in early childhood education and care, support the sector, conduct research, or have a child attending an ECEC service?

Whether you have years of experience delivering Bush Kindy, are just getting started, or haven’t started at all, your experience and perspective can help shape this important resource.

They’re looking for a mix of voices, experiences and perspectives to help shape the toolkit, including:

🌱 Educators and teachers
🌱 Service leaders and ECEC providers
🌱 Parents and caregivers
🌱 Researchers
🌱 Policymakers and regulators
🌱 Environmental organisations

Participation involves completing three short online surveys (15–20 minutes each) over approximately 10 weeks.

Interested in getting involved? Register your interest via the link below or scan the QR code on the flyer.
https://adelaideuniwide.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Di0X8WqmRDEHc2

Please share this opportunity with your networks and help ensure the voices and experiences of the nature play and early childhood community are part of shaping this valuable resource. 💚

Attention: Department for Education, South Australia Schools and Early Learning Settings.Nature Play SA is inviting you ...
10/08/2026

Attention: Department for Education, South Australia Schools and Early Learning Settings.

Nature Play SA is inviting you to partner in our Thriving Learners Program - a fully funded opportunity to embed meaningful nature-based learning into your everyday practice.

Together with Nature Play SA, participating sites will undertake a meaningful nature-based project over 6-8 weeks that nurtures dispositions such as curiosity, collaboration, creativity, resilience and confidence, while supporting the Department's Areas of Impact.

Your partnership includes:

🍃 Fully funded professional learning
🍃 Ongoing support from Nature Play SA
🍃 Collaborative project tailored to your site's priorities
🍃 Practical resources and evidence-informed tools
🍃 Educator support to embed nature-based learning beyond the project

There is no cost to participating schools or early learning settings.

Expressions of Interest close Friday 28 August 2026.

Learn more about Thriving Learners: https://natureplaysa.org.au/educators/thriving-learners-2/

Submit your Expression of Interest: https://natureplaysa.org.au/nature-play-sa-thriving-learners-enquiry-form/

Or email us at [email protected] with any further
questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

31/07/2026

🌿 Today we're celebrating the people who care for the places that help us connect with nature.

At Nature Play SA, we're incredibly grateful to work alongside the dedicated rangers who protect and care for South Australia's parks, forests and reservoirs.

To every ranger, thank you for the important work you do every day. Your care for our natural places helps inspire curiosity, adventure, wellbeing and connection for generations to come. 💚

Happy World Ranger Day! 🌿

Children’s voices are vital in shaping spaces and places within their community 🌿 We recently had the privilege of colla...
21/07/2026

Children’s voices are vital in shaping spaces and places within their community 🌿

We recently had the privilege of collaborating with R to 6 students from Upper Sturt Primary School, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia and TCL Studio to explore ideas for the Belair National Park Adventure Playground upgrades.

After surveying the playground, discussing what they value most, and sharing their insights, Upper Primary students developed interpretations of their ideas through small models, while Junior Primary students expressed their ideas through art and small world play. With a focus on play over equipment, students discussed, collaborated, and created. Across both age groups, recurring themes of nature, adventure, and imaginative play emerged in their ideas and designs. We saw a mosaic of student ideas expressed in different ways which was both inspiring and valuable.

A huge thank you to National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, Environment SA News and TCL Studio for inviting us to be part of this collaborative and important project.

The South Australian Government is planning the next stage of upgrades to this much-loved play space, building on favourites like the timber fort and concrete tunnels. Community feedback is now open, with locals invited to share what they love about the playground and ideas for future improvements.

Find out more and have your say 📣 → https://bit.ly/4eRF0bA

Consultation closes this Friday 24 July 2026 at 5pm.

Address

Wittunga Botanic Gardens, Cnr Sherbourne + Shepherds Hill Roads
Adelaide, SA
5051

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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