We run Forest Kindy/Forest School programmes rooted in child-led nature play in Selwyn and Christchurch.
17 April 2026 - 10am - 12.30pm
Join us for a relaxed, nature-filled morning of mixed-age, child-led play at the beautiful Liffey Springs reserve in Lincoln.
Our nature play events are all about giving tamariki the time, space, and freedom to explore, create, and connect in the great outdoors in every season.
We'll have arts and crafts, our discovery mud kitchen, seeds to plant & take home, loose parts for imaginative play, scavenger hunts and a calm space set up for our littlest explorers. With plenty of space for exploration, this is a shared stay-and-play experience for children and their grown-ups.
$20 per child.
Under 1's free when attending with a paying sibling.
(*Suggested for ages 0–12 however all tamariki are welcome to join!)
Registration instructions:
1. Register one child at a time. Click ‘Register now,’ and complete the child registration details form that pops up. The child’s registration fees will then be added to your cart.
2. Repeat step 1 for any additional children and babies.
3. Go to cart & checkout to add parent/caregiver details & complete payment.
Tuesdays • 9:45 am – 12:30 pm • Forest Kindy 0-6yo
Term 2 dates: 21 April 2026 - 30 June 2026
$125 per term. Under 1’s go free when accompanying a paid sibling.
Registration instructions:
1. Register one child at a time. Click ‘Register now,’ and complete the child registration details form that pops up. The child’s registration fees will then be added to your cart.
2. Repeat step 1 for any additional children and babies.
3. Go to cart & checkout to add parent/caregiver details & complete payment.
Registering multiple children (1–5yo)?
Use code SIBLING20 at checkout for $20 off each additional child’s fees.
Thursdays • 9:45 am – 12:30 pm • Forest Kindy 0-6yo
Term 2 dates: 23 April 2026 - 2 July 2026
$125 per term. Under 1’s go free when accompanying a paid sibling.
Registration instructions:
1. Register one child at a time. Click ‘Register now,’ and complete the child registration details form that pops up. The child’s registrations fees will then be added to your cart.
2. Repeat step 1 for any additional children and babies.
3. Go to cart & checkout to add parent/caregiver details & complete payment.
Registering multiple children (1–5yo)?
Use code SIBLING20 at checkout for $20 off each additional child’s fees.
Thursdays • 9:45 am – 12:30 pm
Term 1 dates: 5 Feb 2026 - 3 Apr 2026
Registration instructions:
1. Register one child at a time. Click ‘Register now,’ and complete the child registration details form that pops up. The child’s registration fees will then be added to your cart.
2. Repeat step 1 for any additional children and babies.
3. Go to cart & checkout to add parent/caregiver details & complete payment.
Registering multiple children (1–5yo)?
Use code SIBLING20 at checkout for $20 off each additional child’s fees.
What we do
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Child-Led Free Play
Tamariki follow their own curiosity - climbing, digging, building, and discovering at their own pace.
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![A cartoon tree with a bookshelf built into its trunk and branches, with small windows on the branches.]()
Nature Library
Discover stories, reference books & puzzles that spark curiosity about the living world.
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![Cartoon artist's palette with six colorful paint blobs in green, red, yellow, brown, orange, and dark green.]()
Nature Arts & Crafts
Create with flowers, leaves, and natural materials - art inspired by the land.
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![A cozy woodland scene featuring a small wooden shelter with shelves filled with pottery and kitchen items, surrounded by green plants and flowers.]()
Discovery kitchen
Stir, pour, and experiment in a world of bubbling potions and child-safe hands-on science.
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![Illustration of a magnifying glass over green and yellow plants and flowers, with green leaves visible around the magnifying glass.]()
Explore or Ignore
A new hands-on nature themed activity each week.
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![Illustration of a green heart made up of stylized leaves.]()
Little Kaitiaki
Sow seeds, build bug homes, and learn to care for our local environment.
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![A colorful illustration of various green foliage, leaves, and small red berries.]()
Nature as the Classroom
Learn from the world around you -observing wildlife, exploring plants, and experiencing the seasons.
Step inside our world
Outplay. Outlearn. offers Nature Play, Forest Kindy & Forest School programmes based in Selwyn NZ, created for families who believe that the best learning happens outdoors.
Treasure
Childhood is precious and fleeting. We believe it should be treasured, and lived with wonder. Tamariki deserve the freedom to discover their own capabilities, imagine boldly, and grow with confidence. Through child-led free play, we give them the grace to explore their own ideas and grow at their own pace.
Trust
We step back so tamariki can step forward—discovering their capabilities, building resilience, and learning who they are. Mistakes, risk, and raindrops are not things to fear but pathways to growth. Time in nature is a powerful catalyst for this development, supporting children to become capable, curious, and well-equipped for life. In this natural, unhurried environment—without rush, competition, or tick boxes—they can thrive.
Tribe
Community is our superpower: big laughs, open hearts, and real support. Out here, muddy boots and messy hair are the uniform, laughter is the soundtrack, and fresh air is the reset button. We do our best to make everyone feel welcomed, supported, and part of something that truly matters.
Thrive
We embrace kaitiakitanga, acting with deep respect for our interconnected world. We show tamariki the beauty and wonder of the land we love, recognising that to raise the next generation of guardians, they need to experience the natural world with their own hands and hearts. We lead by example, striving not just to tread lightly but to act in ways that restore and regenerate—strengthening our local places and supporting the wider environment. Our goal is simple: to leave the world better than we found it.
Register your interest
We grow in response to our community.
Register your interest to let us know which days work for your family and to receive updates as we expand into new playgroup days, Forest School sessions, birthday experiences, and special pop-up events.