Where We Belong

The benefits of finding and revisiting a cherished wild space.

Many Wildling families find themselves spending a lot of time outdoors. We know the benefits and understand the importance, our children crave it and it helps keep us balanced. It’s in our nature and where we can reconnect with ourselves and our families, unplugged and tuned in. However, most of the time children spend outdoors these days is dedicated to council built playgrounds or school grounds made of paved sports courts and manicured fields. In comparison to the alternative of indoor play or screen time, this is of course much better, but these environments do not easily lend themselves to children creating a sense of place within them.

We are so incredibly lucky to live where we do, with wide and varied landscapes to choose from. The next time you are up for an adventure, consider trying one of our sandy beaches, headlands with vast lookouts, green rainforests, thriving wetlands, or our hidden lakes and rivers… we really have it all. I personally love variety; I love having the option to head up to the hinterland mountains, seek out a bubbling freshwater source or brave the waves of the ocean. My very favourite would be scouring the alive and curious rock pools when the tide falls. With all this being said, one thing I have come to appreciate is the need for children to have access to the SAME wild spaces on a consistent basis.

Currently at Wildlings, we are experiencing the changing seasons as winter approaches. The allure for our Wildlings to play and splash by the banks of our creek is fading, They are slowly branching out to explore the higher reaches of our rolling landscape, the forgotten gullies, the homemade swings and slides, and the tall gnarled trees of our forest that are so perfect for climbing. The benefits of visiting the same wild space over and over again has many benefits to children.

1. Refining their skills of memory and observation:

Each week we ask our Wildlings to take time to observe their surroundings and to notice any changes that have occurred since our last visit. They love the challenge and critically think about the space they are in. They are extremely perceptive and will notice and provide hypothesised explanations for the changes they observe. This provides excellent opportunities for learning about the seasons, life-cycles, weather patterns and our local flora and fauna. 

2. Enhance their love of the space:

With education comes understanding and through understanding comes care and compassion. We are fostering passionate and conscious children that will have knowledge about mother nature and feel empowered to be proactive in the protection of the spaces they hold dear. The more they explore the space, the more we learn about what lives there and how each species plays a role. They learn about the connection between all natural things and the importance of a balanced and diverse ecosystem. Our Wildlings space is home to an intricate web of life. We have found frogs, water dragons, snakes, insects, eels and birds living within our forest, all of which have captivated the minds of the children and the adults. We learn about these animals through observation and interaction and this is the connection that helps children develop a love for their space.

3. Risk management and conscious awareness of changing environments:

As forest school leaders, we are mindful to always minimise potential risks for our children as we ourselves have witnessed the Wildlings forest changing through many seasons. With time, we observe and learn how nature’s cycles change the shape of our sacred space. We know that big rains raise our creek edge higher, creating deeper pools while also forming new beaches to explore. We know that the same rain storm will cultivate the messy and perfect textured mud for our famous mudslides. We know the wind will rub the branches in our beautiful shady canopy together allowing us to listen to the murmurs and groans from our tree friends. This same wind will knock smaller branches down, providing new materials for our primitive weapons, nature crafts and whittling circles. We know just how wildly the wind needs to blow for these branches to fall, so we can identify these potential risks if and when they emerge over time and adjust our activities in response.

4. Finding their safe space:

Potentially the most basic aspect of creating a cherished wild space in a child’s life is the association of freedom, free will, creativity, independence, empowerment, courage, confidence, resilience and fun. They know that their place feels like home, filling them up with all the things that makes them feel full and happy. They will feel safe in the space and comforted knowing it will always be there for them when they want to come back to those priceless moments and emotions connected to their place. In these wild and ever changing times, it is important that children have their wild sanctuaries to retreat to when they need that extra breathing room. We want every Wildling to feel safe, loved and at home in our magical forest.

We are a community, a village of like minded and adventurous families. Our children know what to expect, they know our rhythm and they are the pioneers of this space. They have freedom here, they have responsibility, they have a sense of place and they all weave together like a colourful and timeless tapestry to create a space that we cherish and love, because we all belong together, because we all belong here.

Stay wild, Lindsey and Vicci