“If children grow up not knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it, and if they don’t understand it, they won’t protect it, and if they don’t protect it, who will?”

David Attenborough

“Nurturing Nature’s Young Explorers through, Creativity and Adventure”

Explore – Discover – Create – Connect

Welcome to our Wildly Curious Centre, where we believe that children learn best through hands-on experiences that ignite curiosity and foster a passion for being in nature. Our centre offers an inquiry-based approach where children can freely explore, discover, create, and connect with the natural world.

Set amidst the beauty of nature, Wildly Curious provides a safe and inspiring space where children can develop skills that cultivate resilience, empathy and self-awareness. Through activities that range from core life skills, project based activities, bushcraft and animal care to creative arts and sustainable gardening. We aim to nurture children’s deep connection to themselves, each other and the environment. Inspired by elements of Waldorf Steiner and Forest school rhythms and values.

Join us in a journey where everything becomes an adventure, and every day opens up new discoveries. Here, your child will become a true steward of their own path and the world around them.

“The outdoors offers limitless potential to children. It becomes a place where they can relax their mind, to be inspired and to deep dive into the world of imagination. It’s a place where they can design, create and explore. The possibilities are endless”. Angela Hanscon

Our Programs

Nature Hub 4 – 11 Years

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday | Termly | 9am – 2.45pm

Our centre takes inspiration and learning elements from the Forest School and Steiner philosophies. It’s also influenced by our unique New Zealand location, native flora, fauna, history and culture, led by the children and guided by our qualified educators. The programs help children develop their authentic voice, thinking and behaviour awareness and teaches the importance of healthy minds and bodies. To become the Kaitiaki of their planet.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday sessions cater for 4 – 11 years. We are based at 188 Tongue Farm Road, Matakana and have the unique opportunity to explore the grounds which include, open paddocks, streams and natural play spaces.

The days focus on essential core life skills that are developed through the process of hands on activities. Programs designed to help your child thrive emotionally and socially. The sessions are developed to support each child to courageously inquire, engage and discover a sense of self.

From forest explorations to seasonal crafts, storytelling, festivals and practical skills. Our approach blends the best of nature-based learning with magical elements from Waldorf Steiner teachings and play.

Nature Hub 5 – 12 Years

Thursday | Termly | 9am – 2.45pm

The program focuses on holistic development and growth in our children. It operates as regular sessions during the four school terms. Children spend most of the day outside as part of the curriculum to give opportunities to achieve and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Our trained facilitators monitor the children encouraging exploration and discovery and support them to take risks. The activities have been designed to develop self-esteem, imagination, and physical ability as the children are allowed to test their limits in the natural world.

Thursday sessions are Environmental Science, Nature Immersion, Art, Design and Project based learning catering for 5 – 12 year olds.

We also explore other outside locations in the community that fit with the project we are researching.

This could involve adventures to the goat island marine lab, ecological trails, beaches, sculpture parks, natural playgrounds, creeks and forest / bush areas.

We also have workshops and talks from people within the community that add value to the children’s learning.

Children are innate scientists and love to experience the sights, scents, sounds, and textures of the outdoors. Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and STEAM education. Interacting with natural environments allows children to learn by doing and experimenting with ideas. At Wildly Curious we foster these ideas and turn them into sessions that the children develop their unique creativity through Sustainability, Environmental Science, Art and Nature based experiences.

Project based activities:

Project based activities is at the heart of our creative program. Our approach is that learning should be purposeful with the projects being designed to inspire the children and create powerful learning experiences.

This active, child-driven approach promotes deep engagement by enabling learners to investigate real-world challenges and questions. Through long-term, interdisciplinary projects, they build critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration skills.

Our approach to outdoor education enriches project-based learning by moving beyond the indoor centre and into nature. Here, students immerse themselves in fieldwork, conduct research, and take part in conservation efforts. This hands-on experience strengthens their understanding of the natural world, encourages environmental responsibility, and makes learning more meaningful and hands-on.

Click here for a registration form

“If we want children to flourish, to become truly empowered then let us allow them to love the earth before we ask them to save it”.

Source unknown.

Holiday Program

The Wildly Curious holiday program is held at our outdoor centre in Matakana; a special place with beautiful paddocks, grapevines, creeks, ponds and a natural play space! The focus is on being creative and having fun, while learning from and through nature. Leave your children in our experienced, professional care, to have the ultimate adventure!

Children aged 4 -12 will have a great time exploring and learning from the bush with their siblings and new friends, getting to know some of Aotearoa’s native fauna and flora, building bush shelters, playing outside, invasion games, creating artworks using tools from nature, cooking, drama and learning about exploring while hunting for treasure.

HOLIDAY DATES:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD