About Bush Sprouts Nature School

Welcome!

Bush Sprouts Nature School was started in 2018.   We are a stand-alone, registered charity, with the purpose of getting as many as possible NZ children learning from and through play in nature.  We do this in three ways: Through working with Schools and ECE providers to set up Bush Sprouts programmes in their local bush; equipping schools and teachers with the confidence and experience to run a sustainable nature play programme that has their children learning and growing through play in nature.  We also run the Nature School programme, our 1 day School that runs two days a week at Battle Hill and also in Kāpiti at Kaitawa reserve; Here our passionate, experienced and skillful staff empower children through freeplay in nature, to play, grow, learn, lead, question, make mistakes, work through emotions, learn to love nature and so much more! Our new footloose & fancy-free-play programme sees us promoting sustainability through re-use of junk (aka loose parts) as play resources.  We also run the Bush Sprouts holiday programme each School holidays and Leo runs Nature Educator training throughout the country with Celia Hogan from Little Kiwis Nature Play.

We constantly strive to build respectful and reciprocal relationships with our whenua and our people.  Our Philosophy and purpose reflect who we are and what is important to us.   

Head over to our feedback & reviews tab to see what past children and their families have to say about our life changing learning experiences.

Leo Smith

Kia ora koutou,

I started Nature School NZ eight years ago; I am the director of Nature School NZ Trust, kaiako on the Bush Sprouts programmes, Footloose & fancy-free-play, Nature School and Bush Sprouts holiday programmes.

I am privileged to be a mother, a fully qualified and registered teacher, with a degree in Sport and Recreation and 2 diplomas in teaching; years of experience teaching in Secondary, Early Childhood and Primary levels. I have also held SKOANZ/NZOIA Kayak 1 and Bush 1 teaching/instructing awards in the past.  After studying and working in teaching and outdoor instructing for around 10 years, I set up and ran the Bush Sprouts programme at Plimmerton Kindergarten (while a kaiako there) for 5.5 years. Seeing the overwhelmingly positive results from children, their families and the community; i wanted to get more children learning from and through nature. I presented at conferences and helped a few Kindergartens get their own nature programmes up and running, but knew I could reach more people by working directly with them. Thus, Nature School NZ was born to share the love and get as many children as possible learning from and through play in nature.

I think I have the best job in the world; I get to spend every day in nature, playing with children and empowering them to live and learn in whatever way is best for them.  I love seeing the joy on childrens’ faces as they achieve their goals and whisper ‘best day ever’ and have lost count of how many young people we have empowered in this way.

Amanda Dobson

Kia ora koutou.

I have come to know that being in Nature is my ‘Happy Place’.

I love opportunities to share my passion for being in nature, particularly with tamariki. I am a big believer in the importance of place-based learning & nature connection in the early years for sowing the seeds of life long holistic wellbeing.

I am a mother of 3 young adults, Hinemarama 30, Aaria 27 and Tūora 25. I am also Kui/Grandma of my mokopuna Toitū, 10. They are the centre of my universe !

I have both a Primary and ECE Diploma of teaching and predominantly worked in bilingual and kaupapa maōri ECE settings for 20 odd years as my tamariki were growing up.  I have enjoyed working in the Enviroschools Te Upoko o Te Ika a Māui team for the last ten years. My role is the Enviroschools Community Facilitator in Porirua and Kāpiti, working with ECE, Primary & Secondary schools in support of their sustainability journeys, which is what I do on the other 4 days of the working week other than Nature School Wednesdays. 

I am very grateful to live in Titahi Bay, Porirua, a beautiful place.

Linda Fiso

Linda works on many of our programmes; running our Friday Nature School programme, Porirua East Nature School, footloose & fancy-free-play, Bush Sprouts holiday programme and relieving on our other Nature School days.

Vicky Griffin

Kia Ora 

I’ve been an occupational therapist/kaiwhakaora ngangahau  for 32 years and the essence of using meaningful and purposeful activity to promote wellness and develop skills and confidence has become part of my way of being.   I’ve worked in child and adolescent mental health for 22 years and am committed to supporting young people to live their best lives ‘with and regardless of’ any health barriers they may experience.  I believe being in nature provides us with so many opportunities to enhance our wellbeing…. to experience awe, movement, diverse sensory experience, increased  awareness of self, a sense of calm and adventurous ways to develop many skills for living and confidence.  So I’m thrilled to bring my occupational therapy knowledge and experience in helping to support the tamariki of Nature school to have the best experience they can.

Jerome

Jerome works on many of our programmes; running our Friday Nature School programme, Porirua East Nature School, Bush Sprouts holiday programme and relieving on our other Nature School days.