Event description
Are you ready...
To rediscover your inner wild?
To connect with a vibrant community of humans?
To immerse yourself or your family in the wonder and wisdom of nature while learning earth based skills?
To see your kids developing a deeper appreciation for living close to nature?
Join us on a Wild by Nature Village Camp, where we gather together to weave a village with these aims. Bring your friends, kids, teens, brothers, parents, aunties and grandparents to co-create a connected experience of fun, traditional living skills and slowing down in our beautiful bush camp.
Want to know more about what it's like? Here is some feedback from previous village members:
“We left with a deep sense of belonging and community. A connection with earth, ourselves, each other”
"Thankyou villagers. This camp is changing my life and community in so many unexpected ways"
"Amazing, amazing, aMAZING!!! Nourishing, relaxed, happy, reconnection, fun, great workshops, sharing knowledge, as much for adults as for kids"
"A heart-full village and nature experience for the whole family. There's adventures to be had and roles to play for everyone from toddler, youth, adult and elder. The vibe at Wild by Nature Village Camps create time and space for everyone to sink into to sacred time, slow down and reconnect to your soul, others and the earth."
"Learning old skills from passionate people with profound respect made my heart sing."
“From 2 kids saying ‘Do we have to go’ to ‘When is it happening again?- I don’t want to leave!”
“Great way to get the whole family into the bush. Age is no barrier- Just prepare for fun!”
"My feeling at this camp, looking around and hearing stories of belonging and connection was : Yes! This IS actually working"
So...
Who is this for?
Everyone! This is a family friendly, drug and alcohol free event, with the program open to all- babies to elders. A true village embraces all ages and faces, we welcome diversity.
How does it work?
You arrive with your tent and camping gear to a warm bush welcome. For five days we will explore the natural world around us, depending on the season, we might create fire without matches, make baskets and other earth crafts, play games, share stories around the campfire, laugh and sing, and take a much needed breath of fresh air.
Each morning, kids, teens, littlies and adults will embark on their own adventures, each group exploring, playing in and learning from the natural world.
Kids aged 4 and up venture out into the bush with experienced nature connection mentors.
Adults embark on their own adventures learning earth-based skills and exploring nature observation and ecological literacy.
A Roo & Joey program is offered for parents and their children under 4 who are still "in the pouch" they stay closer to camp, and go on their own mini adventures too.
*All of our mentors have Working With Children Checks and qualified First Aiders will be on hand should the need arise.
Just before lunch, the different groups will return from their adventures and rejoin their families for lunch and a free flowing afternoon. There will be time for village members to play with new friends, practice their new skills, share their talents or just chill out. Some might wish to head off for a wander or take some quiet time to rest and relax.
What about food?
Each villager or family will bring their own breakfast, lunch and snacks. Depending on fire restrictions, there may be some space for campfire cooking, but if you want cooked breakfasts or dinners, it's a good idea to bring your own camp cooking equipment.
Wholesome dinners* will be shared around the campfire in the evenings, a space to share stories from our day full of adventures, sing songs and relax in the atmosphere of the village. After the evening program we will head to our tents or swags or might take up the opportunity to sleep in a bush shelter. For adults and older kids, some nights lend themselves to after dark adventures too.
*We are able to cater for omnivorous, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free dietary requirements if notified on booking. If you have further requirements, you will probably need to bring extra food to supplement.
Morning programs
For the kids:
Each morning with the camp mentors, children (aged 4+) will venture into the bush to experience a free flowing exploration of the surrounding bush. The mentors will guide the children’s play in a safe way and enable each child to connect with the natural world around them. We aim to create a space in which the children can listen to their own creativity. We will play games, immerse in story and song, wonder at the nature that surrounds us, find animal tracks, and learn wild skills such as fire, shelter and craft. Through this play and exploration, the kids will drop into a new awareness of the wild world around them, connecting more deeply with the plants, the earth, the animals, and with each other.
For the adults:
While the kids adventure out into the wilds, the adults will be invited on their own journey of learning and discovery. We will explore a variety of earth-based skills and crafts which may include fire-by-friction, string making, coal burnt spoon crafting, basket weaving and more. We will also explore the Core Routines of Nature Connection through skills of observation and awareness, bird language and natural movement. The archetypal ‘wild child’ will come alive through games, nature play and connective activities. There will also be time to share and listen in circle.
For the Roos & Joey's:
A Roo & Joey program is offered for parents and their children too young to head out into the wilds. This is facilitated by two mentors - a mother and grandmother partnership - which offers a unique and special experience for those participating. The program is flexible to meet the needs of kids under 4 and their parents, offering a range of activities and processes to explore ways that parent and child can connect deeper with each other, themselves, earth and community.
Sometimes the Roo & Joey group will be close to home base and other times they will journey out into the wilds. We are sensitive to the fact that the practicalities of camping with a toddler or younger child will probably mean that parents can’t participate fully in the adult program, as parents with older kids can. We want to support these parents to come to camp and be a valued part of the village, which is why we offer the Roo and Joey program at a reduced price.
For the teens:
The teens might head off earlier than the kids and adults groups and go further afield with their explorations. There may be the option to join in on an over night hike or camp out in a self made bush shelter. We value and honour our teens as they grow into their autonomy and we encourage challenge and risk taking in a good way. Some teens attend unaccompanied by an adult and they are held by the village as a whole. There is flexibility and some of the teens join in with the adult expeditions and crafts too or head off to mentor with the younger kids.
All members are welcome to participate as much or as little in the activities as they need to feel at home in the village.
For more info check out:www.firekeepers.com.au/event/wild-by-nature-village-camp
Prices include nature connection mentoring, morning and evening program, camping accommodation (with flushing toilets and hot showers!!), dinner each night and workshop materials.
Cancellation Policy
If you choose to cancel your booking 15 or more days before the camp starting date; you are entitled to a full refund, minus a $50 booking fee.
If you choose to cancel your booking 3 -14 days prior to camp, we can refund 50% of your ticket price.
Cancellations within a 48 hour period prior to the event start time cannot be refunded.
Bookings can be transferred into another name anytime before the camp starts, as long as organisers are informed (generally we are onsite 24hrs prior to camp, and may be out of mobile phone range).
If any program is cancelled due to low enrollment, tickets will be fully refundable or transferable.