Activities & Games to Learn Permaculture Through Nature Play!

We are passionate about down-to-earth living and teaching permaculture through nature play. The best way to learn and embody skills for sustainability is through fun, hands-on, practical life skills that engage one's heart and mind. 

We also believe that inspiring children (and our own inner child) with empowering ways of being the change-makers of today. It is up to adults to model, support, and encourage nature play and earth care, so in their journey of self-development, they will access the 50 gifts that nature will give them in the process.

That's why we created the Nature Kids Permaculture Club ~ to empower families with a transformational program to be earth carers, through play. This blog provides a basic outline of some of our fun-filled lessons included as the activities & games to learn permaculture through nature play in each month of our year-long program. 

They are enjoyed either self-paced or alongside our community as we connect and journey together and engage in our private Facebook group.

If you have downloaded our free colour-in book, you'll already have some insight into this list from the perspective of our "9 pathways to get skilled in sustainability" shown above, with all the buzzing bees of activities that are included in each. 

Here's the overview of these pathways as flowers in our garden! This provides the opportunity for kids to pick and choose their fun (aka learning) with the lessons featured within each appropriate pathway. Let them choose those that may be of special interest to them in a self-paced manner.

Alternatively, journey through each of the 12 permaculture principles listed below in order of month and module, alongside other participating families. This is a holistic curriculum and homeschooling dream!

We have monthly prizes for engaging in this journey and live coaching with Q&A sessions within our private Facebook group for members (all included with the purchase of our program). 

January: Observe and interact

1. Create Your Book of Kin
2. Establish your Observation Chart
3. Observe Your Local Animals and Plants
4. Creative Reflection and Expression
5. Engaging your Senses with Mindfulness
6. Moon Gazing - A Night-Time Adventure
7. Seasonal Nature Art
8. Nature Adventure BINGO

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Waste Audit

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Peace Begins with Me

Change-maker Interview ~ Samantha Jurgens - Nature Kids Facilitator

February: Catch and Store Energy 

9. Extend the Life Of…
10. Make a Worm Farm
11. Make Stock, Sprouts & Sauerkraut
12. Human Energy Cycle and Personal Audit
13. Soil Testing, Mud Pies & Cob Creations
14. Waterways & Waterplay
15. Make a Wicking Plant Pot 
16. Make a Nature Table

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Save Glass Jars & Bulk Buy Wholefoods 

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Energy Goes Where Intention Flows

Change-maker Interview ~ The 'Gut Goddess', Lynnie Stein - The Gut Academy 

March: Obtain a Yield

17. Plan to Grow Your Food
18. Eight Forms of Wealth
19. Activist Artwork
20. Extending the Yields
21. Set Up a Swap Shop
22. Create a Nature Mandala
23. Food for Thought Feast Event
24. Make a Bean Teepee or Bush Shelter

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Swap, Scrump & Emu Bob  

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Breath & Body Connection

Change-maker Interview ~ Kate Pearce, Creator & Coach of the Healthy Little Eaters Game 

April: Apply Self-regulation and Accept Feedback

25. Know Your Eco-Footprint
26. Self-regulate Skill Set
27. Electricity Savings Test
28. Shower Audit
29. Bingo ~ 10 Self-regulation Games to Play
30. Dynamic Feedback Dance
31. Create a Mini Ant Farm
32. Make a Terrarium

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Feast with an Eco Diet

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Move like the Animals 

Change-maker Interview ~ Kerry Spina, creator of Kids in Harmony 

May: Use and Value Renewable Resources

33. Pay It Forward Rock Art
34. DIY Solar Oven
35. Propagate Perennial Plants
36. Make Egg Head Friends
37. Make a No-Dig-Garden
38. Make a Sundial
39. Make Seed Bombs
40. Create a Forest Folk House

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Know Thy Farmer or Grow Your Own Food

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Dragon breathing & Magic Carpet Ride To Your Own Secret Garden

Change-maker Interview ~ Lucy Legan, author of Planet Schooling 

June: Produce No Waste

41. DIY Beeswax Wraps
42. Homemade Nutmylk & Bliss Balls
43. Regrow Before You Throw
44. DIY Recycled Art Container
45. Make a Hot Compost Pile
46. DIY Natural Confetti
47. DIY T-shirt Bag
48. DIY Personal Care Kit

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Plan for Plastic Free July 

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Hike, Bike or Climb Adventure

Change-maker Interview ~ Diana Condylas, coordinator of Boomerang Alliance and Plastic Free Townsville 

July: Design from Patterns to Details

49. Create Your Zone Plan Treasure Map
50. Create Your Sector Plan
51. DIY Herb Spiral Garden
52. DIY Mandala & Key-hole Gardens
53. Gratitude Spiral Wind Spinners
54. Patterns In Nature Bingo Hunt
55. Weaving Patterns With Nature
56. DIY Gift Wrapping The Furoshiki Way

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Plastic Free Month & Zero-waste Kitchen Swaps

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Essential Movement for Kids + Incidental Exercise

Change-maker Interview ~ Blake Hudon, Permaculture Designer at Eartheartisian 

August: Integrate Don’t Segregate

57. Love the Bugs; Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
58. Go On An Edible Weed Walk
59. Plant a Companion Guild
60. Make an Integrated Chicken Coop
61. DIY Weed Tea
62. Round The Garden Bingo
63. Create a Bug Motel
64. DIY Art Puzzle

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Join a Community Garden

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Stretch Along the Way, Integrate it Into Your Day!

Change-maker Interview ~ Rodney Ingersoll, The Aquaponics Gardener 

September: Use Small, Slow Solutions

65. Pen Pal Snail Mail
66. Leaf & Flower Pressing
67. Seed Raise Little Plants
68. Plant Green Manures For Fertility 
69. Spaghetti Eastern & Egg Race
70. Make a Seasonal Wreath
71. Grow a Food Forest
72. The Small and Slow Sorting Game

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Join the Slow Food Movement 

Movement & Mindfulness ~ The Tortoise and Hare Yoga Poses & Breathwork

Change-maker Interview ~ Susie Pickett - Earth Building FNQ 

October: Use and Value Diversity

73. Make a Bird Feeder
74. Diversify Your Garden Varieties
75. Eat a Rainbow
76. Plant a Medicinal Garden
77. Loose Parts Play
78. Seed Save to Save Seeds
79. Natures Treasures Memory Play
80. A-Z Eye Spy

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Join your Local Seed Savers Group

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Step Outside For Five

Change-maker Interview ~ Sunny Ray - Children's Book Author, Performing Artist, Singer/Songwriter

November: Use Edges and Value the Marginal

81. Make a Pond Ecosystem
82. Create Your Base Plan & Maximise Your Edges
83. Plant Fedges (Food Hedges)
84. Make a Vertical Garden
85. Grow Mushrooms & Beneficial Microbes
86. Beyond Your Comfort Zone Abilities
87. Ecosystem Explorer
88. Beyond the Edge Art Sculpture

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Set up a Book Exchange

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Sensing Your Edges

Change-maker Interview ~ Mike Gaia - Ranger & a Vlogger from Gaia Gardens 

December: Creatively Use and Respond to Change 

89. Life Cycles Story Stones
90. Creative Design Process & Checklist
91. Veggie Garden Crop Rotation
92. Event Candle Calendar
93. DIY Gifting, Cards & Decorations
94. Planting with the Moon
95. Know Your Climate & Play with Microclimates
96. Chop & Drop to Accelerate Succession

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Source Separate & Create

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Lean On Me

Change-maker Interview ~ Twiggy Dawn - Alchemilla Herbals & Community Educator 

Imagine exploring each of these lessons to transform your lifestyle into an abundant, nature play adventure with a deeper sense of the natural world and how to leave a positive impact. 

If this excites you, come join our growing community of earth carers and lavish foodies!