Activities & Games to Learn Permaculture Through Nature Play!

change-makers earth wisdom kids activities kids games kidsinpermaculture movement and mindfulness nature play permaculture permaculture principles zero waste Jun 21, 2021
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 believe that inspiring and nourishing children (and our own inner child) with empowering ways to grow, is how we become the change-makers of today - for a better future. It is up to us, as influential adults, to model, support, and facilitated nature play for our kids so Earth Care and People care are intrinsic to their lives. 

Nature therapy, forest bathing, outdoor education and all buzz words related, are simply ways we can connect with the gifts that nature provides, assists in our development and strengthen relationship and resilience with all of life. 

That's why we created the Nature Kids Permaculture Club ~ to empower families with a transformational program to connect, nourish and grow with nature - through play. This article provides a basic outline of some of the 96 fun-filled lessons included as the activities and games that embody the permaculture 12 permaculture principles. 

Beyond boredom busters, they are designed to engage head, heart and hands for holistic learning with flexible options to enjoy either; self-paced or alongside our community, participating together, month by and engage in our private Facebook group with live Q&A sessions and prizes. 

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

This picture below shows the overview of these pathways as flowers in our garden! Kids (and their adults) can pick and choose their fun (aka learning) with the lessons featured within each appropriate pathway. This is the ultimate interest-led learning!

Plus, we do cool things like food blessings, working with moon cycles and celebrating seasonal festivals!

For a deep dive - our year long journey explores each of the 12 permaculture principles which is a comprehensive curriculum to learn the life skills for sustainability, such as; designing, implementing and caring for a healthy home, permaculture garden, playground and abundance mindset.

Excited, inspired and want to know more?

Check out what you can harvest each module or month at a time:

MODULE: OBSERVE & INTERACT / MONTH: JANUARY 

  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 ~  Koa Windsong ~Wisdom Keeper Samantha Jurgens - Nature Kids Facilitator

MODULE: CATCH & STORE ENERGY / MONTH: FEBRUARY  

  1. Extend the Life Of…
  2. Make a Worm Farm
  3. Make Stock, Sprouts & Sauerkraut
  4. Human Energy Cycle and Personal Audit
  5. Soil Testing, Mud Pies & Cob Creations
  6. Waterways & Waterplay
  7. Make a Wicking Plant Pot 
  8. Make a Nature Table

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Save Glass Jars & Bulk Buy Wholefoods 

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Energy Goes Where Intention Flows

Change-maker Interview ~  Ashaya Snedden ~ Eco Yoga Therapist, Environmental & Outdoor Educator The 'Gut Goddess', Lynnie Stein - The Gut Academy 

MODULE: OBTAIN A YIELD / MONTH: MARCH

  1. Plan to Grow Your Food
  2. Eight Forms of Wealth
  3. Activist Artwork
  4. Extending the Yields
  5. Set Up a Swap Shop
  6. Create a Nature Mandala
  7. Food for Thought Feast Event
  8. Make a Bean Teepee or Bush Shelter

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Swap, Scrump & Emu Bob  

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Breath & Body Connection

Change-maker Interview ~  Melueka & Rahm, Rare Earth Oils & Kate Pearce, Creator & Coach of the Healthy Little Eaters Game 

MODULE: APPLY SELF-REGULATION & ACCEPT FEEDBACK / MONTH: APRIL

  1. Know Your Eco-Footprint
  2. Self-regulate Skill Set
  3. Electricity Savings Test
  4. Shower Audit
  5. Bingo ~ 10 Self-regulation Games to Play
  6. Dynamic Feedback Dance
  7. Create a Mini Ant Farm
  8. 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 

MODULE: USE & VALUE RENEWABLE RESOURCES / MONTH: MAY

  1. Pay It Forward Rock Art
  2. DIY Solar Oven
  3. Propagate Perennial Plants
  4. Make Egg Head Friends
  5. Make a No-Dig-Garden
  6. Make a Sundial
  7. Make Seed Bombs
  8. Create a Forest Folk House

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Know Thy Farmer

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

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

MODULE: PRODUCE NO WASTE / MONTH: JUNE

  1. DIY Beeswax Wraps
  2. Homemade Nutmylk & Bliss Balls
  3. Regrow Before You Throw
  4. DIY Recycled Art Container
  5. Make a Hot Compost Pile
  6. DIY Natural Confetti
  7. DIY T-shirt Bag
  8. DIY Personal Care Kit

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Make Your Reusable Kit

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Hike, Bike or Climb Adventure

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

MODULE: DESIGN FROM PATTERNS TO DETAILS / MONTH: JULY 

  1. Create Your Zone Plan Treasure Map
  2. Create Your Sector Plan
  3. DIY Herb Spiral Garden
  4. Concept Design to Detailed Plan
  5. Gratitude Spiral Wind Spinners
  6. Patterns In Nature Bingo Hunt
  7. Weaving Patterns With Nature
  8. 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 

MODULE: INTEGRATE DON'T SEGREGATE / MONTH: AUGUST 

  1. Love the Bugs; Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  2. Go on an Edible Weed Walk
  3. Plant a Companion Guild
  4. Make an Integrated Chicken Coop
  5. DIY Weed Tea
  6. Round The Garden Bingo
  7. Create a Bug Motel
  8. DIY Art Puzzle

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Join a Community Garden

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Integrate Stretches Into Your Day

Change-maker Interview ~ Rodney Ingersoll, The Aquaponics Gardener 

MODULE: USE SMALL & SLOW SOLUTIONS / MONTH: SEPTEMBER 

  1. Pen Pal Snail Mail
  2. Leaf & Flower Pressing
  3. Seed Raise Little Plants
  4. Plant Green Manures For Fertility 
  5. Spaghetti Eastern & Egg Race
  6. Make a Seasonal Wreath
  7. Grow a Food Forest
  8. Dream Big, Start Small - Outcome Framework

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 

MODULE: USE & VALUE DIVERSITY / MONTH: OCTOBER

  1. Make a Bird Feeder
  2. Diversify Your Garden Varieties
  3. Eat a Rainbow
  4. Plant a Medicinal Garden
  5. Loose Parts Play
  6. Seed Save to Save Seeds
  7. Natures Treasures Memory Play
  8. 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

MODULE: USE EDGES & VALUE THE MARGINAL / MONTH: NOVEMBER 

  1. Make a Pond Ecosystem
  2. Create Your Base Plan & Maximise Your Edges
  3. Plant Fedges (Food Hedges)
  4. Make a Vertical Garden
  5. Grow Mushrooms & Beneficial Microbes
  6. Beyond Your Comfort Zone Abilities
  7. Ecosystem Explorer
  8. DIY Mandala & Key-hole Gardens

Zero Waste Challenge ~ Set up a Book Exchange

Movement & Mindfulness ~ Sensing Your Edges

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

MODULE: CREATIVELY USE & RESPOND TO CHANGE / MONTH: DECEMBER 

  1. Life Cycles Story Stones
  2. Creative Design Process & Checklist
  3. Veggie Garden Crop Rotation
  4. Event Candle Calendar
  5. DIY Gifting, Cards & Decorations
  6. Planting with the Moon
  7. Know Your Climate & Play with Microclimates
  8. 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 eating fresh from your garden and homesteading with excess abundance from your food forest! Becoming self sufficient and improving your community resilience is possible, and this is the place to start for beginners ready to make change. 

If this excites you, and you want to become an earth carer, come join our growing community here! and lavish foodies! 

Another really cool way to participate is via our flexible interest-led pathways. Learn more about our 9 Pathways to get skilled for Sustainability here!

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