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Incursions

Free Play Mini-Festival

This immersive free play experience develops a connection to nature by exploring local flora and fauna, storytelling, and sensory play. Students use their agency to manage their time and move between activities of interest.
 Free play mini-fests are perfect for “learning how to learn” at the start of the school year, year-level and whole-school carnivals and end-of-year celebrations.

We cater for groups between 40 – 150 students per session. Mini-Fests are programmed to meet your needs and feature seasonal activities like potion making, cubby building, water colour painting, clay creatures and sunflower seed bombs, geocaching, and kite flying. We also offer a “Risky Play” Mini-Fest for older learners which includes whittling and cubby building with forest branches.

Mini-Fests can be held on school grounds, at local green spaces or even in National Parks like Belair National Park.

Duration:
1.5 – 2 hours per session
Cost (per student):
$18.50 [+GST]
Target Audience:
Kindy to Year 6
Conditions:
Minimum spend of $700.
Make Your Booking

Testimonials

Nature Play SA's mini festival was an engaging and fun experience. The activities were thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity and creativity. The staff were friendly and supportive and their passion for connecting children with nature was evident. Thank you, Nature Play SA for a great incursion.

Free Play Mini-Fest - Brompton Primary School

Your attention to detail in the equipment you provide is outstanding. You set the scene pefectly for children's curiosity, creativity and open-ended engagement. So many skill building opportunities: collaboration, vocabulary, risk taking, team building... Absolute value for money. Your team obviously enjoy engaging with children and developing their nature play which in turn translates into personal skills. Thank you!

Free Play Mini-Fest - Port Noarlunga Primary School

Today was a fabulous experience for all of our students. They were engaged from the beginning to end. The freedom of play, the creativity, the choice of working with different peers and the fun was worth every dollar. Thank you NPSA team!

Free Play Mini-Fest - Clapham Primary School

Your team were fully present and acted so naturally in a way that showed that every interaction with each child matters. Their style made the children feel seen, heard and that they could be themselves. The format of the session also worked wonderfully, self directed and invitations to learn are a perfect fit for our home ed community and we look forward to booking many more with you guys.

Free Play Mini-Fest - Home Education Community 2023

Wow, what an amazing opportunity for our students to be a part of! It was great to see how engaged the kids were and how their creativity and imagination were able to shine. It brought joy to all of our hearts seeing the kids reconnect with nature and forget about everything else. Thank you for this wonderful experience, could not recommend more. All schools and kids should have the opportunity to do this!

Free Play Mini-Fest - Highgate School

Nature Play SA has become part of our annual incursions here at Xavier College. We look forward to it every year because it helps build team work, creativity and best of all, connecting with nature - it’s a great way to start the year.

Free Play Mini-Fest - Xavier College

What an incredible experience! From building cubbies and creating with loose parts to water painting and potion making — today had it all! The students had an amazing time exploring, experimenting, and letting their imaginations run wild. It was such a joy to see everyone so engaged, busy, and inclusive of one another throughout the session. We were especially delighted to see some students truly flourish in the natural setting — a few even became completely absorbed in a single activity for the entire 90 minutes! A huge thank you to Nature Play for such a rich and inspiring experience. We’ll absolutely be booking again!

Free-Play Mini-Festival - Keithcot Farm Primary School

Nature Play SA has become part of our annual incursions here at Xavier College. We look forward to it every year because it helps build team work, creativity and best of all, connecting with nature - it’s a great way to start the year.

Free-Play Mini-Festival - Xavier College

Mini-Fest FAQ's

Is there a minimum charge?

As a not-for-profit organisation, our programs do have minimum spend amount to cover costs. The minimum charge will be applied at the time of invoice. If your school or site would like to run a program that doesn’t meet the minimum spend amount, please contact [email protected] to discuss options.

Mini-Fest: Minimum $700 spend

Where do we meet you on the day?

Please meet your NPSA educator at the school’s office upon their arrival to sign in and set up. Your educator/s will arrive approximately 60 minutes before the first session to prepare.

If possible, allocate a space with vehicle access for easier unloading and packing up. Please ensure someone is onsite to unlock any necessary access points and inform us of this space’s location so that we can plan our resources accordingly.

What do we need to provide?

Access to water for both set up and clean-up is often required, so please take this into account when selecting your location.

If you have access to a green space, school garden, or school oval (preferably with shade), it would be ideal. The minimum space required is typically about the size of a tennis court.

Will you work within our timetabled blocks?

Yes. There are three scheduling options based on the structure of your school day: before recess, after recess, or after lunch.

Mini-Fests typically run for 90 minutes, and three sessions can be accommodated in one school day.

We cater to groups between 40 – 150 students per session. Whole school or longer duration programs can be tailored to your needs; please contact our team at [email protected] to find out more.

 

General FAQ's

What ages do you work with?

Our education programs are designed for children in Kindergarten to Year 12. We can tailor programs to suit the learning and curriculum needs of your site/school and the students in your care. Our advertised age ranges are simply there to guide you.

Do you provide all of the materials?

Yes, NPSA will provide all materials for the program you have booked.

What do we have to provide?

We prioritise connection and positive interactions with both learners and educators. We encourage everyone to wear a name tag (even masking tape with names is acceptable) during the program.

The Teacher-in-Charge is responsible for all pastoral care and first aid for students according to DfE guidelines. Please ensure you have all necessary documentation and resources in line with school-based policies and procedures.

The setting of the incursion significantly influences children’s engagement in nature play. If available, a green space, school garden, or school oval (ideally with nearby trees) would be optimal. The minimum space required is typically about the size of a tennis court.

Is there a travel charge for your incursion program?

Due to the wide-area we service, there is a small travel fee for incursions and programs delivered outside of the Adelaide Metro area (including regional and country SA.) As a not-for-profit organisation, we keep these costs to a minimum.

Fees are determined by your location and distance from our headquarters in Blackwood, SA, using Google Maps to calculate travel kilometres from our office in the Wittunga Botanic Gardens.

Travel fee Schedule

0 to 24km – no charge
26 to 50km – If your site is within this range, there is a one-off travel fee of $80 applied to your final invoice.
51 km and over – fee will be negotiated with the booking

What happens if we have to cancel our session?

A $200 cancellation fee applies if you cancel your confirmed booking without rescheduling. If cancellation is due to hazardous weather, NPSA will strive to notify you by 4 pm the day before your scheduled program offering (no cancellation fee applies in this case). In the event of severe or hazardous weather conditions leading to cancellation, we will collaborate with you to reschedule programs for a mutually agreeable time.

When will you invoice and require payment?

An invoice will be promptly sent to you following your excursion for payment within 14 days. Attendance numbers will be recorded on the day to ensure accurate invoicing. Charges for in-term programs are based on the children present on the day, while OSHC and vacation care programs are charged based on predicted numbers at the time of booking.

Policies and procedures

Risk Assessments: Upon booking confirmation for all programs, a risk assessment is provided for your review. Please carefully review this document and ensure that all staff (and volunteers where applicable) are aware of their roles and responsibilities on the day.

Insurance: NPSA holds public liability insurance and possesses a certificate of currency, which can be provided upon request.

Staff Clearances: All NPSA staff possess current DHS Working with Children Checks, Catholic Education clearances, and/or Teacher Registration, along with up-to-date first aid and RRHAN-EC training. These clearances can be provided upon request, and staff also carry hard copies on program days.

What are the adult to child ratios that we need to provide?

All programs are led by experienced NPSA educators; however, they do not count towards the required adult-to-child ratio for your excursion or incursion.

Your school/site-based policies and procedures will dictate the appropriate adult-to-child ratio for your program. We encourage the presence of adult helpers for excursions. According to DfE guidelines:

  • 1:6 for preschool to year 2
  • 1:10 for years 3 to 6
  • 1:15 for years 7 to 12

Our Partners

Green Adelaide

Green Adelaide is a South Australian Government supported organisation that is working towards a vision of a cooler, greener, wilder and climate-resilient metropolitan South Australia. The Green Adelaide area spans from the hills to the sea, encompassing 17 metropolitan council areas and about 1.3 million South Australians. Nature Play SA is funded by Green Adelaide and contributes to Adelaide National Park City.

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Our Partners

Department for Education

The Department for Education aims to ensure South Australia’s public education system can unlock every child’s potential now and in the future. Educators and staff work in partnership with families and communities to empower all children and young people with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to become fulfilled individuals, active, compassionate citizens, and lifelong learners.

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Our Partners

The Department for Environment and Water

The Department for Environment and Water aims to help South Australians conserve, sustain and prosper. Their work in managing, conserving, and sustaining our environment and cultural resources is vital for the wellbeing of all South Australians.

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