Current programs on offer

Village Wild Camp 23-27 April 2025, Ourimbah.

Wild 101 – Bush Crafts, Survival Skills, Nature Connection 23-25 May 2025 – near Dungog.

Wild Ones Bush School – Fridays during term 9am-1pm – Dungog.

Other programs – can be tailored to your group

Homeschool Programs – Including story, skills, games, awareness, nature connection – session or excursion

Preschool Sessions – Bringing in natural crafting and survival skills to these wild open minds is truly magical.

Weaving with Nature – Using locally sourced materials to create strong, decorative, and or useful items – session or weekend

The Art of Navigation – Learning how to find yourself out of times of trouble – practical skills, tips and tricks from Beginner to Certificate IV Outdoor Leadership standard – session, excursion or weekend.

Bush Food and Medicine – Bringing plants and natural products into your everyday life – learn how to find, identify and use bush foods and medicines to help you and the planet – session or weekend.

Natural Rope Making – One of the joys of self- sufficiency is being able to make rope from nature – session or weekend

Traditional Bow Making – with Lars Ritcher on Tour – Lars will take you on a journey from a piece of wood to a beautiful and powerful creation.

Details

Kids Activities
We run programs for children, preschools, primary schools, high schools and home schools. What we are most passionate about is developing nature connection and allowing children to be their true self. Programs can include specific skills such as bush food, shelter building, fire, navigation, movement, and/or nature connection and awareness activities that help children become part of their environment. We can run 1-3 hours sessions, whole day and overnight programs tailor made to suit your group. Current programs on offer include Wild Ones Bush School in Dungog and Paterson Homeschool Bush School.

Weaving Workshops
We run weaving workshops in the Dungog, Newcastle and Sydney areas. Our passion is using local plants, sustainable harvesting and connection to country. Weaving is a wonderful way to connect with others, with plants and with our own creative selves.

School Holidays
We often run programs in the school holidays. In Autumn, and Summer we run the 5-day Village Wild Camp at Ourimbah and Wangat Lodge Dungog respectively. In winter if the ducks allign, we run a Village Wild camp out of Wangat Lodge and in Spring there is often a working bee. We have started up a a teen hiking program which occurs either during or after a Village Wild Camp.

Weekend Camps – for adults/mature students

These include the WILD 101: Bush crafts, Survival Skills and Nature Connection, Weaving Retreats and Bow Making weekend. These usually involve a Friday night arrival and finish around 3pm Sunday.

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What you might expect on your camp or course…

An enjoyable time in a beautiful location with a focus on traditional bush crafts and nature connection activities. You’ll be given the opportunity to work as group, in small teams and on your own. Be prepared for a bit of dirt, some water, maybe the odd scratch, and some laughs.

These are outdoors programs, so expect to feel the elements. The program will run regardless of the weather – so come prepared. There is a sheltered communal space available if required.

Overnight courses include night-time activities.

What we expect

We expect everyone to be there for the start and the finish of the program. Outside of that, if you need to take time out for yourself at any time, just let us know. Some of the things we do are challenging – this is why we foster a supportive and encouraging environment.

When you come, you can make the most out of your time in nature by leaving the outside world behind.  Leave electronic devices, mobile phones, or any other screen-based distractions behind during activities – or  leave them at home/in vehicles/tents if possible.

Anything that comes into the communal space is to be shared – so if you or your children have anything that is precious probably best to leave them behind.

No Alcohol/Drugs – these are drug free programs.

Location

We are based in the Dungog area, though we regularly travel to other locations – We have traveled to Melbourne, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Coffs Harbour and the Central Coast.

We are happy to come to you – to run something for your group or centre.

What to Bring – most courses

• Day Pack (small backpack to carry your food, water and personal items)
• Water Bottle
• Healthy and nourishing food (eg low sugar/low additives)
• Clothes suitable for bush rambling
• Sensible walking shoes
• Additional Pair of shoes that can get wet (river shoes or thin-soled shoes are ideal)
• Hat / long sleeve shirt / suncream / insect repellent (avoid aerosols)
• Swimmers/towel
• Small personal first aid kit – eg bandaids,  bandages
• Rain jacket
• For the last day – a set of bush coloured clothes or swimmers that can get dirty

Extra items for overnight courses

• Camping gear – tent/swag, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, cooker, pots, plate, cup, utensils.
• Water container – 10L/20L – so you can have water right with you. Taps are often found away from camp spots. Bring this full of water.
• Pocket knife or knife in sheath if you have one (adults/mature students only)

Optional

• Binoculars/Camera