Shows
Raising WildlingsEmbracing the Magic of Stick Play with Wildlings Forest SchoolSend us a textEver reminisced about the simple joys of childhood when a stick wasn't just a stick but a sword, a wand, or a companion on countless adventures? In today's episode, Nicki and Vicci will unravel the hidden developmental treasures found in stick play and how adults can prioritise safety without dampening the spirit of creativity.Listen in as Nicki and Vicci share their extensive knowledge of:🌱 The benefits of stick play🌱 How to find 'the perfect stick'🌱What's a 'blood bubble' and how does it create safety2024-02-2729 minRaising WildlingsUnveiling the Truth About Natural Play SpacesSend us a textEver thought you couldn't run a Nature Play program because your site isn't postcard-worthy? Newsflash: Picturesque beaches, a bubbling creek, or a lush rainforest are pretty but they are not essential for your Nature Play program.We repeat they are not essential. Today we are discussing place-based learning and how it's actually really important that children connect with their own local environment in a deep and meaningful way.Nicki and Vicci will share:🌱The benefits of running programs in dry locations🌱The three abso...2023-11-2015 minRaising WildlingsNavigating The Muddy Waters Of Insurance with Nicki Farrell & Vicci OliverSend us a text"If nature is free and play is free... Then why would I need to pay $ to insure my Nature Play session? " 😱 - UsYes, that was our actual faces when we heard someone was running a Nature Play session WITHOUT insurance. Not only does this kind of dodgy practice risk people's livelihoods and homes... it also has the potential to completely destroy a whole industry that is supposed to protect childhood and children's right to play in nature.In this episode, Nicki Farrell & Vicci Oliver (co...2023-11-1416 minRaising Wildlings'Not This': Leaving Discontent Behind - Nicki's Moment of ChangeSend us a textHave you ever found yourself in a situation where you're screaming internally, "Not this!"? You're not alone. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's empowering post, this episode delves into Nicki's process of courageously saying ,'Not this,' and stepping away from situations that no longer served her and opting for a path of uncertainty over a life of discontent. Tune in and unleash the courage within you to say, "Not this."Ever wondered how to bring the magic of 'Nature Play' into your child's education? Or how to say goodbye to y...2023-11-1015 minRaising WildlingsUnlocking the Power of Wild Business Partnerships With Nicki Farrell and Vicci OliverSend us a textBuckle up! We are spilling our secrets on how collaborations have been a game-changer in our Wild Play business and how they can be for you too!Ever wondered what makes a partnership thrive?Let us share our experience in business partnerships and what we'd do differently if we were starting a new business today. Full Show notes can be found here:https://www.raisingwildlings.com.au/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-wild-business-partnerships-with-nicki-farrell-and-vicci-oliverEver wondered how to bring the magic of 'Nature Play' into your child's education? Or h...2023-10-1137 minRaising WildlingsThe Journey Home With Nicki FarrellSend us a textOne of the biggest reasons for starting our own business was to be able to jump at opportunities when adventure called. It’s a great privilege to be able to do this and it’s not something we take for granted. This week on the podcast we are diving into Nicki’s recent unplanned 5-week road trip into the outback with her two homeschooled boys and dog in tow. The road schooling trip back to Nicki’s own childhood roots in South Australia. Were t...2023-07-0546 minRaising WildlingsIf You DON'T Play with Fire, You WILL Get Burned with Nicki and VicciSend us a textYou’ve all heard the saying, ‘If you play with fire, you’re going to get burnt,' well we have another saying at Wildlings, and that’s, ‘If you don't play with fire you WILL get burnt.’ Today’s episode is all about why we must teach children fire safety.👉 Nicki and Vicci Share: Some striking facts about fire danger in Australia and around the worldWhy it is important to teach children about fire safetyThe importance and power of fire and how to teach responsibility in children around firesThe har...2023-04-1717 minRaising Wildlings2022 Wrap Up with Nicki and VicciSend us a textIt’s the end of the year here at Wildlings, so come and join us for our wrap up of 2022. Our highest highs, our lowest lows and some big news about next year.👉 Nicki and Vicci Share:Some epic podcast stats! Thank you for being a part of this journey with us! Their big business wins for 2022How their roles have changed shape over this year The importance of listening to your bodyTheir proudest achievementsWhat they are looking forward to!👉 Opt In for FREE Downloadable...2022-12-2039 minRaising WildlingsNon-Violent Communication for Families with Kate RaffinSend us a textA little while ago, Nicki and I attended a three day Non-Violent Communication workshop which started us on a journey to better understand ourselves, our needs and to get curious when it comes to conflict and uncomfortable conversations. Today I invited our NVC facilitator Kate Raffin to the podcast to chat about the power of Non-Violent Communication. 👉 Kate sharesHow she learned about Marshall Rosenberg's work with NVCThe benefits from learning the skills behind NVCNVC basicsBeing specific about our language is a big part of NVC.The difference betwe...2022-12-1240 minRaising WildlingsRed Flags for Teachers with Nicki FarrellSend us a textIn this episode, we are talking about red flags for teachers that shouldn’t be the norm. Now, if you aren’t 100% sold on your career in education, then this episode might just be for you. 👉 Nicki sharesHer story and why she felt so frustratedThe realities of teachingThe role bribery and coercion play in traditional schoolsHow her teaching career impacted her relationships with her own childrenThe true discrepancy between the cost of childcare and the privilege of workingThe different modalities that she explored when doing her researchWhy ‘Unschooling...2022-11-2120 minRaising WildlingsRisky Business or Risk Benefits? with Nicki FarrellSend us a textIn this episode, we’re talking about why we don’t use risk assessments and what we use instead. Controversial, I know!! But don’t worry, we promise we’re not just reckless cowgirls!👉 Nicki SharesHow the system worksWhy educators dislike writing risk assessmentsAbout the fear of litigationWhy children need riskLifelong benefits of a risky childhoodWhy the benefits need to be considered in a risk assessmentValues of a balanced assessmentThe power of children’s voices👉 Opt In for FREE Downloadables👉 Links and Res...2022-11-1415 minRaising WildlingsHear Us Out: Prison VS School with Nicki FarrellSend us a textWe have a controversial one for you today, especially if you work in education, because today we’re talking about the ways in which prisons and schools are similar and how in at least one way, prisons are better. Buckle in friends, we’re in for an emotional ride!👉 Nicki SharesHer experience of enlightenment when her students helped her see the similarities in the prison and school systemExamples of how the two comparePeter Gray’s take on this topicHow schools “enclose”The origins of school and how it failed to e...2022-11-0731 minRaising WildlingsOur North West Adventures, Misadventures and LearningsSend us a textIn this episode, Vicci and Nicki chat about all their 11 day camping adventure to the remote North West Island with a group of 45 people, their adventures, misadventures and what they took away from the trip.We talk about:What filled our cupThe logistics of getting there and communal cookingThe adventures on the Great Barrier ReefThe misadventures (including a chopper ride for one family, a coastguard ride for Nicki and an emergency visit) and what we learnt from themHow we knew our business would be fine with us both away because...2022-06-2051 minRaising WildlingsRed Flags to Green Lights with Nicki and VicciSend us a textIn this episode, we are talking about how to turn workplace red flags into business green lights. 👉 Vicci and Nicki ShareThe importance of living within our valuesThe story that highlighted the importance of this in their livesThe strong values that flow in every aspect of their businessThe importance of authenticityTheir perspective on “the system”Why we need to trust children and let them be individualsHow they learned to say noHow they turned their red flags into their ideal businessWhat they focused on when starting Wildlings Forest Sc...2022-06-1323 minRaising WildlingsHow to Feel Supported as an Education Trailblazer with Nicki and VicciSend us a textIn this episode, we are talking about how to feel supported when you’re an education trailblazer.👉 Nicki and Vicci DiscussWhy it is hard to be a trailblazerHow they became trail blazers The challenges of this niche industryQualities that help trailblazers succeedThe role of gratitudeWhy it is important to push the boundaries of the nature play industry👉 Opt In for Free Downloadables👉 Links and ResourcesResources & ReferencesPlease consider supporting us on PatreonLea...2022-06-0621 minRaising WildlingsNature Playgroup - Where it All Began with Vicci OliverSend us a textFor many of us, Playgroup is where our journeys start. For me, playgroup was my weekly anchor for the first five years in my new role as a mother and, I guess, is the reason that Wildlings Forest School and our Raising Wildlings Podcast came into being! Come with me as I share my Nature Playgroup Journey. 👉 Vicci SharesHer inspiration for creating this episodeHow she got started running a playgroupHow her nature playgroup was bornHer experience meeting NickiThe behind the scenes effort in bringing her playgroup under the W...2022-05-1629 minRaising WildlingsShould We Really 'Leave No Trace?' with Vicci OliverSend us a textThe ‘Leave No Trace’ philosophy is one of the cornerstones in minimizing our impact when we are in the great outdoors, but I have some issues with some of the principles, especially when it comes to children. So here me out, let’s take a deep dive into ‘Leave No Trace’ and its place in nature immersion programs.👉 Vicci SharesThe 7 principles of ‘Leave No Trace’How we incorporate this philosophy into our programsHow the philosophy relates to our sitesHer take on why some are not realistic for childrenWhich prin...2022-05-0827 minRaising WildlingsNicki's Wildlings Talk UnschoolingSend us a textIn this episode, Nicki’s children are talking about homeschooling and unschooling and their next big adventure. We get to hear the perspectives of our young Wildlings living the philosophy. 👉 Ra and Sol ShareHow they would describe what unschooling and homeschooling isWhat they love about unschoolingTheir favourite parts of their weeks being unschooledWhy they keep coming back to Forest School when they don’t have to The activities that they participate in so they don’t feel like they are missing out on any school experiencesWhy they don’t think...2022-04-2526 minRaising WildlingsAdventure Day 101 with Nicki and VicciSend us a text In this episode, we’re talking about how and why we try and do adventure days with our children as part of our Unschooling and Wildschooling journeys. 👉 Nicki and Vicci ShareWhat an adventure day looks likeWhy it is important to commit to an adventure dayWhat their children learn on adventure daysThe benefits of adventure daysWhy it helps to dedicate days for adventureTheir fave Sunshine Coast adventure day locationsWhat they bring along to the adventurePacking and gear recommendations How to stock your car kitHow it looks with younger childrenW...2022-03-2856 minRaising WildlingsOpen to the Flow of Reimagined Education with Peter PhillipsSend us a textIt is unsurprising that the COVID 19 Pandemic has been the catalyst for change in education. Today I’ll introduce you to another educational changemaker, Peter Phillips, who has taken a vision shared by his co-founders and started a learning revolution in Bali, Indonesia – Open Flow Learning Centre. 👉 Peter SharesHis journey that led to starting a progressive educational facility overseasHow teaching in Bali differs to AustraliaAbout Open FlowHow the community and Open Flow communicate and coexistHis vision of the future for this education modelHow a model like Open Flow might...2022-02-2146 minRaising WildlingsConscious Education for your Child with Gill HowarthSend us a textIn this episode we are talking to Gill Howarth from Born Wise, who ultimately aims to inspire families to revolutionise education from their own backyards and embrace conscious education! 👉 Gill SharesAbout Born Wise and The Conscious Education MovementHow to see education as learning beyond the boundaries of 'school'How to communicate this movement to those who might have a more constructed viewWhat children are learning about the world in their educationHow we can take some of the pressure off schoolAbout wellbeing in connection to learningWhat education might look like...2022-02-141h 07