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Out & About Forest and Nature School Inc.

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Out & About Forest and Nature School Inc.

Out & Abouts’ mission is to support self-autonomy in children through play, inquiry and a skill-based curriculum.

We create programs that provide a nurturing environment where children and families feel a sense of community while fostering a deep connection with the land.

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Our Programs

After-School Programs

A hands-on, after-school program where children build confidence, teamwork, and practical outdoor skills through play, exploration, and guided wilderness experiences.

  • Ages: 6–14
    Time: 5:30–6:30pm or 7–8pm
    Length: 12 weeks

    Our After-School Bushcraft Program helps kids build confidence, teamwork, and real outdoor skills through play, exploration, and time in nature. Offered in two age groups.

    What we explore (week to week):

    • Fire awareness and safety

    • Shelter building

    • Whittling and knife safety

    • Simple navigation

    • Plant and tree identification

    • Cordage making

    • Useful knots

    • Basic first aid

    Locations: Arnprior, Beachburg, Petawawa

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Family Programs

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Full-Day Programs

A full-day outdoor program that encourages curiosity, independence, and resilience through child-led play, nature-based learning, and real-world experiences.

  • Ages: 4–12
    Time: 9am–3pm

    A full day outdoors designed to support independence, curiosity, and confidence. Each week includes new invitations, games, nature-based challenges, skill-building, and lots of open-ended play.

    What this program supports:

    • Curiosity, independence, and creativity

    • Confidence and resilience through real outdoor experiences

    • Problem-solving, teamwork, and communication

    • Observation skills and environmental awareness

    • Hands-on learning that supports physical, emotional, and cognitive development

    Locations: Petawawa, Foresters Falls

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Pre-School Program

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A welcoming outdoor program for families to connect, play, and explore nature together while building community and supporting early childhood development.

  • Ages: All ages welcome
    Caregiver required: Yes, accompanied by a parent, caregiver, or trusted adult

    Birch & Bud is a relaxed outdoor gathering for families who want more time outside together. Expect connection, play, simple nature activities, storytelling, and seasonal moments that feel meaningful and easy.

    Community & connection:

    • Meet other families who value outdoor play

    • Join a welcoming, supportive community

    • Enjoy storytelling, seasonal celebrations, and shared experiences

    Locations:

    • Petawawa

    • Foresters Falls

    • Deep River (coming soon)

    • Arnprior (coming soon)

A gentle, play-based outdoor program designed to nurture confidence, friendships, and a strong foundation for learning through meaningful time in nature.

  • Ages: Preschool
    Time: 9:30am–12pm

    A gentle, play-based outdoor program that helps preschoolers grow confidence, build friendships, and develop skills that support an easier transition into school, all while deepening their connection to nature.

    What this program supports:

    • Confidence, independence, and creativity

    • Safe, thoughtful risk-taking

    • Friendships and cooperation

    • A stronger relationship with nature

    • A play-based foundation for school success

    Locations: Petawawa, Foresters Falls

Featured Programs

PET Fri. Birch & Bud Program PET Fri. Birch & Bud Program
PET Fri. Birch & Bud Program
$0.00

Ages: Family an Caregiver Program - all ages welcome!!

Time: 9:30am-12:00pm

PROGRAM COST: $420
2 Siblings: $430
3 Siblings: $435
*Infants in a stroller or carrier are no extra cost.

*You will receive an invoice for e-transfer
*Please send your payment via e-transfer to outandaboutinnature@gmail.com

Program Information Session Dates:

First Day: April 3rd 2026

Last Day: June 19th 2026

Saturday: May TBD

Location: Jack Pine Park, Petawawa, ON

Program Highlights

Family-Centered Exploration

  • Activities designed for both children and their grownups

  • Strengthens bonds through shared experiences

  • Encourages curiosity, joy, and wonder

Growing Early Skills

  • Practice independence and self-regulation

  • Learn cooperation, problem-solving, and confidence

  • Gentle support for families navigating toileting

Emotional Resilience in Nature

  • Tools to navigate big feelings

  • Grounding activities, breathing, and mindfulness

  • Movement and play to support regulation

All-Weather Adventures

  • Explore the beauty of every season

  • Learn how to dress and adapt outdoors

  • Build comfort playing in any weather

Community & Connection

  • Meet other families who value outdoor play

  • Join a welcoming, supportive community

  • Enjoy storytelling, seasonal celebrations, and shared experiences

Birch & Bud is a beautiful way to spend meaningful time outdoors with your child while supporting their early development and connecting with like-minded families.

Here’s a look into our invitations this season!

  • Nature Wands
    Wrap a stick with yarn or string and decorate it with leaves, grasses, or flowers.

  • Spring Scavenger Hunt Bag
    Decorate a small paper bag, then collect spring treasures like pinecones, petals, or stones.

  • Mud Paintbrushes
    Make brushes from sticks and evergreen sprigs, then paint with water, mud, or crushed berries.

  • Petal Soup Sensory Play
    Combine petals, grass, and water in a bowl or bucket for pretend play and sensory exploration.

  • Nature Crowns
    Use a strip of cardboard and double-sided tape; let children add flowers, leaves, or feathers.

  • Rock Friends
    Paint (or water-paint!) small stones to create characters, bugs, or faces.

  • Spring Suncatchers
    Press petals and leaves between contact paper and hang them in a window or outside.

  • Stick Boats
    Tie small sticks together with twine and add a leaf sail; float them in puddles or streams.

  • Bird Nest Play Invitation
    Collect soft natural materials to build pretend nests for “eggs”.

  • Leaf & Flower Hammer Prints
    Place petals or leaves on fabric or paper, cover with cloth, and gently tap with a rock.

  • Mini Garden in a Jar
    Add soil, moss, small plants, and sticks to create a tiny spring world.

  • Spring Sound Shakers
    Fill a container with seeds, pebbles, or dried grasses to explore seasonal sounds.

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Petawawa

Our Spaces

Foresters Falls

Through hands-on exploration and skill-building, children develop resilience, independence, and a strong connection to the land, while building leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a nature-centered setting.

Located at Whitewater RV & Cottage Resort, the Foresters Falls site offers open fields, wooded areas, and a covered pavilion that serves as a gathering and creative hub. Families enjoy the comfort of resort amenities like flushable toilets, alongside rich opportunities for outdoor play, imagination, and nature connection in all weather.

Our Petawawa programs foster an inclusive community where children learn, play, and connect with nature through child-led exploration and shared experiences. We create a strong sense of belonging while encouraging curiosity, confidence, and meaningful connections with the land and one another.

The Petawawa site offers a true outdoor adventure experience, similar to backcountry camping. With no permanent shelter, children fully embrace the elements, from forest exploration to creative play with natural materials. A clean portable bathroom and our playful “tent city” on rainy days add to the adventure, making this location ideal for families seeking an immersive, nature-rich learning environment.

Upcoming Events

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“I can only hope that our day is filled with mud explosions.”

- Noah, Age 6

A group of children and firefighters standing in front of a red fire rescue truck outside in snowy weather.
Young girl in a pink knit hat, purple and pink jacket, and floral gloves, crawling in the snow with snow on her face and chin.
A young girl with curly red hair, wearing a colorful patterned shirt and purple snow pants, is smiling and running on a grassy field, holding hands with another person.
Children in winter clothes walking and climbing on a fallen log in a snowy forest, with an adult observing nearby.
Two children playing outdoors on a muddy hill, wearing jackets and hats, with one climbing up and the other standing at the top.
A young girl in a pink and purple jacket, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, kneeling on a patio with tree branches, pinecones, leaves, rocks, and sticks arranged on the ground.