Out & About FNS

Out & About FNS practices, plays, inquires, and builds connections on Omàmìwininìwag (Algonquin) Anishinaabe Nation territory. We are thankful for the opportunity to keep growing and learning in this space. https://native-land.ca/ 

Rooted in play. Inspired by nature. Powered by imagination.

Out & About was born from a simple but powerful belief: that childhood should be full of wonder, exploration, and connection to the land.

Our founder, Arija Bunkis, grew up immersed in the outdoors—learning valuable life skills, developing confidence, and experiencing firsthand the transformative power of imagination. “When we imagine, we believe,” she says. “Not only in ourselves, but in the impossible—and in our dreams.”

That belief sparked the beginning of Out & About. It started with a phone call to three friends and a dream of children choosing play over screen time. Together with a small group of families and the original Wolves, that dream took root.

Today, Out & About has grown into a thriving nature-based education program with multiple locations and a wide range of offerings for children aged 1–17.

At the heart of it all? The power of play.

We believe play is more than fun—it’s how children learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them. It fosters social skills, self-regulation, autonomy, and resilience. It offers space to wonder, to take risks, and to grow.

In a world filled with screens and pressure to conform, the land offers something different. It holds no judgment or expectations—only an invitation to build a relationship based on care and respect. When we nurture that connection, we also begin to nurture ourselves.

At Out & About, we are proud to be land-centered, child-led, and community-driven. Our passionate educators are here to support children as they discover who they are and all they are capable of—through the simple, powerful act of play.

We hope you get out and about with us to play, explore, and inquire!