Out & About offers play based learning that is rooted in child-centered and interest-led learning. Our mission is to foster connection through play on the land.

About Us

We believe that child-led and inquiry-based learning is when we don't know what the lesson will be until play brings it out (and about!)

Who We Are

At Out & About, a core element of our practice is helping children understand the power and impact of their choices. We believe that the magic and wonder that play provides will build resilient and confident individuals. We work together to reflect on how our actions affect ourselves, our peers, and the land, in turn fostering a strong sense of responsibility, empathy, and community care.

At Out and About we:

  • Foster connection through play, inquiry, and exploration on the Land.

  • Trust in children’s capabilities and support them in their learning journey.

  • Develop child-centered, interest-led, inquiry-driven, and educator-supported experiences.

  • Believe in holistic learning through healthy risk assessment, resilience-building, and land-based exploration.

Our educators are passionate co-learners who offer support, play, and guidance throughout each day.

Programs
Programs
Program Handbook
Program Handbook

*please read our handbook to learn more about our policies, procedures, and programs.

A woman with long hair wearing a cap and jacket, smiling and touching her face with one hand, in a rustic setting with wooden beams overhead.

Our Philosophy

As we become stewards of the land, we also become stewards of ourselves. We’re given the time and space to explore what it truly means to be us.

This is the power of CHOICE.

This is the power of play.

This is the power of childhood.

Register
Register

Our Locations and Events

Petawawa

We offer a school-age, pre-school, and family program in Petawawa! Our urban space programs encourage connection and community with each other, ourselves, and the land.

We have summer programs too!

View Petawawa Programs
View Petawawa Programs
Group of children on a field trip, standing in front of a person demonstrating a fire pit, under a wooden pavilion.

WORK WITH US

At Out and About Forest and Nature School, we offer child-led, inquiry-driven experiences that honour each child’s interests, curiosity, and connection to the land. From field trips to retreats to opportunities for sharing knowledge, we welcome meaningful ways to gather and learn together. If this approach resonates with your vision or aligns with your dreams for children and community, we would love to connect and explore ways to collaborate.

Let's Collaborate!
Let's Collaborate!
A young girl with curly hair wearing a pink beanie and blue puffy jacket, making a funny face with her tongue sticking out, standing next to a tree in a forest.

EVENTS

We offer a range of opportunities to connect, learn, and explore through our events. From free community programs and professional development opportunities to field trips, social gatherings, and more, there is something for everyone. We invite you to come together on the land, build relationships, and engage in meaningful experiences.

Check out our upcoming events here.

Events Page
Events Page
A group of children sitting on tree stumps in a forest, listening to a woman reading a book to them.
A woman and a young girl sitting on the forest ground. The woman is reading a book while the girl is holding a snack. There are backpacks and papers on the ground nearby, surrounded by trees and fallen leaves.
A man and a boy are cutting a piece of wood placed on two logs with a hammer and chisel.
Two girls holding a yellow slackline between trees in a forest, smiling, with a boy standing nearby in the background.
Three children sitting on a muddy wooden ramp in a forest, dressed in outdoor gear, smiling and holding a wooden railing, overcast sky in the background.
A group of children and a woman are taking a break in a forest during a hike. The woman is adjusting her hat while two children sit on the ground, and another child is sitting on a backpack. The forest has tall trees and sunlight filtering through th
A young girl in a pink winter snowsuit, boots, and a gray hat with a pink and black pattern, standing on snow with a background of leafless trees and a clear blue sky.
Two children in a forest, one standing with arm around the other and reaching up to a tree branch with a backpack, both smiling.
Five children standing at the edge of a lake, playing and exploring the water, with rocks and plants on the shore.
Young girl crouching on a patio floor, engaging in a nature activity with sticks, pinecones, rocks, and leaves arranged around her.
Two young girls and a woman in a forest, with the girls walking on a wooden plank balanced on tires, supervised by the woman holding a stick.
Two young children, a girl with blonde hair in a blue jacket and a boy with a blue cap in a red checkered shirt, are sitting outdoors in a wooded area, enjoying a picnic with metal lunchboxes.
Group of children and adults hiking through a snowy forest, pulling sleds and carrying backpacks.

Ready to explore, play, and grow with us?

Learn more about our programs and find the right fit for your child.

Learn more
Learn more