CO-FOUNDER l MANAGING DIRECTOR l ECT

🌿Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology

🌿Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary)

🌿Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care

🌿PhD Candidate - University of New England (Investigating Forest School philosophies and pedagogies in Australia) (in progress)

🌿Level 3 Forest School Leader

🌿First Aid in an Education Setting (incl. CPR, Anaphylaxis & Asthma)

🌿Current Blue Card

From a young age Amanda fondly remembers using tools in her Granddad's shed, playing in the bushland at her Nans’, building double decker go-karts, and constructing elaborate tree houses with pulley systems. Hence, you will often see her trying to set up 'risky play' adventures as that is one of her favourite things to do.

Amanda is an experienced Teacher (Early Childhood/Primary), who passionately advocates for learning through play. With a love of nature and all creatures, big and small, Amanda was attracted to the nature play philosophy as it aligns with her values; child led, free play, in nature. When not at Little Wildlings, Amanda is working on her PhD researching nature play philosophy and pedagogy in Australia. With a deeper understanding of why we do, what we do, and how to do it, Amanda dreams of ensuring that all children have access to nature play.

CO-FOUNDER l COMPANY DIRECTOR

🌿Bachelor of Education - English & HPE
(Middle and Secondary School)

🌿Diploma in Outdoor Recreation

🌿Cert 4 in Environmental Tourism

🌿Cert 4 in Training and Assessing

🌿Level 3 Forest School Leader

🌿First Aid in an Education Setting, CPR, Anaphylaxis, Asthma

🌿Current Blue Card

Raised on a farm in remote South Australia, Nicki's favourite childhood memories are of family camping trips, climbing trees, hiding amongst wool bales and rock-hopping over rock pools. Accidentally stumbling across the respectful/attachment parenting philosophy shortly after having her first child enabled Nicki to begin to trust her child's innate curiosity and insatiable appetite to learn through play, which in turn led the family down the rabbit hole of alternative education options.

An experienced High School PE and English Teacher and Outdoor Recreation Leader, Nicki's passions and expertise lie in outdoor recreation, educating educators, creating community connections, ecological literacy, environmental protection and stewardship, and ensuring diversity and alternatives in our education systems to better prepare our children for an uncertain future.

CO-FOUNDER l COMPANY DIRECTOR

Bachelor of Science (Marine Biology and Ecotourism)

🌿Graduate Diploma of Education
(Middle and Secondary School)

🌿Level 3 Forest School Leader

🌿First Aid in an Education Setting, CPR, Anaphylaxis and Asthma

🌿Current Blue Card

The ocean has always been home for Marine Biologist and Science/Maths Teacher, Vicci. Living in South East Queensland has been the perfect backdrop for a life of adventure chasing dolphins and whales on a mission to spread a love for the natural world.

After teaching in traditional schools, Vicci's world was soon opened to alternative models of learning, particularly the nature play philosophy, after the birth of her first daughter. The philosophy embodied many of Vicci's own lifestyle values and seemed to be the perfect blend of world-schooling and wild-schooling. Vicci's passions and expertise lie in marine education, respectful communication, child empowerment and educational freedom of choice.