Nature Play WA

What Nature Play WA does

Nature Play WA is a Western Australian not-for-profit organization founded in 2009 that supports the mental and physical health of children by promoting unstructured, child-led outdoor play through nature. The organization serves three primary stakeholder groups: families with children, educators (early childhood and K-12), and local governments and community organizations, and is recognized as the peak body for nature play in Western Australia. It is supported by the Western Australian State Government and operated by a 12-person team headquartered in Crawley, WA, with sister organizations in South Australia and Canberra.

The organization operates a multi-format product portfolio anchored by four mobile applications — Play Trails (a GPS- and iBeacon-enabled location-based trail app built on the Locatify platform with Amazon CloudFront data hosting), Talk N Walk (co-designed with over 100 WA children for guided walking conversations and teen wellbeing), the Play in WA interactive map of playgrounds and nature spaces, and the Nature Passport app for outdoor missions. It also distributes physical products (Nature & Me 54-card social emotional learning deck, Talk N Walk conversation prompt cards), an extensive library of free printable resources (the 51 Things to Do Before You're 12 list, Every Kid in a Park Activity Book, Digital Wellbeing Guide, Green Time vs Screen Time tracker), and delivers fee-based community activations (Mud Kitchen Magic, Senses Alive, Storytime Cubbies, Nature Nook), professional learning workshops, and play space consultancy and audit services.

The revenue model is hybrid: government grants from the WA State Government form the funding anchor, supplemented by fee-based professional services (community event activations, educator workshops, play space consultancy) and physical resource sales. The vast majority of digital content and printable resources are provided free under a freemium distribution strategy that uses free resources to build reach and convert educators and local governments into paid consultancy and workshop engagements. Geographic focus is exclusively Western Australia, with research partnerships (Telethon Kids Institute) and inter-jurisdictional sister organizations enabling federated advocacy across Australia.

Name

Nature Play WA

Legal name

Nature Play WA

Website

https://natureplaywa.org.au

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nature Play WA is a Western Australian not-for-profit founded in 2009 that supports children's mental and physical health through nature play advocacy, mobile apps, community programs, and educator resources, serving families, early childhood educators, and local governments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nature Play Programs and Outdoor Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Survival Skills Lessons (Bushcraft, Navigation, Foraging) (THAJAKAM), Parks, Recreation & Protected Areas Administration (BPAIAMAH)

Keywords

• Nature play programs
• Outdoor learning resources
• Community play events
• Early childhood education
• Nature-based wellbeing apps

Headquarters

HQ city

Crawley

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: Nature Play WA is a not-for-profit organization that receives support from the Western Australian State Government and various government departments. The organization develops nature play programs funded through grants and government partnerships.
2. Professional Learning Services: The organization generates revenue through fee-based professional learning workshops for educators, including on-site workshops and online courses. Also offers play space audit workshops.
3. Community Event Services: Fee-based community activations including Talk N Walk events, Mud Kitchen Magic pop-ups, Senses Alive sensory play sessions, and Storytime Cubbies programs delivered at local government events, festivals, and school open days.
4. Consultancy Services: Play space consultation and audit services provided to local governments and organizations looking to improve outdoor play spaces.
5. Resource Sales: Sale of nature play resources including Nature & Me cards and Talk N Walk conversation prompt cards.
6. Free Resources and Programs: Majority of resources are provided free including printable activity sheets, nature passports, educational guides, and the interactive Play in WA map.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nature Play WA delivers nature play programs, mobile applications (Play Trails, Talk N Walk, Nature Passport, Play in WA map), physical activity cards, printable resources, staffed community activations, and professional learning and consultancy services targeting families, educators, and local governments across Western Australia.

Product overview

Nature Play WA is a not-for-profit organization offering a diverse portfolio of nature-based play programs, resources, and services for families, educators, and communities across Western Australia. Their offerings include four mobile applications (Play Trails App for GPS-based nature trails, Talk N Walk App for teen wellbeing walks, Play in WA interactive map, and Nature Passport App for outdoor missions), physical products (Nature & Me Activity Cards for social emotional learning, Talk N Walk Conversation Prompt Cards), and printable resources (Nature Passport lesson plans, Every Kid in a Park Activity Book, 51 Things to Do Before You're 12 list, Green Time vs Screen Time Tracker, Digital Wellbeing Guide). They also deliver community programs including Nature Play in the Park activations, Mud Kitchen Magic pop-up messy play spaces, Senses Alive sensory play sessions, Storytime Cubbies literacy programs, Talk N Walk events for schools and communities, and Nature Nook calm play spaces. Professional services include play space consultation and audits, and professional learning workshops for educators. The organization focuses on advocacy and delivery of unstructured, child-led outdoor play experiences to support children's mental and physical health.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Play Trails: A mobile app for outdoor adventures featuring interactive nature play activities and trails
• Talk N Walk
• Nature & Me
• Nature Passport
• Play in WA
• Senses Alive
• Storytime Cubbies
• Mud Kitchen Magic

Products and services

• Play Trails App A location-based mobile application that guides families through interactive nature play trails using GPS and iBeacon technology, with challenges, camera features, and leaderboards for children aged 6+.
• Talk N Walk App A mobile application for tweens and teens that encourages walking and meaningful conversation through guided prompts and nature connection activities, co-designed with over 100 WA children.
• Play in WA Interactive Map A searchable interactive map helping families find playgrounds, nature play spaces, walking trails, beaches, and regional parks across Western Australia.
• Nature Passport App A digital passport application providing nature-based missions and DIY play activities for children to complete outdoors.
• Nature & Me Activity Cards A set of 54 nature-based activity cards designed for social emotional learning, helping children identify ways to feel calm, present, and connected through nature-based activities.
• Talk N Walk Conversation Prompt Cards Card decks designed to encourage meaningful connection, emotional wellbeing, and healthy movement through conversation prompts during walks in nature.
• Play Space Consultation and Audit Services Expert consultation services for designing, auditing, and improving outdoor play spaces for communities and organizations.
• Professional Learning Workshops On-site and online professional development courses for educators on outdoor learning and nature-based play practices.
• Nature Play in the Park Events Staffed community activation events bringing nature play experiences to local parks, suitable for festivals, fairs, and community gatherings.
• Mud Kitchen Magic Pop Up Play Space Staffed outdoor sensory play activation featuring mud kitchens, providing messy play experiences for children at community events and school open days.
• Senses Alive Sensory Play Sessions Outdoor sensory play sessions for children aged 2-10 led by Nature Play WA educators, featuring activities engaging all five senses in nature.
• Storytime Cubbies Nature-based literacy program combining outdoor storytime with cubby building, suitable for libraries, community centres, and early childhood services.
• Talk N Walk Events Self-guided or facilitated outdoor walking experiences with conversation prompts and nature connection activities, designed for community activation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 WA children co-designed the Talk N Walk app
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBCA partnered with Nature Play WA to develop the Every Kid in the Park Activity Book initiative, providing resources for children to explore WA's national parks.
• Telethon Kids InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership to create the Digital Wellbeing Guide for parents, highlighting impacts of excessive screen time on children with recommendations.
• Play Matters AustraliaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted joint webinar on supporting nature play everyday with Play Matters Australia featuring Nature Play WA's Strategic Business Manager Sarah McGowan.
• Kyooya DesignsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal business in Perth that created native animal artwork for Animal Tracks resources for Kalbarri National Park.
• Nature Play South AustraliaminorOthersSister organization sharing similar mission to promote nature play. Organizations collaborate on shared advocacy and resources.
• Nature Play CanberraminorOthersSister organization sharing similar mission to promote nature play. Organizations collaborate on shared advocacy and resources.
• Adelaide UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Kylie Dankiw, Postdoctoral Researcher at Adelaide University, presented alongside Nature Play WA on nature play webinar.
• City of CanningminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal government partner that hosted Storytime Cubbies event during Nature Play Week with Nature Play WA.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forest School Australia: Australian network promoting nature-based, child-led outdoor learning in bush and forest settings. Direct peer in mission, professional learning offerings, and educator training, overlapping with Nature Play WA's nature play advocacy.
• Nature Play South Australia: Sister organisation sharing the same nature play mission in South Australia. Direct peer due to identical mission, parallel program portfolio (apps, community events, educator resources), and formal collaboration relationship.
• Nature Play Canberra: Sister organisation promoting nature play in the ACT region. Closely comparable in mission, programs, and stakeholder mix (families, educators, local government), making it a direct functional peer.

Others

• Australian Council for Educational Research (Nature Play research arm): Research-oriented education organisation that conducts studies relevant to outdoor and nature-based learning. Comparable as an evidence-base contributor to nature play programs and a potential research/grant partner.

Regional players

• Kids in Parks (US): US-based program using trails and nature-based activities to encourage family outdoor recreation. Comparable in GPS/trackable nature play experiences and national park partnerships, but operates in North America.

Broad incumbents

• Planet Ark (Play Matters Australia): Australian environmental not-for-profit with a National Play Matters initiative promoting outdoor play and connection to nature. Comparable as a research-backed advocacy organisation partnering with Nature Play WA on webinars and shared missions.
• Play Australia (formerly Playworks Australia): National peak body advocating for children's right to play across Australia. Comparable as a broader advocacy and professional learning organisation serving educators and communities, though with a wider scope than nature play specifically.

Emerging players

• Outdoor Classroom Day (Project Dirt, UK): Global campaign and resource hub encouraging outdoor learning and play in schools. Comparable in distributing free educator resources, community activations, and digital campaigns to drive nature-based outdoor play.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NaturePlayWA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nature-play-wa
• Instagraminstagram.com/natureplaywa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nature Play WA