What Nature Play Sa does

Nature Play SA is a South Australian not-for-profit organization established in 2014, headquartered at Wittunga House in Blackwood, that delivers nature-based programs, resources, and events to support outdoor learning, play, and wellbeing. The organization operates with a small team of 1-10 employees and serves four primary customer segments: educators and schools (via incursions, excursions, Thriving Learners program, and Preschool Boost professional development); families (through events, resource guides, and location-based content); corporate/workplace clients (via wellbeing walks and team-building workshops); and community groups (through festivals and inclusive programming). Its commercial portfolio spans a curated e-commerce shop (waterproof playsuits, Stick-lets STEM connectors, plant presses, Wild Ones magazine, and the Where Birds Sing book) priced from A$11.95 to A$550, plus an online professional development course (Play to Thrive) priced at A$140-A$240.

The organization operates on a hybrid revenue model combining government grants from three core South Australian government bodies (Green Adelaide, Department for Education, Department for Environment and Water), corporate sponsorship, e-commerce product sales, course fees, and paid event delivery. Distribution is multi-channel: e-commerce via natureplaysa.org.au, a physical retail shop at Wittunga House, direct event delivery, and partner channels through 33 active local council and community organization partners. In 2024-2025, Nature Play SA delivered 69 events to 15,076 attendees, completed 630 workshops, engaged 11,532 students, and drew 3,000+ visitors to its flagship Forest Festival, with 95% of festival visitors reporting the event supported their children's wellbeing.

The underlying technology infrastructure is standard non-profit digital tooling — a WCAG 2.0-compliant website, Stripe and ApplePay for payments, Eventbrite for event registration, and Sendle/Australia Post for fulfillment. There is no proprietary technology platform; the organization's value is delivered through physical events, in-person programming, content publications, and curated product selection rather than software. Governance is provided by a board chaired by Phil Kwan (since 2022) with deep expertise across finance, education law, child protection, and social enterprise, while CEO Jason Tyndall has led the organization since its 2014 inception.

Name

Nature Play Sa

Legal name

Nature Play SA

Website

https://natureplaysa.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nature Play SA is a South Australian not-for-profit established in 2014 that delivers nature-based programs, resources, and events for educators, families, corporate clients, and community groups across South Australia, supported by government grants and e-commerce revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Nature-Based Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

Keywords

• Nature-based education
• Outdoor learning programs
• Professional development courses
• Environmental education resources
• Community wellbeing events

Headquarters

HQ city

Blackwood

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: E-commerce sales of nature-inspired products including waterproof playsuits, plant presses, pressed flower frames, Stick-lets connectors, and publications including Wild Ones magazine and educational resources.
2. Professional Development Courses: Online professional development courses such as 'Play to Thrive' delivered through pre-recorded video content, allowing educators to learn at their own pace.
3. Corporate Wellbeing Experiences: Paid team building workshops and wellbeing walks for corporate clients including mindfulness sessions, cubby building, whittling, and botanical watercolour workshops.
4. Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship opportunities for Forest Festival, regional education road trips, events in vulnerable communities, and research and impact initiatives.
5. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from Green Adelaide (South Australian Government), Department for Education, and Department for Environment and Water to support nature connection programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Nature Play SA is a not-for-profit organisation that delivers nature-based incursions, excursions, professional development, and community events for educators, families, and workplaces in South Australia. It also operates an online and physical shop selling nature-play products (waterproof playsuits, Stick-lets, plant presses, educational books and magazines) and runs the flagship Forest Festival. Programs are supported by long-standing partnerships with Green Adelaide, the Department for Education, and the Department for Environment and Water.

Product overview

Nature Play SA is a not-for-profit organization established in 2014 that operates an online shop selling nature play-inspired products. The product portfolio includes waterproof outdoor clothing (Waterproof Playsuits), STEM building tools (Stick-lets®), educational nature guides (Adventures by the Sea), craft and botanical products (Plant Press, Pressed Flower Frame Art), educational resource cards (Go Wild with Nature Play SA), published books and magazines (Where Birds Sing and Wildflowers Dance, Wild Ones Magazine Issues 1-3, Nature play the Education Way), and professional development courses (Play to Thrive). Products are categorized into Courses, Play, Read, and Wear. All proceeds support the organization's mission to make nature an everyday part of children's lives through nature connection programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Incursions and Excursions Nature-based experiences delivered at or by schools and early learning centres across South Australia, including incursion and excursion programs as well as OSHC and school holiday programs for children.
• Thriving Learners Program
• Preschool Boost
• Play to Thrive Online Course
• Corporate Wellbeing Experiences
• Forest Festival
• Waterproof Playsuits
• Stick-lets
• Adventures by the Sea
• Plant Press
• Pressed Flower Frame Art
• Go Wild with Nature Play SA Resource Cards
• Where Birds Sing and Wildflowers Dance
• Nature Play the Education Way – Issue 3
• Wild Ones Magazine – Issue 1
• Wild Ones Magazine – Issue 2
• Wild Ones Magazine – Issue 3
• Wild Ones Magazine Bundle

Quantifiable outcome

• 11,532 students engaged through programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Integration5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green AdelaidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Adelaide is a South Australian Government supported organisation working towards a cooler, greener, wilder and climate-resilient metropolitan South Australia. The area spans 17 metropolitan council areas covering approximately 1.3 million South Australians. Nature Play SA is funded by Green Adelaide and contributes to Adelaide National Park City.
• Department for EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department for Education aims to ensure South Australia's public education system can unlock every child's potential. Funding contributes to Nature Play SA's work developing and implementing nature-based play and teaching experiences that enhance student wellbeing and learner agency.
• Department for Environment and WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Department manages national parks, botanic gardens, and heritage places. Nature Play SA's work with the Department contributes towards engaging South Australians in natural spaces such as National Parks and Botanic Gardens.
• Create FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational charitable organisation supporting children and young people in care. Nature Play SA has appeared on Create Foundation podcasts discussing nature-based wellbeing.
• Nature FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual celebration of South Australia's unique connection to nature through hundreds of inspiring events across the state.
• WOMADelaideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld of Music, Arts and Dance festival. Nature Play SA delivers KidZone programming at WOMADelaide.
• City of Tea Tree GullyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal government council partnering for Muddy Hands Festival and community events.
• Autism SAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting inclusive nature experiences for neurodiverse community members.
• Bedford GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability employment services organisation partnering for accessible community events.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• ChildFund Australia: International child-focused NGO operating in Australia with programs supporting children's wellbeing and education; comparable only as a similarly-sized Australian not-for-profit operating in the children/wellbeing space with similar funder and donor dynamics.
• Australian Outdoor Education Association: Australian peak body for outdoor education practitioners and providers; comparable as an industry association serving the outdoor education sector in which Nature Play SA operates, though not a direct competitor for program delivery.

Direct peers

• Outdoor Classroom Day: Global campaign encouraging schools to take lessons outdoors; comparable in advocating for nature-based learning experiences and engaging the same educator and school audience segments as Nature Play SA.
• Cool Australia: Australian non-profit providing free educational resources on sustainability, wellbeing, and nature for teachers and students; comparable as a digital-first nature/environmental education provider with educator and family audiences.
• Nature Play WA: Western Australian state chapter of the Nature Play movement; operates analogous nature-based programs, events, and resources for educators and families, making it a directly comparable sister organization.
• Play Australia: Australian peak body advocating for play, including outdoor and nature-based play; comparable as a national mission-driven organization promoting children's right to play and connection with nature in educational settings.
• Nature Play QLD: Queensland state chapter of the Nature Play movement; runs comparable nature play programs, events, and educator resources, competing for the same national funder and sponsor pool.
• Nature Play Australia: National peak body for the Nature Play movement in Australia; directly comparable as the umbrella organization coordinating state chapters including Nature Play SA, with shared mission of nature-based play and learning.

Broad incumbents

• Planet Ark Environmental Foundation: Established Australian environmental NGO running environmental education and re-foreestation programs (including National Tree Day); comparable as a broader incumbent in the Australian environmental education space with overlapping educator and corporate partnership channels.

Emerging players

• Timbernook: US-based organization pioneering nature-based, child-led outdoor play programs and curriculum; featured in Nature Play SA's Wild Ones magazine, making it a thematically aligned international emerging player in the nature play movement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Sa