This past November (2025) Nature Plays had the incredible honour of being invited to participate in the NGlobal Conference for Nature Education for Children in Yancheng, China. With over 600 participants from across China and Europe, you can imagine how nervous and excited we were. The conference is designed to bring together educators, school principals, researchers and practitioners deeply committed in reimagining education for children. I get goosebumps every time I say that sentence!
Our part of the whole
We were humbled to be elected as the first forest school from South Africa to attend and represent our continent on this global stage. As the founder of Nature Plays, I, myself was invited to share our work and present a talk on how Forest Schools align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We were also asked to lead a nature connection workshop – which the ever capable and captivating Eve, one of our forest school session facilitators led. Much to our joy over 100 participants attended.
For most of the conference I sat rapt at the edge of my seat, scribbling down inspiring words by the many passionate speakers, all reimagining what education can look like in the modern world.
They spoke of education rooted in sustainability, child-led exploration, and lifelong connection to nature. The stuff of my dreams!
Impressions & Imprints
At Nature Plays, experiences like this only strengthen our commitment to support children and families in ways that are:
- Sustainable for the environment
- Holistic and supportive of the whole child
- Grounded in curiosity, resilience, and authentic connection
We left this conference energised and deeply grateful for the global community working towards a healthier future for children and our planet. If you ever needed your faith restored in the future of your children, let me tell you – this conference is proof that there are many intelligent and incredibly passionate people working towards this nature-aligned vision.
2 Key insights from the China conference
A shared awareness
Many of the presenters and attendees carried one powerful theme throughout their message. They all shared the recognition that many current educational systems are failing children by limiting curiosity, creativity and wellbeing. Educators from vastly different contexts echoed the same concerns, while also sharing inspiring, practical ways to create change.
How China is changing education
One of the most surprising and hopeful aspects of the experience was seeing how far China has progressed in creating these thinking spaces. By bringing together educators from around the world, China is actively shaping a new vision for education – one rooted in nature, reflection and collaboration.
Reflections on home soil
We returned home deeply inspired, reaffirmed in our purpose, and grateful to be part of a growing global movement that believes children deserve more – more wonder, more freedom, and more connection to the natural world.
The Workshop Experience: A Reflection from Eve
“The workshop was held in a beautiful Metasequoia forest on a windy day. I started by bringing awareness to the heart, which along with its arteries and veins looks very similar to a sprouting seed – a reminder that we are nature.
I guided a somatic movement practice, then instructed the groups to look up at the swaying trees and feel their feet rooted as they too began to sway. I could sense the group dropping into their bodies as they truly felt the sensory input of the environment.
As I usually teach children, I brought in a playful imaginative aspect, telling the story of a seed through movement. I then sent attendees on a silent walking meditation to gather items from the forest floor. Upon their return, we joined into groups to create something together using colorful threads. I was truly blown away by the multi-layered creativity and effortless cooperation of all 100 attendees.
Each group shared their nature art and the stories behind them – it was co-creation at its best. We closed with a meditation, swaying together with the forest.
I was amazed at how well the workshop was received. Many came to tell me how deeply they were moved and inspired, some in tears. One of the best compliments was “learning from you has reminded me that the universe has always loved us.” – Eve
Our key take-aways from this experience
- The global movement for nature-based education is growing rapidly—and meaningfully.
- Forest School principles directly support multiple UN SDGs, from quality education to climate action.
- Children thrive when given space to explore, take risks, and connect with the natural world.
- Cross-cultural collaboration is essential as we shape the future of education.
- Community, curiosity, and nature remain universal languages.
China, a global leader in technology and AI, is also emerging as a leader in nature education—actively integrating outdoor, nature-based approaches into their curricula and developing more schools aligned with this philosophy.
