February 5, 2024 • 37 mins
As we close the chapter on an incredible year of growth and connection, our latest podcast episode takes you through a heartfelt journey of our key milestones, mistakes and goals for the new year.
Somehow during this time, we have hit an astonishing 420,000 downloads and cultivated conversations that have deeply resonated within the realms of parenting, alternative education, forest schooling and child development. Our little project, birthed in our humble home office, has since spread its wings, touching lives and igniting a global dialogue on the transformative power of playing and learning in nature.
The hustle of running a small business is nothing short of a rollercoaster, and trust us, we've had our fair share of stomach-dropping moments! From the anticipation of launching our Forest School Skills online course to navigating the choppy waters of economic uncertainty, we share our trials and triumphs. Yet, amidst the challenges, we've seen our programs soar to new heights, with over 5,600 children stepping through the doors of our Forest School sites this year alone to the simple joys of bringing on our first full-time team member. It's these victories, large and small, that chart the course for future growth and sustainability.
Fasten your seatbelts as we map out the adventures and aspirations that await us in the coming year. Our heart is set on deepening the roots of our existing projects and empowering educators through our forest school skills course. We're also gearing up for personal travel escapades, including a five-week caravan journey through Tasmania!
Sta
Ever wondered how to bring the magic of 'Nature Play' into your child's education? Or how to say goodbye to your worries about snakes and ticks? With Nature Play Now, crafting an epic outdoor program is easier than you think. You’ll boost your confidence, skill sets, and have parents eager to enrol. Join the adventure for just $57, exclusively for Raising Wildlings listeners. Visit our Raising Wildlings website for more details today!"
www.r Hey it’s Nicki here interrupting this episode to quickly say, if you’re like us and feeling torn between your career as an educator vs. your beliefs for child development, We’ve created a 5 step e-guide to unlock your purpose without compromising your values. This Treasure Map is completely free, takes ten minutes, and is available from our Raising Wildlings website. So dive in and s If you enjoyed this episode of Raising Wildlings. We invite you to check out Your Wild Business, our signature business course for education change-makers who are ready to create or refine their own nature play businesses. Your Wild Business is the only program that focuses on the business side of nature play, with sustainable practices, processes, and systems that will cut down your administration work, giving you more time to focus on building a business that is centered around your e Other ways we can help you:
1. Ready to create your own Nature Play business? Head to www.raisingwildlings.com.au/wildbusiness to access the roadmap to starting your business journey.
2. Keen to find your purpose in 10 minutes? Download our FREE treasure map to find your passion without compromising your educational values.
3. Want to know how to craft an epic outdoor program that has parents and directors lining up to enrol? You need Nature Play Now our $57 Workshop and Bundle series (people are sayi
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we're heading towards the end of 2023 and
we're going to take a month offof the podcast and spend the
festive season with our familiesand take a nice long break.
But come and join us as wereminisce over the past year and
talk about the highs, the lows,the adventures and what we've
learnt this year.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to Raising Wildlings, a podcast about
parenting, alternative education, stepping into the wilderness,
however that looks, with yourfamily.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Each week, we'll be interviewing experts that truly
inspire us to answer yourparenting and education
questions.
We'll also be sharing storiesfrom some incredible families
that took the leap and aretaking the road less travelled.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Wear your hosts, vicki and Nikki from Wildlings
Forest School.
Pop in your headphones, settlein and join us on this next
adventure.
Hello and welcome to theRaising Wildlings podcast.
Wear your hosts, vicki, oliverand Nikki Farrell.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Well, let's jump straight in.
I think let's start with thepodcast stats this year.
All right.
So from the very first episodethis year, 2023, to the time of
recording so we're mid-Novemberright now Raising Wildlings
podcast episodes, we haverecorded 160 episodes over the
past four years.
(01:13):
Vicki, have you guessed howmany times it's been downloaded
all time?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, I can't remember last year.
I know that we'd cracked over100,000.
And so I'm going to guess thatwe're 200,000 plus.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I think I would have guessed the same, because it's
our fourth year and it's we'veactually been downloaded over
420 times by you all.
Like that's not crazy 420,000.
Yeah, what did I say?
420.
Just 420.
Thanks for any guys.
(01:51):
Thank you all for being here420 would still be amazing.
It actually would, but that'smind blowing.
I can't believe that somethingthat we've created in our little
home office is like you're athome, you've got your kids at
home, I've got my kids at home,I'm in the office you're in your
(02:12):
living kind of area and it'sreached that many people it is
amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I think I'm really proud of the types of content
and ideas that we've put outinto the world and the people
that we in the conversationsthat we've had, because I know
that we get amazing emails andfeedback and reviews saying how
helpful that the podcast is forpeople in learning more about
forest school or whether it'sabout how we work with children,
(02:37):
whether that's parenting orjust understanding childhood
development.
Like I just can't believe howincredible it is to access the
information we have now and thatwe can then share that with the
world and we can just learn somuch more to work alongside
children and help them thrive.
So our top five episodes thatwe've had this year
unsurprisingly, coming in atnumber five was our Play, learn,
(03:00):
grow episode with Peter Gray.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
He's a favourite of our audience.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yes, absolutely so.
We actually had two episodesfrom Peter this year, but I
guess because it was towards theyou know we only just released
it a few months ago it's come inat number five, even though it
hasn't had a full year forpeople to reach their ears.
So, yeah, if you're interestedin hearing more from Peter, that
one's definitely one of myhighlights for this year in
(03:25):
recording as well.
And then coming in in numberfour was Mum's Guide to Raise.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Good, that was with Tracy Gillett, wasn't it?
She was amazing, and if youdon't follow her, follow Raised
Good, because she's just like abalm to every parents soul.
I think she might have been inmy first podcast for the year,
actually, and you know, whenyou're coming off the holiday
break you're like, oh, I'm notready to come back to work.
She was a really great not evena slap in the face, a gentle,
(03:54):
warm hug and so like, yes, thiswork is important and this is
good for people.
So thanks, tracy, for gettingme back on the workhorse this
year.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Coming in at number three was Slow and Settling Down
with Meg Berriman, and Iremember reading her book and
sharing my notes with you aboutwhat we both love about the book
, and then you were able to talkto her on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yeah, I really resonated.
I resonate with her work fullstop.
But it's what we're trying todo here, right, that
regenerative business, withouteven realizing it.
We're not never set out toactively fight the nine to five,
but we did create somethingthat suited our families and
therefore our nervous systems,and, incidentally, it's happened
(04:36):
to be very good for the planettoo.
So if you've not read her book,please look up Meg Berriman and
regenerative business fabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Coming in at number two, unsurprisingly Low Demand
Parenting that sounds veryappealing with Amanda Dykman.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Another warm hug.
I think I cried a couple oftimes.
I've been a real crier on thepodcast this year, but again, I
think a lot of us have childrenthat are highly sensitive and
this was a real validation forwhat parents are going through
as we parent alongside highlysensitive children.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Amazing.
And then our top episode forthis year has been Free Range
Kids with Lynna Oskinezi Anothergreat one.
I just love the whole her storyabout setting her young son off
into the New York Wild let'sjust take the train on his own
(05:37):
and how that gave rise to thewhole Free Range Kids movement
and all of the amazing work thatshe does over in the United
States.
But obviously that's had aripple effect all around the
world and that was such a coolstory.
And, yeah, definitely tune intothat episode if you're
interested in listening to howmuch mass hysteria was caused.
(06:01):
But then how much good has comefrom the work that she's done
and from that one act ofindependence that she was trying
to gift her son.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, she was labelled the country's worst mum
during that time.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And now I would say, it's absolutely backflip.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So some other really interesting stats for you.
Over 70% of you listen to us onApple Podcasts and 85% of you
listen on your Apple phone.
50% of you are Aussie, aussie,aussie, aussie is 30% from the
US and 7% from the UK, but we'vegot listeners from all over the
world Malaysia, japan, puertoRico, jamaica, ghana, to name a
(06:41):
few and when I look at that listagain, I just go what.
It really takes a bit to wrapmy head around.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh, it does, and there's been multiple times
through the year where we've metsomeone or even just not
someone I know, and they'd belike listening to the podcast.
Thank you, oh my goodness, itis mind blowing that I'm sitting
here just talking to you andthat this conversation will go
out to people we know andcomplete strangers Gana, jamaica
(07:12):
, yeah, around the world.
And yeah, it really isheartwarming to know that it's
hopefully making a difference inthe way that we view childhood.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Yeah, absolutely Okay , change of pace.
We always want to be reallyhonest and transparent on our
podcast, so we're going to talkto you about the lows.
So this year's been a bitharder for us for a couple of
reasons and we'll dive into afew of them now.
So some of you will know this,but for over a year behind the
(07:45):
scenes, we've been working onbuilding an approved early
learning center like Wildlingstyle in Brisbane alongside a
property developer.
Unfortunately, despite alleverybody's best efforts, the
land just didn't make it throughthe development application or
rezoning, because the localcouncil couldn't agree where the
building should be placed,because we were kind of set
(08:06):
amongst a flood zone, a gully, akoala habitat, which is
fabulous for the kind of.
It's a amazing block of land.
It's a beautiful block of landand ideal for the kind of early
years setting we wanted.
But that venture is on anindefinite pause right now while
we gather our energy and regaincash flow.
So there is a lot more to tellabout this story, but there's a
(08:28):
couple of big things that needto land before we can share it.
Now.
We're not trying to bemysterious here.
We absolutely will be fullytransparent when we're allowed
to be.
We will share all the thingsthat we've learned on the
journey when we can.
We just can't yet.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
And also because we're a small business.
As many of you know, interestrates continue to rise.
I'm pretty sure that RBA justput up its rates up again this
week.
The media has been talkingabout everyone cutting the fat
in their personal budget, so we,I guess, were really worried
that we might see a hugedownturn in our program numbers.
(09:06):
Our programs, though, that youknow, don't receive any funding.
We don't get any governmentassistance.
Parents can't use childcarerebates or any other government
assistance to access holidayprograms, afterschool programs,
anything like that.
So, essentially, we are morelike a luxury item in an
economic downturn.
So thankfully, this hasn'tproven to be true, because we've
(09:30):
made some big budget decisionsand have cut back on a fair bit
of spending to try and pad ourbusiness in case this does
happen.
But I think post COVID, peopleunderstand how important time
outdoors with community is fortheir physical and also their
mental health, and that we needto prioritise this or it does
get missed.
So it has been fantastic yearfor that.
(09:51):
Fingers crossed this good runcontinues because small business
is such a roller coaster.
And obviously our business ismultifaceted, so the program
side of things has always andcontinues to be amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Yeah, which has been a relief because you know the
media has really hyped up theeconomic downturn and I'm so
glad we have played it safe.
But you amazing families haveproven us wrong and it's just
validated that people need toget outdoors.
Families need it Absolutely.
And another thing that was abit of a low for us was that we
(10:24):
we've spent the past year orlonger now, probably launching a
new online course called ForestSchool Skills, and we were
honestly surprised at the timethat it wasn't as successful as
wild business has been Now.
There's a lot of factors inthat, but for us, the skills
course is what we do every day.
It's our bread and butter.
We live it, we breathe it, weknow inside and out.
(10:46):
We are incredibly passionateabout getting these skills out,
particularly to early yearseducators and schools, but it
just didn't land in the hands ofthose that we'd hoped that it
would, so it was a bitdisheartening.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The reason, one of one of the things we noticed is
that we just spent so much timecreating the course which I'm so
, I'm so proud of Like oh my God, me too.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
It's still the best thing I think I've ever done.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yes, me too.
But every single time I go intothe back end to upload
something, fix something, orcheck if something is there, or
whatever it is I'm doing in theback end, I'm blown away at the
depth of the content that we'vecreated, but not only the depth,
the fact that it's helpful andwe've tried to write it in a way
(11:33):
that we believe is the mosthelpful.
So much detail, not just inways that you think you need it,
in ways that help you as afacilitator, facilitating.
So you know I'm not going intotoo much detail about the course
.
It's one thing to learn how toweather, it's another to
supervise children doing theseactivities and I think we've
(11:56):
done a really fantastic job inreally nutting that out.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
I think what people won't realise till they're in
the course is there's so much inthere that they don't even know
that they need to know untilthey're in the course.
And that's what I'm proud of.
I'm so proud of pre-emptingwhat people will eventually need
three, five years down thetrack.
It's already in there, exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And we spent so.
Essentially, what I'm trying tosay is we spent so much time
creating the course that wedidn't spend enough time telling
the world about the course,what was it in it and, more
importantly, how that's going totransform people.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I don't know that we spent any time.
You know we were, which is sogood.
I'm so, again, so proud of whatwe've done and now, now, we're
here to tell the world about it,and I can't wait for it to land
where it's meant to land.
With who?
The people that are ready forit.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, that's right and it just is another facet of
understanding that it's onething to have a skill set and in
the thing that you arepassionate about, and another to
be able to market that and getthat messaging and to get that
right for your customers.
And we don't think that it wasquite right at that point
(13:02):
because we didn't spend enoughtime going through all the
things we need to.
We know that we need to gothrough it.
We missed our main audiencebecause you know we have lots of
different audiences.
I think.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
And people might not realize that showing up in the
early years.
But I think if we take thelesson from this and I think
this is why Wildlings has seenthe success that it has and is
is that we just apply theselearnings.
You know, we just say the samething.
We say to children that come toForest School that we're just
scientists and we've learned alot.
(13:34):
It's not a mistake and we justreally look forward to seeing
this course make the change thatwe know that it will, now that
we know what we need to tweakand change.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
So we'll keep you posted on that one, yeah, and so
we just wanted to maybe talk alittle bit about how this
impacts us as a business.
Because of those two things theinvestment in the approved
Kendi and our Forest Schoolskills course not quite landing
where it needed to and as aresult, we haven't probably put
(14:05):
a lot of effort into WildBusiness this year and the
predicted downturn in theeconomy the actual physical
result for us is that cashflowhas become a lot tighter.
So programs are still doingreally well, we're running lots
of incursions and excursions forschools and Kendi's, but when
you base your investmentpredictions on something that
(14:27):
didn't land, that's when yourcashflow can become quite tight.
And for those of you that run abusiness, you will know that
what's posted on your profit andloss sheet is very different to
managing cashflow day to day.
And that's not to say thatwe're worried about our business
continuing to succeed.
It's just that when thathappens, you just have to make
(14:48):
different decisions at momentsin time.
And a good, I wouldn't say slapin the face, but slap in the
face just to be reminded of theimportance of cashflow and that
that is probably one of the mostimportant things to manage when
you're running a business.
(15:08):
When it rains, it pours and youmight have lots of cash to
invest in exciting new programs.
We're pretty ambitious.
There's usually lots ofprograms for us in the wings.
You have no idea how manypeople have like have you
thought about blah, blah, blah?
And we're like well, yes, wehave thought about it, it's on
the list.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Actually, we're doing that.
Yeah, we're doing it.
It's in the back end.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, we're doing that.
It's just not out in the worldyet and sometimes you just have
to rain those things in.
Things take the time that theytake because there are so many
moving parts in the back end andit is difficult to not get into
that scarcity mindset.
So we're being quite careful.
In fact, it's hilarious that wewere having this conversation
(15:47):
today about just flipping ourmindset about scarcity and how
we had been talking a little bitlike that in the last couple of
weeks and then a lot of my holdwe started talking about things
differently and then straightin the inbox was a reminder to
send an invoice to someone.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
A large invoice.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
And that was great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Like you know very good.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
So that was you know, it is important to have a
positive mindset and to not letyourself get pulled into
scarcity and that's not to saythat we're not careful, but just
being really mindful of that.
Our words have power onourselves as well, and some of
(16:30):
those projects will be on theback burner, but that doesn't
mean they won't emerge at somepoint.
So this is a reminder to anyonegoing through longevity
planning patch that everythingtakes time.
In business, like life is anabsolute roller coaster, and
those that succeed really stickit out.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, well said.
Well, that felt like a bit of atherapy session.
So thanks to all of you forbeing our counsellors and our
listening ears today.
But we, you know, we did wantto be really vulnerable and
transparent with our entirebusiness journey because,
especially because we do run theworld business course and we
don't want it to all just looklike beer and skittles, right,
(17:06):
because it's not, it's thingspop up that you have no control
of.
But it really is.
It really always does come downto growth, mindset and planning
.
So luckily we're glass halfkinda whoop, luckily we're glass
half full, kinda girls.
And while this year has felt abit harder than most at times,
when we look back at all of ouraccomplishments and all the good
(17:28):
times we've had, the goodabsolutely outweighs the bad.
So let's get to the fun stuff.
Let's talk about the highs ofthe year.
So first of all, we've had areally great year for awards and
it's funny, we nearly didn'tenter awards this year.
We were like, well, we kind ofwe would like a break from it,
just because we had other thingswe wanted to focus on.
(17:48):
But this year we have made itto the Sunshine Coast Business
Awards Hall of Fame, and whatthat means is that, essentially,
we've won it three times in arow, so we get to be included in
the Hall of Fame and we're notallowed to enter it anymore for
at least three years, so thatsomeone else gets to go.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think it's worth mentioning to people that
entering awards actually takes awork.
Well, the types of businessawards that we have been
involved in is not just someonenominates you and then they
decide, based on I don't know aquick website search, that
you're the winner.
There is quite an intensiveprocess that we go through.
So when Nikki says, you know weconsidered not entering as many
(18:29):
awards this year, it is becauseit is a time investment.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
A big time investment and if it's not Vicki and I,
then it's someone on our teamthat we're also paying, which
it's always worked out.
It's always worth it, even ifyou don't win, even if you don't
end up even being selected asfinalists.
It's really worth it for yourbusiness because it makes you
relook at your business plan.
It makes you look at yourfinances.
(18:53):
It does get a lot of your ducksin a row, because quite often
we're too busy working in thebusiness to work on it.
So we'd highly recommend, ifyou are a small business,
entering them.
It's great networking as well.
But yeah, the only reason wewere looking at taking a break
was that we were thinlystretched at the time we were
having to put applications inbut we're really glad we did
because we entered the TelstraBusiness Awards.
(19:15):
Thank you, Lindsay, because shedid the initial application for
us this year and we ended upbeing a Queensland finalist in
the building communitiescategory.
If you haven't heard,especially if you're overseas,
the Telstra Business Awards are,I'm going to say, the biggest.
I think they're the biggestbusiness awards in Australia and
they're not small businessawards either.
So we really had to step up ourgame.
(19:36):
This was hours and hours andhours and hours of work.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Oh, it was so funny Because if you say yeah, I think
you would say, oh, we've gotall this information, which we
did, and they'd be like pleasededicate seven hours to this
part of the application and I'llbe like that'll be fine, we'll
get that done in an hour, andthree days later we'd be like I
think we're done.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And it's incredible what you have and then how you
need to display it to stand outas well.
I think, and that's it.
You know we're probablyoverachievers, but that's how we
got there.
I guess as well is that we wereable to do a really good job of
storytelling the impact thatour business has on the families
and children that attend.
So I'm really, really, reallyproud of our team, because we
(20:27):
couldn't have got there to wherewe are today without them to
get to that, and it's reallyamazing industry recognition.
So Thanks to our team.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah, and some of that information was very
helpful for us to talk about ouraccomplishments now, like the
fact that we now have our veryfirst full-time employee.
If that sounds surprising toyou, it's because we actually
have staff cohort of over 30casuals and a small handful of
(21:00):
part-time work, play workers andadmin staff that have all
specifically chosen a part-timework-life balance.
So us stepping into our firstfull-time employee was really
big for us.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah, we were almost like do we want to have, do we
believe in, a five-day a weekwork week?
There's a lot of big juicydiscussions and it ended up
obviously being well, it's up toour employees what they want
their work-life balance to looklike.
That's it, but it's superexciting.
We're super excited for thatteam member to be a permanent
(21:34):
part of our team, full-time.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Absolutely, and we've started some new locations and
programs in both Brisbane andthe Sunshine Coast, which has
been, you know, like that.
That's a really big thing forour staff to have to go through
to get those up and running.
So we're very, very proud ofthose and looking forward to
bringing new programs for you in2024.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, so we have already briefly mentioned, but
we launched our Forest SchoolSkills course and I actually
think that might be one of myall-time proudest achievements
out of everything we've donewhich might sound ludicrous when
we're talking on a podcast andwe've got 30 employees and we've
(22:14):
got multiple locations, but itfeels like legacy work without
standing too wanky.
It feels like the sum ofeverything we have known and
everything we have done, notjust over our last six years in
business but for you and I, ourcareers before that,
encapsulated into one course.
I'm really really effing proudof it.
(22:37):
Another really amazingstatistic is that we have had
5,600 children visit our ForestSchool sites this year alone,
and it's only mid-November, sothat doesn't even include our
holiday programs that are aboutto launch, but is a stat, and
also that stat doesn't count anyexcursions, incursions,
festivals, events or anyprofessional development, so
(22:59):
actually it would be a couple ofthousand children higher than
this.
We think that stat right.
There is exactly why we do whatwe do, Like our aim is to get
more children outdoors.
We got what?
Five and a half to probably8,000 children outdoors in
Southeast Queensland alone.
I'm so proud of us.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And due to our high demand, we've doubled our
Brisbane holiday offering aswell, which has been really
exciting.
And moving on from that, weattended our first conferences
exhibitors at the ECA Conferencein Adelaide, which was so good
to connect with everyone and toreally show up in the earlier
(23:43):
sector again.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
We started internally as far as our team goes.
We started a neurodiversitystaff training journey with the
experience collectors and we'recontinuing, as always, our staff
cultural awareness training andwe're working with Tribal Link
on that and that's.
We've had some really greatfeedback from our team about
that training as well, and we'vealso sent one of our team
(24:05):
members to do a storytelling atPD with our friends at Birdwings
Forest School.
So if you're into storytelling,go and check them out.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Absolutely.
Some other things that likemight sound funny to you but
were really important for us isthat we finally got a consistent
weekly newsletter happening.
So this might be a cue to jumpon our mailing list if you want
to right now, and that, inparticular, was because Amanda,
our Brisbane manager and alsoone of our business partners she
(24:34):
was so dedicated to getting thenewsletter started, and to both
Kerry and our forest fairyEllen for taking that on and
just making it such an amazingresource for people.
That is something of value thatwe can give to people who want
to engage with us in some way.
(24:56):
If you want to attend ourprograms, that's fantastic, but
being on our mailing list isalso another way for you to work
alongside us.
So it's such a huge thing forus to have that up and up and
running.
We've been talking about it foryears.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
We've wanted it to be consistent for years.
Yeah, it's so hard to do allthe things.
Yeah, it's part of oureducational.
One of our educational aims isto be able to and accessibility
aims is to be able to educate ina way that's free and people
can access it free.
So the fact that Ellen writesthese weekly blogs about snake
safety or climbing trees safely,or it's getting more children
(25:36):
outdoors, even if they're not onour program.
So again, it might sound silly,it might seem like just a
newsletter, but for us it's abigger aim of getting more
children outdoors again.
And moving forward, on thefirst week of December we're
going to have our big interviewgathering with all of our team
members and their families andwe're super excited because last
year we decided to do this andthen this year, when we asked
(25:58):
them what they wanted to do,they said absolutely, let's do
that again.
So we're going to do another bigcamp out and I just know I'm
going to get teary again when wedo our speech and get to look
around at just their incredibleteam that we work alongside,
because they just live andbreathe our mission as much,
even not more, than we do.
Yeah, so there'll be, I think,around 50.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
And we don't get to spend a lot of time with them
face to face either.
Right Like we remote.
You know as much as we try andwe have great intentions of
meeting people and it is justincredibly difficult to fit in
what we need to do on minimumdays a week and also have
because we juggle that onhomeschooling.
(26:40):
So this is such a brilliantopportunity to spend some
immersive time not just maybeobserving them while they're
working, which is completelydifferent to getting to know
them on a more personal level.
So I just remember having thebest time last time and, yeah,
so excited to spend time withpeople I already know and love,
(27:00):
but also hearing more about thepeople who hold the weight of
our business on their shouldersfor us, which is I'm so grateful
for.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
It's such a great way to end the year too.
It's a real real send off and areal thank you, and so nice to
do it in nature with ourfamilies as well.
I don't remember any workplaceI ever had that was.
It was a family friendlyinterview thing, so it's really
nice to be able to offer that aswell.
All right, let's end on areally high note and, you know,
(27:34):
set our intentions for 2024.
What's lighting your fire?
What are your intentions for2024?
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Vicky, personal and business, well yeah, it's so
funny because I was like I'mreally looking forward to next
year because it's a huge travelfocus for me, because this year
I haven't traveled that much.
But that's not entirely true.
I have had some real good tripsas well.
They just haven't been long,massive trips.
So for next year, my family andI are taking off for six weeks
(28:05):
down to Tasmania taking acaravan and traveling around,
which I'm so excited about.
We actually started this trip wewent in 2020 just for COVID hit
and we had to race back and cutout our trip short for a family
emergency.
So we're really looking forwardto going back and revisiting
some of the places that we lovedand then going to see the rest
(28:25):
of it that we missed.
And then we're also doinganother massive trip to
Northwest Island.
So you may have heard our recapon that amazing group trip that
we did last year, that Nikkiand I did with a number of other
of our homeschooling families.
And then we may be going toFiji and I'm just hoping to do
(28:49):
some more local caravaningholidays, because it's so fun
and we have so many beautifulspaces to go and explore.
So I'm hoping to have a littlebit more space to do that next
year.
How about you?
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Well, hilariously very similar to you, vicky, but
we're tag teaming.
So Vicky's going to Tessiefirst, and then there'll be a
crossover of I think five or sixdays I can't remember and then
my family will be going.
So that'll be.
I can't wait.
I've never been to Tasmania, soI'm super excited to do that,
and then also maybe Fiji, butthat's still on the cards yet.
(29:28):
I'm really looking forward to acouple of four or five day long
camping trips locally as well,because I haven't I mean again,
I was about to say I haven'tdone many trips this camping
trip this year, but I did a fiveweek road trip at the start of
the year, and then I've donelots of.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So we went to Hinch and Broke and we did all these
amazing things.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yes, but it is I think it's it's marie how those
mini trips close by feel reallynourishing because they're easy
and they're not far and itdoesn't entail a lot of thought
to go and do them.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
So I'm looking forward and we were doing them
regularly, like two years ago wereally were doing them
regularly and on all of a suddenit I think it's just, you know,
shifts in the in it how ourweeks look, and so we used to
not have as many home schoolingactivities when the kids are
younger and now they're a littlebit more interested in what
they're doing.
So it makes it a little bitdifficult to to duck away
children.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
I don't want to stay with their friends at these
homeschool co-ops too, so it'sharder to just be like, hey,
we're going for an extra longweekend because they'll now let
us Very clearly know that theywant to not go on a Thursday or
a Monday or which is why I'malso doing those trips together
helps to fill everyone's cupstoo.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
So If we can get organized more with the families
that we hang out with, thatwill definitely make things a
lot easier.
Yeah what about your work goals, nick?
What?
What are you excited to achieve?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
next, we sat down and we haven't actually done our
huge usually actually this timeof year we have done our 2024
planning and we haven't yet.
So maybe that's why I'm feelinga little bit discombobulated,
but I think we've kind of talkedaround it enough that we were
like we really well, I reallywant to focus and I know that's
don't want to speak for you, butwe really want to focus on what
we already do and do.
(31:14):
Well, you know, for we it's anew business that we started six
years ago and we've just beenon growth and growth and new
project and new project and bigideas and big ideas, and I think
we've reached the timeenergetically.
And you know our business issteady and people know who we
are, that we can just Put ourroots down and be like this is
(31:35):
what we do, this is what we'regood at, and I can't wait to
just focus on telling the worldmore about what we do, rather
than like we have been increation mode for six years, but
we have yeah.
I did and created courses,podcast content, social media,
like we have been on In creationfor six years.
So I can't actually wait tojust move our focus to just
(31:57):
letting people know about it.
What about you?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, that is a hundred percent my goal as well.
I have always had a creativeidea.
You know you're sitting in thebackground that we've moved
Forward with, and this is thefirst time where I'm like I'm
actually just want people toknow about what we've already
created, Don't want to createsomething new.
And then you know that thatcycle for me is is ready to
(32:22):
Switch gears for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
And I really want to work closely with early years
and any other educators who arelooking at setting up a bush
kindy or any other outdoorprogram.
But I guess my goal is to workclosely with them to ensure that
it's a sustainable programthat's set up for the long haul,
not just a point in timeinterest.
(32:44):
That, yeah, it's got to becompletely embedded, and so
that's what I'm actually reallylooking forward to doing in 2024
, because I think we've goteverything that we need created
in order to do that.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
That's the forest school skills course, isn't it?
Like that's what we're bothsuper excited to see, because, I
mean, we started doing this inits earliest form as the intro
to bush kindy in 2018, so thisis like the end result of all
the work in all the years.
I just can't wait for it to bein everybody's hot little hands
and for the children to reallybenefit from it.
(33:19):
I'm so excited by it.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
I really am as well, and every time I think of
anything else I'm like nope.
Every time, the only thing thatmakes me just feel like it's a
FS is diving further intogetting this out into the world.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Just on that I also want to mention, I think one of
the reasons that we're feelingthat way is when you look back
on our yearly business planner,our dream or our vision board
for our business.
Every year we've actuallyachieved all of the things that
we really wanted to, and thereare a couple of ideas that were
like maybe one day that over theyears, we've been like you know
(33:56):
what?
that's not a FS, so let's getrid of it.
But everything we've set out todo for this business we've
created now.
So that's amazing, but reallythat should be our 2024
achievement, 2023 achievement.
Sorry, we've done all thosethings that we envisioned from
the start.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Absolutely, and I think the thing that really
lights me up is just workingmore with people to do that to
do what we achieved, so that isvery exciting for 2024.
We'd love to hear about whatyour goals are or what you're
looking forward to for thecoming year.
You can share it with us on oursocials.
(34:39):
We absolutely love to.
I just get.
I get joy, so much joy, out ofseeing people just living a very
intentional, joyful life, soyou could absolutely make my day
by sharing that with us.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
May your 2023 festive season be restful and peaceful,
filled with love and so manyadventures in nature, and, until
next year, stay warm.
Well, we're heading towards the end of 2023 and
we're going to take a month offof the podcast and spend the
festive season with our familiesand take a nice long break.
But come and join us as wereminisce over the past year and
talk about the highs, the lows,the adventures and what we've
learnt this year.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Welcome to Raising Wildlings, a podcast about
parenting, alternative education, stepping into the wilderness,
however that looks, with yourfamily.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Each week, we'll be interviewing experts that truly
inspire us to answer yourparenting and education
questions.
We'll also be sharing storiesfrom some incredible families
that took the leap and aretaking the road less travelled.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Wear your hosts, vicki and Nikki from Wildlings
Forest School.
Pop in your headphones, settlein and join us on this next
adventure.
Hello and welcome to theRaising Wildlings podcast.
Wear your hosts, vicki, oliverand Nikki Farrell.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Well, let's jump straight in.
I think let's start with thepodcast stats this year.
All right.
So from the very first episodethis year, 2023, to the time of
recording so we're mid-Novemberright now Raising Wildlings
podcast episodes, we haverecorded 160 episodes over the
past four years.
(01:13):
Vicki, have you guessed howmany times it's been downloaded
all time?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Well, I can't remember last year.
I know that we'd cracked over100,000.
And so I'm going to guess thatwe're 200,000 plus.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
I think I would have guessed the same, because it's
our fourth year and it's we'veactually been downloaded over
420 times by you all.
Like that's not crazy 420,000.
Yeah, what did I say?
420.
Just 420.
Thanks for any guys.
(01:51):
Thank you all for being here420 would still be amazing.
It actually would, but that'smind blowing.
I can't believe that somethingthat we've created in our little
home office is like you're athome, you've got your kids at
home, I've got my kids at home,I'm in the office you're in your
(02:12):
living kind of area and it'sreached that many people it is
amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
I think I'm really proud of the types of content
and ideas that we've put outinto the world and the people
that we in the conversationsthat we've had, because I know
that we get amazing emails andfeedback and reviews saying how
helpful that the podcast is forpeople in learning more about
forest school or whether it'sabout how we work with children,
(02:37):
whether that's parenting orjust understanding childhood
development.
Like I just can't believe howincredible it is to access the
information we have now and thatwe can then share that with the
world and we can just learn somuch more to work alongside
children and help them thrive.
So our top five episodes thatwe've had this year
unsurprisingly, coming in atnumber five was our Play, learn,
(03:00):
grow episode with Peter Gray.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
He's a favourite of our audience.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yes, absolutely so.
We actually had two episodesfrom Peter this year, but I
guess because it was towards theyou know we only just released
it a few months ago it's come inat number five, even though it
hasn't had a full year forpeople to reach their ears.
So, yeah, if you're interestedin hearing more from Peter, that
one's definitely one of myhighlights for this year in
(03:25):
recording as well.
And then coming in in numberfour was Mum's Guide to Raise.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
Good, that was with Tracy Gillett, wasn't it?
She was amazing, and if youdon't follow her, follow Raised
Good, because she's just like abalm to every parents soul.
I think she might have been inmy first podcast for the year,
actually, and you know, whenyou're coming off the holiday
break you're like, oh, I'm notready to come back to work.
She was a really great not evena slap in the face, a gentle,
(03:54):
warm hug and so like, yes, thiswork is important and this is
good for people.
So thanks, tracy, for gettingme back on the workhorse this
year.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Coming in at number three was Slow and Settling Down
with Meg Berriman, and Iremember reading her book and
sharing my notes with you aboutwhat we both love about the book
, and then you were able to talkto her on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Yeah, I really resonated.
I resonate with her work fullstop.
But it's what we're trying todo here, right, that
regenerative business, withouteven realizing it.
We're not never set out toactively fight the nine to five,
but we did create somethingthat suited our families and
therefore our nervous systems,and, incidentally, it's happened
(04:36):
to be very good for the planettoo.
So if you've not read her book,please look up Meg Berriman and
regenerative business fabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Coming in at number two, unsurprisingly Low Demand
Parenting that sounds veryappealing with Amanda Dykman.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Another warm hug.
I think I cried a couple oftimes.
I've been a real crier on thepodcast this year, but again, I
think a lot of us have childrenthat are highly sensitive and
this was a real validation forwhat parents are going through
as we parent alongside highlysensitive children.
Speaker 2 (05:15):
Amazing.
And then our top episode forthis year has been Free Range
Kids with Lynna Oskinezi Anothergreat one.
I just love the whole her storyabout setting her young son off
into the New York Wild let'sjust take the train on his own
(05:37):
and how that gave rise to thewhole Free Range Kids movement
and all of the amazing work thatshe does over in the United
States.
But obviously that's had aripple effect all around the
world and that was such a coolstory.
And, yeah, definitely tune intothat episode if you're
interested in listening to howmuch mass hysteria was caused.
(06:01):
But then how much good has comefrom the work that she's done
and from that one act ofindependence that she was trying
to gift her son.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, she was labelled the country's worst mum
during that time.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
And now I would say, it's absolutely backflip.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
So some other really interesting stats for you.
Over 70% of you listen to us onApple Podcasts and 85% of you
listen on your Apple phone.
50% of you are Aussie, aussie,aussie, aussie is 30% from the
US and 7% from the UK, but we'vegot listeners from all over the
world Malaysia, japan, puertoRico, jamaica, ghana, to name a
(06:41):
few and when I look at that listagain, I just go what.
It really takes a bit to wrapmy head around.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Oh, it does, and there's been multiple times
through the year where we've metsomeone or even just not
someone I know, and they'd belike listening to the podcast.
Thank you, oh my goodness, itis mind blowing that I'm sitting
here just talking to you andthat this conversation will go
out to people we know andcomplete strangers Gana, jamaica
(07:12):
, yeah, around the world.
And yeah, it really isheartwarming to know that it's
hopefully making a difference inthe way that we view childhood.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Yeah, absolutely Okay , change of pace.
We always want to be reallyhonest and transparent on our
podcast, so we're going to talkto you about the lows.
So this year's been a bitharder for us for a couple of
reasons and we'll dive into afew of them now.
So some of you will know this,but for over a year behind the
(07:45):
scenes, we've been working onbuilding an approved early
learning center like Wildlingstyle in Brisbane alongside a
property developer.
Unfortunately, despite alleverybody's best efforts, the
land just didn't make it throughthe development application or
rezoning, because the localcouncil couldn't agree where the
building should be placed,because we were kind of set
(08:06):
amongst a flood zone, a gully, akoala habitat, which is
fabulous for the kind of.
It's a amazing block of land.
It's a beautiful block of landand ideal for the kind of early
years setting we wanted.
But that venture is on anindefinite pause right now while
we gather our energy and regaincash flow.
So there is a lot more to tellabout this story, but there's a
(08:28):
couple of big things that needto land before we can share it.
Now.
We're not trying to bemysterious here.
We absolutely will be fullytransparent when we're allowed
to be.
We will share all the thingsthat we've learned on the
journey when we can.
We just can't yet.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
And also because we're a small business.
As many of you know, interestrates continue to rise.
I'm pretty sure that RBA justput up its rates up again this
week.
The media has been talkingabout everyone cutting the fat
in their personal budget, so we,I guess, were really worried
that we might see a hugedownturn in our program numbers.
(09:06):
Our programs, though, that youknow, don't receive any funding.
We don't get any governmentassistance.
Parents can't use childcarerebates or any other government
assistance to access holidayprograms, afterschool programs,
anything like that.
So, essentially, we are morelike a luxury item in an
economic downturn.
So thankfully, this hasn'tproven to be true, because we've
(09:30):
made some big budget decisionsand have cut back on a fair bit
of spending to try and pad ourbusiness in case this does
happen.
But I think post COVID, peopleunderstand how important time
outdoors with community is fortheir physical and also their
mental health, and that we needto prioritise this or it does
get missed.
So it has been fantastic yearfor that.
(09:51):
Fingers crossed this good runcontinues because small business
is such a roller coaster.
And obviously our business ismultifaceted, so the program
side of things has always andcontinues to be amazing.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
Yeah, which has been a relief because you know the
media has really hyped up theeconomic downturn and I'm so
glad we have played it safe.
But you amazing families haveproven us wrong and it's just
validated that people need toget outdoors.
Families need it Absolutely.
And another thing that was abit of a low for us was that we
(10:24):
we've spent the past year orlonger now, probably launching a
new online course called ForestSchool Skills, and we were
honestly surprised at the timethat it wasn't as successful as
wild business has been Now.
There's a lot of factors inthat, but for us, the skills
course is what we do every day.
It's our bread and butter.
We live it, we breathe it, weknow inside and out.
(10:46):
We are incredibly passionateabout getting these skills out,
particularly to early yearseducators and schools, but it
just didn't land in the hands ofthose that we'd hoped that it
would, so it was a bitdisheartening.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
The reason, one of one of the things we noticed is
that we just spent so much timecreating the course which I'm so
, I'm so proud of Like oh my God, me too.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
It's still the best thing I think I've ever done.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yes, me too.
But every single time I go intothe back end to upload
something, fix something, orcheck if something is there, or
whatever it is I'm doing in theback end, I'm blown away at the
depth of the content that we'vecreated, but not only the depth,
the fact that it's helpful andwe've tried to write it in a way
(11:33):
that we believe is the mosthelpful.
So much detail, not just inways that you think you need it,
in ways that help you as afacilitator, facilitating.
So you know I'm not going intotoo much detail about the course
.
It's one thing to learn how toweather, it's another to
supervise children doing theseactivities and I think we've
(11:56):
done a really fantastic job inreally nutting that out.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
I think what people won't realise till they're in
the course is there's so much inthere that they don't even know
that they need to know untilthey're in the course.
And that's what I'm proud of.
I'm so proud of pre-emptingwhat people will eventually need
three, five years down thetrack.
It's already in there, exactly.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
And we spent so.
Essentially, what I'm trying tosay is we spent so much time
creating the course that wedidn't spend enough time telling
the world about the course,what was it in it and, more
importantly, how that's going totransform people.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I don't know that we spent any time.
You know we were, which is sogood.
I'm so, again, so proud of whatwe've done and now, now, we're
here to tell the world about it,and I can't wait for it to land
where it's meant to land.
With who?
The people that are ready forit.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
Yeah, that's right and it just is another facet of
understanding that it's onething to have a skill set and in
the thing that you arepassionate about, and another to
be able to market that and getthat messaging and to get that
right for your customers.
And we don't think that it wasquite right at that point
(13:02):
because we didn't spend enoughtime going through all the
things we need to.
We know that we need to gothrough it.
We missed our main audiencebecause you know we have lots of
different audiences.
I think.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
And people might not realize that showing up in the
early years.
But I think if we take thelesson from this and I think
this is why Wildlings has seenthe success that it has and is
is that we just apply theselearnings.
You know, we just say the samething.
We say to children that come toForest School that we're just
scientists and we've learned alot.
(13:34):
It's not a mistake and we justreally look forward to seeing
this course make the change thatwe know that it will, now that
we know what we need to tweakand change.
Speaker 2 (13:44):
So we'll keep you posted on that one, yeah, and so
we just wanted to maybe talk alittle bit about how this
impacts us as a business.
Because of those two things theinvestment in the approved
Kendi and our Forest Schoolskills course not quite landing
where it needed to and as aresult, we haven't probably put
(14:05):
a lot of effort into WildBusiness this year and the
predicted downturn in theeconomy the actual physical
result for us is that cashflowhas become a lot tighter.
So programs are still doingreally well, we're running lots
of incursions and excursions forschools and Kendi's, but when
you base your investmentpredictions on something that
(14:27):
didn't land, that's when yourcashflow can become quite tight.
And for those of you that run abusiness, you will know that
what's posted on your profit andloss sheet is very different to
managing cashflow day to day.
And that's not to say thatwe're worried about our business
continuing to succeed.
It's just that when thathappens, you just have to make
(14:48):
different decisions at momentsin time.
And a good, I wouldn't say slapin the face, but slap in the
face just to be reminded of theimportance of cashflow and that
that is probably one of the mostimportant things to manage when
you're running a business.
(15:08):
When it rains, it pours and youmight have lots of cash to
invest in exciting new programs.
We're pretty ambitious.
There's usually lots ofprograms for us in the wings.
You have no idea how manypeople have like have you
thought about blah, blah, blah?
And we're like well, yes, wehave thought about it, it's on
the list.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
Actually, we're doing that.
Yeah, we're doing it.
It's in the back end.
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Yeah, we're doing that.
It's just not out in the worldyet and sometimes you just have
to rain those things in.
Things take the time that theytake because there are so many
moving parts in the back end andit is difficult to not get into
that scarcity mindset.
So we're being quite careful.
In fact, it's hilarious that wewere having this conversation
(15:47):
today about just flipping ourmindset about scarcity and how
we had been talking a little bitlike that in the last couple of
weeks and then a lot of my holdwe started talking about things
differently and then straightin the inbox was a reminder to
send an invoice to someone.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
A large invoice.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
And that was great.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
Like you know very good.
Speaker 2 (16:09):
So that was you know, it is important to have a
positive mindset and to not letyourself get pulled into
scarcity and that's not to saythat we're not careful, but just
being really mindful of that.
Our words have power onourselves as well, and some of
(16:30):
those projects will be on theback burner, but that doesn't
mean they won't emerge at somepoint.
So this is a reminder to anyonegoing through longevity
planning patch that everythingtakes time.
In business, like life is anabsolute roller coaster, and
those that succeed really stickit out.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Yeah, well said.
Well, that felt like a bit of atherapy session.
So thanks to all of you forbeing our counsellors and our
listening ears today.
But we, you know, we did wantto be really vulnerable and
transparent with our entirebusiness journey because,
especially because we do run theworld business course and we
don't want it to all just looklike beer and skittles, right,
(17:06):
because it's not, it's thingspop up that you have no control
of.
But it really is.
It really always does come downto growth, mindset and planning
.
So luckily we're glass halfkinda whoop, luckily we're glass
half full, kinda girls.
And while this year has felt abit harder than most at times,
when we look back at all of ouraccomplishments and all the good
(17:28):
times we've had, the goodabsolutely outweighs the bad.
So let's get to the fun stuff.
Let's talk about the highs ofthe year.
So first of all, we've had areally great year for awards and
it's funny, we nearly didn'tenter awards this year.
We were like, well, we kind ofwe would like a break from it,
just because we had other thingswe wanted to focus on.
(17:48):
But this year we have made itto the Sunshine Coast Business
Awards Hall of Fame, and whatthat means is that, essentially,
we've won it three times in arow, so we get to be included in
the Hall of Fame and we're notallowed to enter it anymore for
at least three years, so thatsomeone else gets to go.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
I think it's worth mentioning to people that
entering awards actually takes awork.
Well, the types of businessawards that we have been
involved in is not just someonenominates you and then they
decide, based on I don't know aquick website search, that
you're the winner.
There is quite an intensiveprocess that we go through.
So when Nikki says, you know weconsidered not entering as many
(18:29):
awards this year, it is becauseit is a time investment.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
A big time investment and if it's not Vicki and I,
then it's someone on our teamthat we're also paying, which
it's always worked out.
It's always worth it, even ifyou don't win, even if you don't
end up even being selected asfinalists.
It's really worth it for yourbusiness because it makes you
relook at your business plan.
It makes you look at yourfinances.
(18:53):
It does get a lot of your ducksin a row, because quite often
we're too busy working in thebusiness to work on it.
So we'd highly recommend, ifyou are a small business,
entering them.
It's great networking as well.
But yeah, the only reason wewere looking at taking a break
was that we were thinlystretched at the time we were
having to put applications inbut we're really glad we did
because we entered the TelstraBusiness Awards.
(19:15):
Thank you, Lindsay, because shedid the initial application for
us this year and we ended upbeing a Queensland finalist in
the building communitiescategory.
If you haven't heard,especially if you're overseas,
the Telstra Business Awards are,I'm going to say, the biggest.
I think they're the biggestbusiness awards in Australia and
they're not small businessawards either.
So we really had to step up ourgame.
(19:36):
This was hours and hours andhours and hours of work.
Speaker 2 (19:41):
Oh, it was so funny Because if you say yeah, I think
you would say, oh, we've gotall this information, which we
did, and they'd be like pleasededicate seven hours to this
part of the application and I'llbe like that'll be fine, we'll
get that done in an hour, andthree days later we'd be like I
think we're done.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
And it's incredible what you have and then how you
need to display it to stand outas well.
I think, and that's it.
You know we're probablyoverachievers, but that's how we
got there.
I guess as well is that we wereable to do a really good job of
storytelling the impact thatour business has on the families
and children that attend.
So I'm really, really, reallyproud of our team, because we
(20:27):
couldn't have got there to wherewe are today without them to
get to that, and it's reallyamazing industry recognition.
So Thanks to our team.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
Yeah, and some of that information was very
helpful for us to talk about ouraccomplishments now, like the
fact that we now have our veryfirst full-time employee.
If that sounds surprising toyou, it's because we actually
have staff cohort of over 30casuals and a small handful of
(21:00):
part-time work, play workers andadmin staff that have all
specifically chosen a part-timework-life balance.
So us stepping into our firstfull-time employee was really
big for us.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
Yeah, we were almost like do we want to have, do we
believe in, a five-day a weekwork week?
There's a lot of big juicydiscussions and it ended up
obviously being well, it's up toour employees what they want
their work-life balance to looklike.
That's it, but it's superexciting.
We're super excited for thatteam member to be a permanent
(21:34):
part of our team, full-time.
Speaker 2 (21:36):
Absolutely, and we've started some new locations and
programs in both Brisbane andthe Sunshine Coast, which has
been, you know, like that.
That's a really big thing forour staff to have to go through
to get those up and running.
So we're very, very proud ofthose and looking forward to
bringing new programs for you in2024.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
Yeah, so we have already briefly mentioned, but
we launched our Forest SchoolSkills course and I actually
think that might be one of myall-time proudest achievements
out of everything we've donewhich might sound ludicrous when
we're talking on a podcast andwe've got 30 employees and we've
(22:14):
got multiple locations, but itfeels like legacy work without
standing too wanky.
It feels like the sum ofeverything we have known and
everything we have done, notjust over our last six years in
business but for you and I, ourcareers before that,
encapsulated into one course.
I'm really really effing proudof it.
(22:37):
Another really amazingstatistic is that we have had
5,600 children visit our ForestSchool sites this year alone,
and it's only mid-November, sothat doesn't even include our
holiday programs that are aboutto launch, but is a stat, and
also that stat doesn't count anyexcursions, incursions,
festivals, events or anyprofessional development, so
(22:59):
actually it would be a couple ofthousand children higher than
this.
We think that stat right.
There is exactly why we do whatwe do, Like our aim is to get
more children outdoors.
We got what?
Five and a half to probably8,000 children outdoors in
Southeast Queensland alone.
I'm so proud of us.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
And due to our high demand, we've doubled our
Brisbane holiday offering aswell, which has been really
exciting.
And moving on from that, weattended our first conferences
exhibitors at the ECA Conferencein Adelaide, which was so good
to connect with everyone and toreally show up in the earlier
(23:43):
sector again.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
We started internally as far as our team goes.
We started a neurodiversitystaff training journey with the
experience collectors and we'recontinuing, as always, our staff
cultural awareness training andwe're working with Tribal Link
on that and that's.
We've had some really greatfeedback from our team about
that training as well, and we'vealso sent one of our team
(24:05):
members to do a storytelling atPD with our friends at Birdwings
Forest School.
So if you're into storytelling,go and check them out.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Absolutely.
Some other things that likemight sound funny to you but
were really important for us isthat we finally got a consistent
weekly newsletter happening.
So this might be a cue to jumpon our mailing list if you want
to right now, and that, inparticular, was because Amanda,
our Brisbane manager and alsoone of our business partners she
(24:34):
was so dedicated to getting thenewsletter started, and to both
Kerry and our forest fairyEllen for taking that on and
just making it such an amazingresource for people.
That is something of value thatwe can give to people who want
to engage with us in some way.
(24:56):
If you want to attend ourprograms, that's fantastic, but
being on our mailing list isalso another way for you to work
alongside us.
So it's such a huge thing forus to have that up and up and
running.
We've been talking about it foryears.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
We've wanted it to be consistent for years.
Yeah, it's so hard to do allthe things.
Yeah, it's part of oureducational.
One of our educational aims isto be able to and accessibility
aims is to be able to educate ina way that's free and people
can access it free.
So the fact that Ellen writesthese weekly blogs about snake
safety or climbing trees safely,or it's getting more children
(25:36):
outdoors, even if they're not onour program.
So again, it might sound silly,it might seem like just a
newsletter, but for us it's abigger aim of getting more
children outdoors again.
And moving forward, on thefirst week of December we're
going to have our big interviewgathering with all of our team
members and their families andwe're super excited because last
year we decided to do this andthen this year, when we asked
(25:58):
them what they wanted to do,they said absolutely, let's do
that again.
So we're going to do another bigcamp out and I just know I'm
going to get teary again when wedo our speech and get to look
around at just their incredibleteam that we work alongside,
because they just live andbreathe our mission as much,
even not more, than we do.
Yeah, so there'll be, I think,around 50.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
And we don't get to spend a lot of time with them
face to face either.
Right Like we remote.
You know as much as we try andwe have great intentions of
meeting people and it is justincredibly difficult to fit in
what we need to do on minimumdays a week and also have
because we juggle that onhomeschooling.
(26:40):
So this is such a brilliantopportunity to spend some
immersive time not just maybeobserving them while they're
working, which is completelydifferent to getting to know
them on a more personal level.
So I just remember having thebest time last time and, yeah,
so excited to spend time withpeople I already know and love,
(27:00):
but also hearing more about thepeople who hold the weight of
our business on their shouldersfor us, which is I'm so grateful
for.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
It's such a great way to end the year too.
It's a real real send off and areal thank you, and so nice to
do it in nature with ourfamilies as well.
I don't remember any workplaceI ever had that was.
It was a family friendlyinterview thing, so it's really
nice to be able to offer that aswell.
All right, let's end on areally high note and, you know,
(27:34):
set our intentions for 2024.
What's lighting your fire?
What are your intentions for2024?
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Vicky, personal and business, well yeah, it's so
funny because I was like I'mreally looking forward to next
year because it's a huge travelfocus for me, because this year
I haven't traveled that much.
But that's not entirely true.
I have had some real good tripsas well.
They just haven't been long,massive trips.
So for next year, my family andI are taking off for six weeks
(28:05):
down to Tasmania taking acaravan and traveling around,
which I'm so excited about.
We actually started this trip wewent in 2020 just for COVID hit
and we had to race back and cutout our trip short for a family
emergency.
So we're really looking forwardto going back and revisiting
some of the places that we lovedand then going to see the rest
(28:25):
of it that we missed.
And then we're also doinganother massive trip to
Northwest Island.
So you may have heard our recapon that amazing group trip that
we did last year, that Nikkiand I did with a number of other
of our homeschooling families.
And then we may be going toFiji and I'm just hoping to do
(28:49):
some more local caravaningholidays, because it's so fun
and we have so many beautifulspaces to go and explore.
So I'm hoping to have a littlebit more space to do that next
year.
How about you?
Speaker 1 (29:05):
Well, hilariously very similar to you, vicky, but
we're tag teaming.
So Vicky's going to Tessiefirst, and then there'll be a
crossover of I think five or sixdays I can't remember and then
my family will be going.
So that'll be.
I can't wait.
I've never been to Tasmania, soI'm super excited to do that,
and then also maybe Fiji, butthat's still on the cards yet.
(29:28):
I'm really looking forward to acouple of four or five day long
camping trips locally as well,because I haven't I mean again,
I was about to say I haven'tdone many trips this camping
trip this year, but I did a fiveweek road trip at the start of
the year, and then I've donelots of.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
So we went to Hinch and Broke and we did all these
amazing things.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Yes, but it is I think it's it's marie how those
mini trips close by feel reallynourishing because they're easy
and they're not far and itdoesn't entail a lot of thought
to go and do them.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
So I'm looking forward and we were doing them
regularly, like two years ago wereally were doing them
regularly and on all of a suddenit I think it's just, you know,
shifts in the in it how ourweeks look, and so we used to
not have as many home schoolingactivities when the kids are
younger and now they're a littlebit more interested in what
they're doing.
So it makes it a little bitdifficult to to duck away
children.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
I don't want to stay with their friends at these
homeschool co-ops too, so it'sharder to just be like, hey,
we're going for an extra longweekend because they'll now let
us Very clearly know that theywant to not go on a Thursday or
a Monday or which is why I'malso doing those trips together
helps to fill everyone's cupstoo.
Speaker 2 (30:40):
So If we can get organized more with the families
that we hang out with, thatwill definitely make things a
lot easier.
Yeah what about your work goals, nick?
What?
What are you excited to achieve?
Speaker 1 (30:54):
next, we sat down and we haven't actually done our
huge usually actually this timeof year we have done our 2024
planning and we haven't yet.
So maybe that's why I'm feelinga little bit discombobulated,
but I think we've kind of talkedaround it enough that we were
like we really well, I reallywant to focus and I know that's
don't want to speak for you, butwe really want to focus on what
we already do and do.
(31:14):
Well, you know, for we it's anew business that we started six
years ago and we've just beenon growth and growth and new
project and new project and bigideas and big ideas, and I think
we've reached the timeenergetically.
And you know our business issteady and people know who we
are, that we can just Put ourroots down and be like this is
(31:35):
what we do, this is what we'regood at, and I can't wait to
just focus on telling the worldmore about what we do, rather
than like we have been increation mode for six years, but
we have yeah.
I did and created courses,podcast content, social media,
like we have been on In creationfor six years.
So I can't actually wait tojust move our focus to just
(31:57):
letting people know about it.
What about you?
Speaker 2 (31:59):
Yeah, that is a hundred percent my goal as well.
I have always had a creativeidea.
You know you're sitting in thebackground that we've moved
Forward with, and this is thefirst time where I'm like I'm
actually just want people toknow about what we've already
created, Don't want to createsomething new.
And then you know that thatcycle for me is is ready to
(32:22):
Switch gears for a little bit.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (32:24):
And I really want to work closely with early years
and any other educators who arelooking at setting up a bush
kindy or any other outdoorprogram.
But I guess my goal is to workclosely with them to ensure that
it's a sustainable programthat's set up for the long haul,
not just a point in timeinterest.
(32:44):
That, yeah, it's got to becompletely embedded, and so
that's what I'm actually reallylooking forward to doing in 2024
, because I think we've goteverything that we need created
in order to do that.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
That's the forest school skills course, isn't it?
Like that's what we're bothsuper excited to see, because, I
mean, we started doing this inits earliest form as the intro
to bush kindy in 2018, so thisis like the end result of all
the work in all the years.
I just can't wait for it to bein everybody's hot little hands
and for the children to reallybenefit from it.
(33:19):
I'm so excited by it.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
I really am as well, and every time I think of
anything else I'm like nope.
Every time, the only thing thatmakes me just feel like it's a
FS is diving further intogetting this out into the world.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
Just on that I also want to mention, I think one of
the reasons that we're feelingthat way is when you look back
on our yearly business planner,our dream or our vision board
for our business.
Every year we've actuallyachieved all of the things that
we really wanted to, and thereare a couple of ideas that were
like maybe one day that over theyears, we've been like you know
(33:56):
what?
that's not a FS, so let's getrid of it.
But everything we've set out todo for this business we've
created now.
So that's amazing, but reallythat should be our 2024
achievement, 2023 achievement.
Sorry, we've done all thosethings that we envisioned from
the start.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (34:16):
Absolutely, and I think the thing that really
lights me up is just workingmore with people to do that to
do what we achieved, so that isvery exciting for 2024.
We'd love to hear about whatyour goals are or what you're
looking forward to for thecoming year.
You can share it with us on oursocials.
(34:39):
We absolutely love to.
I just get.
I get joy, so much joy, out ofseeing people just living a very
intentional, joyful life, soyou could absolutely make my day
by sharing that with us.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
May your 2023 festive season be restful and peaceful,
filled with love and so manyadventures in nature, and, until
next year, stay warm.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!