If your child loves nature, creativity and hands-on making, Nature Makers Club offers a beautiful blend of outdoor play and mindful crafting in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
Run by the talented Cristina from Solstice Fibre, this weekly outdoor craft club invites children aged 5–11 to gather under the trees at Neil McDougall Park for creative exploration inspired by the natural world. Each session is held outside, so children can feel the breeze, hear the birds and draw direct inspiration from their surroundings as they create.
Nature Makers Club takes place at Neil McDougall Park and makes the most of the peaceful green space. Children sit together under the trees, with inviting craft stations set up using natural, recycled and repurposed materials. It’s the kind of calm, screen-free hour that many families are looking for — where children can follow their imaginations, make friends and build confidence in a gentle, unhurried way.
Cristina’s approach is all about slow, mindful crafting and sustainability. She thoughtfully chooses materials and projects that connect children to the environment — from weaving with sticks to using found natural treasures in their artwork. Her warm, nurturing teaching style helps children feel at ease, whether they are seasoned crafters or brand new to making things with their hands. Rather than focusing on perfect end products, she encourages curiosity, experimentation and joy in the creative process.
One of the things that makes Nature Makers Club especially special is its inclusive and sensory-aware philosophy. With a background in early childhood, community services and the disability sector, Cristina designs her sessions to be welcoming for all children, including those with additional needs or heightened sensory-seeking behaviours. There is a calm book area for children who need a quiet break, a simple hand washing station, and a clear understanding that every child may engage differently. Families are met with genuine acceptance and flexibility, making it a safe space to try something new.
Nature Makers Club is intentionally process-focused rather than product-focused. Children are free to move between different crafting invitations at their own pace, returning to what interests them and exploring new ideas without pressure. This kind of open-ended creative play naturally supports a wide range of developmental skills — from fine motor strength in weaving and clay work, to language and storytelling, problem-solving, creativity and growing environmental awareness.
Families who self-manage NDIS funding can request invoices directly from Solstice Fibre to use their funding for workshops and craft programs, rather than purchasing tickets through Eventbrite. This option helps make the sessions more accessible for families who rely on NDIS support.
Our visit to the Fairy Gardens themed session felt quietly magical from the moment we arrived. The set-up invited children straight into imaginative play — Shirley Barber fairy books for inspiration, delicate flower-fairy yarn wands in progress, nature collage fairy doors being carefully decorated, and tiny clay fairy homes taking shape. Children chatted about where to respectfully place a fallen bird’s nest, adding a beautiful touch of environmental care to their play. The session had a lovely, gentle flow; it wasn’t rushed or tightly structured, yet everything felt thoughtfully prepared.
From a parent perspective, the calm atmosphere and freedom to move between stations meant my child could engage in a way that suited their mood and energy. There was no pressure to “finish” a certain craft — just plenty of encouragement to explore. Seeing the session through a teacher lens too, the learning opportunities were easy to spot. Fine motor skills were strengthened through threading, weaving and sculpting, language and storytelling blossomed as children talked about their creations and characters, and gentle discussions around nature and caring for the earth were woven through the activities.
Cristina’s passion for mindful crafting and inclusive creative spaces shines through every detail, from the choice of materials to the way she listens and responds to the children. We left feeling grounded, inspired and already excited for future sessions — and even booked into another felt-making workshop closer to home. Nature Makers Club is a beautiful option for children who thrive in calm environments, love crafting outdoors, or enjoy open-ended creative expression where there is no “right” or “wrong” way to create.
Each term features a series of themed sessions that keep children engaged while introducing them to a variety of techniques and materials. Term One themes include Forest Explorers with stick loom weaving, Creepy Crawlies with wool-wrapped bug friends, Fairy Gardens with whimsical fairy doors, Kings of the Forest with nature crowns and wands, Caring for Our Earth with imaginative recycling sculptures, Changing Seasons with wet felted painting, Patterns in Nature with mandala weaving, and Woodland Critters with embroidered animal faces. This thoughtful mix means children can experiment with everything from fibre arts to sculpture, all while staying connected to the natural world around them.
Nature Makers Club is an inspiring, heartwarming addition to Perth’s creative offerings for kids — especially for families seeking a slower, more mindful after-school activity where creativity, nature and community are at the heart of the experience.
Nature Makers Club
Address: Neil McDougall Park, near Ley & Crawshaw Crescent, Manning, WA
Opening Hours: Thursdays, 3:30pm – 4:30pm (term-time; ages 5–11, siblings welcome)
Official Website: https://www.solsticefibre.com
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