The leaves are turning. The ducks are splashing. The creek runs low. Fall is here! Do you feel it in the air? Can you see it in the trees? Can you smell it in the crisp breeze? 

This episode of the Play Nature Podcast invites you to pause, marvel, and jump right into the season with joy and curiosity. Host Rusty Keeler takes us creek-side to share top tips for fall nature play: sit spots that slow us down, planting trees and bulbs for seasonal surprise, straw bales for forts and circles, and leaf piles that spark instant delight. 

Rusty is also inviting you all to participate in by National Play Day coming up on September 20th. He has a quick interview with Pat Rumbaugh who shares how her Play Day is a great example of Dreaming Big, but Starting Small.

It’s a playful celebration of autumn’s abundance and a reminder to dream big, start small, and never stop.

Links:

letsplayamerica.org

ipausa.org

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Share this episode, rate and review the show, and email Rusty! [email protected]

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

We’re here to let you in on a little secret. Strong, confident kids don’t come from a classroom. They are created outdoors! Play is the work of childhood, the language of imagination, and the foundation for lifelong skills. Yet too many children spend their days sitting still. 

Why does this matter? 

Because movement, messy play, and nature aren’t just fun—they’re essential for healthy development. In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, Rusty chats with Angela Hanscom—pediatric occupational therapist, founder of TimberNook, and author of Balanced and Barefoot. 

Angela is on a mission to restore real, unstructured play to kids’ lives. She shares why outdoor play is more than recreation—it’s therapy in disguise—and how TimberNook grew from a simple idea to a global movement.

Top Takeaways from Angela Hanscom as she developed TimberNook:

Links:

timbernook.com

@timbernook_global on Instagram

@TimberNook.Camps on Facebook

Barefoot and Balanced by Angela J. Hanscom

The Real Reason Why Kids Fidget by Angela Hanscom (HuffPost article)

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Play isn’t just the giggles and games—it’s a protective shield for growing hearts and minds. When kids lose play, they lose more than fun. 

In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, Rusty Keeler goes deeper into why children are more anxious and less joyful, and what we can do to turn the tide.

Rusty welcomes back Dr. Peter Gray, our favorite play professor and champion of childhood freedom. This time, they dig into what’s really behind the rise in kids’ anxiety and depression—and no, it’s not just the phones. 

Peter points to the pressure cooker of modern education, where rigid standards and endless testing are crowding out curiosity, movement, and joy.

Top three takeaways for part 2 with Peter Gray

Watch Rusty and Peter talk about the playfulness of a Sudbury School on Rusty's Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrtiVT1JDMQ

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Play is serious stuff. It’s how kids make sense of the world, grow their brains, build friendships, and show us their natural brilliance. When we step back and let play lead, magic happens. 

In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, we’re celebrating the joy, wisdom, and wildness of children’s play, just as it is. Host Rusty Keeler sits down with Deb Curtis, a longtime champion of childhood and co-author of The Art of Awareness. With stories straight from the classroom and a heart full of curiosity, Deb reminds us that children are already wired for empathy, fairness, and deep learning—no adult scripts required.

Here are three big takeaways from the conversation with Deb:

Make sure to check out the YouTube video where Deb and Rusty discuss pictures of toddler play and playscapes from Deb's program over the years: youtube.com/watch?v=O2BG239oqYs

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Play is not just fun—it’s essential. It’s how children explore, create, stumble, and soar. It’s how they learn to be brave, solve problems, and build their world. 

In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast, we dig into the deep roots of play and why letting kids run wild (in a good way!) may be the most important thing we do for their growing brains.

Rusty is joined by Dr. Peter Gray—play researcher, freedom fighter, and author of Free to Learn. Peter is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College, but he speaks fluent playground. He talks about what real play looks like, why it’s fading from childhood, and how that’s affecting kids everywhere. 

Spoiler: play isn’t optional. It’s nature’s secret weapon.

Top three takeaways from part one with Peter Gray:

Come back for part 2 with Peter Gray on an upcoming episode of the Play Nature Podcast! 

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Ready to splash, dig, and grow your way through summer? What if a simple water fight could bring more joy than screen time? And who says adults don’t need nature-play too?

In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler with his feet in the creek, shares five favorite ways to get outside and feel the season. Think water play, plant love, melting ice, and loose parts. These aren't just kids' ideas—they’re for the whole family (yes, grown-ups included). There’s even a surprise bonus tip for the truly wild-hearted.

So gather your buckets, your sticks, and your curiosity. Whether you're growing basil or just growing memories, this episode will inspire you to turn off the screens and turn up the wonder. Dirt optional, joy guaranteed.

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

“We have really strong relationships with our children and our families, and that's what allows the adventures to come.” --Cameron Sprauge, Head of Nurseries-Stramash Social Enterprise

What if the secret to raising resilient, creative, confident kids was… play? Real play. Outdoors. With sticks, mud, and a whole lot of autonomy. 

In this episode of the Play Nature Podcast host Rusty Keeler and his guest get curious about how wild play spaces help children build skills for life—and why a scraped knee might just be part of the plan.

Meet Cameron Sprague: nature play champion, outdoor educator, and all-around muddy-booted legend. From the forests of Scotland to the joyful chaos of Stramash Outdoor Nurseries, Cameron shares stories from his journey into nature-based education. Together they 

Rusty and Cameron talk about planting trees, trusting children, building with pallets, embracing risk, and growing outdoor play from the ground up. They share visions for a world where children belong outside—rain or shine.

Top 3 muddy gems from Episode 9:

Catch the conversation where Cameron and I look at some pictures of his original "field of dreams" on my YouTube channel @rustykeeler: youtube.com/watch?v=n0UFbz8Or-4

Links and Resources:

Balance and Barefoot by Angela J. Hanscom

Follow Cameron @cameronsprague on Facebook &  X | @Cameronsprague02 on IG

Puddle Patter with Stramash Outdoor Nurseries on Spotify

vimeo.com/stramashoutdoor

ISO 4980:2023(en)

Benefit-risk assessment for sports and recreational facilities, activities and equipment

20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul

Rusty’s Nature Play Design Masterclass

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

“Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is step back and trust that children know exactly what they’re doing.”   --Phoebe Wyllyamz, Playworker 

What if someone told you the best way to build life skills isn’t through flashcards or structured schedules—but through play? Real, messy, child-led, joyful play. 

In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler introduces us to Phoebe Wyllyamz––a play work advocate, early childhood educator, and all-around childhood champion from the Catskills of New York.

Together they explore playwork, risky play, children’s rights, farts, freedom, and why the best grownups in play spaces don’t manage––they listen. It’s time to trust kids with autonomy and a little bit of risk to help them grow into confident, resilient humans. Doesn’t that sound magical? It kind of is.

Phoebe brings years of experience from Woodland Playhouse and shares insights from her upcoming book, An Invitation to Play. She’s here to remind us that kids don’t need us to micromanage their play. They need us to trust them.

Top 3 Takeaways from Episode 8: 

Resources Mentioned:

Sword battle at Phoebe’s Play Pod video

Follow Phoebe @playphoebe

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

This episode of Play Nature Podcast is bringing Rusty’s motto “Dream Big, Start Small, Never Stop” to life. Rusty is once again out in nature––with birds chirping and leaves crunching, we dive into how his mantra can guide not just life choices, but the design of amazing outdoor play spaces too.

You’ll hear stories from the field—both personal and professional—as we explore what it really means to start small. Think: tiny hills, cozy sand pits, and simple additions that spark BIG joy. It's all about planning with heart, taking the first (sometimes muddy) step, and sticking with it—even when the weeds grow faster than the dreams.

If your dreams involve plotting a backyard makeover or dreaming of a community wonderland, you’ll find tools, tips, and a whole lot of encouragement to get started. 

Let’s play!

Resources Mentioned:

20 Ways to Create Outdoor Play Environments for the Soul FREE Download

Nature Play Design Masterclass

10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD]

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs 

Rusty’s FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Get ready to dive into the wild and wonderful world of loose parts! Loose parts include the simplest stuff––think hula hoops to plastic dinos, boards to bottle caps. 

In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler takes us outside and into the magic of child-led creativity. Rusty shows us how all the stuff thats just laying around can spark the biggest adventures.

Rusty includes his “a-ha” moment about loose parts and explains how loose parts boost everything from wiggly muscles to big imaginations. We're talking brain growth, body movement, teamwork, and feelings—all powered by a pile of "junk" (aka treasure). It’s development disguised as fun!

What will it cost to incorporate loose parts? Almost nothing! Rusty shares smart, budget-friendly tips to gather loose parts without spending a dime. 

Plus, stay tuned to the end to hear answers to real listener questions like “Where do I start?” and “Is this gonna break the bank?”

FREE Outdoor Loose Parts Guide

Outdoor Loose Parts Course

10% off Discount Code for Play Nature Podcast Listeners! [Use code: PLAYNATUREPOD]

Theory of Loose Parts by Simon Nicholson

Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs