Wild at Heart: The Power of Unstructured Play in Nature
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
The Magic of Unstructured Play
As a kid, my best days were the ones spent outside—no plan, no agenda, just a sense of curiosity and adventure. My brothers and I would disappear into the woods, climbing trees, building dens, and getting completely lost in our own world. We were free to roam, to scrape our knees, to test our limits. It wasn’t about structured activities or carefully laid-out playgrounds. It was raw, unfiltered play—completely driven by our own imagination and the landscape around us. If you are a Lord of The Rings Fan, I am fairly certain me and my brothers have lived every scene of that film in the woods! In those moments, we unlocked something truly powerful—an innate sense of freedom, curiosity, and resilience.
Why Kids (and Parents) Need Time Outdoors
Fast forward to now, and as a parent, I see how different things are. Life feels more structured, more supervised and I often find myself being the one that instigates this structure! Kids have schedules, timetables, and screens competing for their attention. The wild spaces that shaped my childhood are, for many, becoming a rarity. And yet, deep down, I know that unstructured play—real, messy, and unpredictable—is just as important now as it was then. It’s not just about giving children time outside; it’s about giving them the space to develop confidence, independence, and a deep-rooted connection to nature.
Wild Camping: The Perfect Playground
That’s why I try to create as many opportunities as possible for my children to experience nature on their own terms. Our recent trip to Dartmoor for a night of wild camping was a perfect example. We kept the walk short (minimizing the chances of me carrying my daughter!), but that didn’t stop us from exploring every stream, climbing every climbable rock, and stopping to watch the light change over the hills. The best moments weren’t planned—they just happened. The magic of seeing her completely absorbed in the world around her, whether it was marveling at the stars or deciding which stick was the best walking stick, reinforced what I already knew: kids don’t need much to be happy outside. They just need the space to explore, to play freely, and to push their boundaries in a way that feels natural.
Creating Space for Adventure
Wild camping offers something that few other experiences do: total freedom. No fences, no prescribed activities—just the chance to exist in nature without distraction. And that’s exactly what we wanted to create with CampWild. Our Wild Spaces are designed to strip back the barriers, allowing people to step into nature on their own terms while still maintaining a sense of responsibility and respect. The way we’ve structured these spaces—through permission-based access, route cards for safe exploration, and the principle of 24 hours in nature—mirrors the very essence of unstructured play. It’s about providing the framework, but leaving the experience open-ended, so that every camper—child or adult—can rediscover that same sense of curiosity and adventure.
Rewilding Ourselves as Parents
We talk a lot about the importance of getting kids outside, but the truth is, we need it just as much. As adults, we’ve lost that ability to simply ‘play’ outdoors—to switch off, to explore for the sake of exploring. Wild camping brings that back. It’s about rewilding childhood, but also rewilding ourselves. There’s something deeply human about sleeping under the stars, waking up to the sounds of nature, and realising just how little we need to feel fulfilled. If that doesn't hit the spot to transport you away from adult life, try running across moorland with 2 days worth of kit on your back trying to escape a big fluffy unicorn monster that is going to eat you!
Just Go – The Memories Will Be Worth It
So if you’re thinking about taking your kids on a wild camping trip, don’t overcomplicate it. Keep it simple. Let them take the lead. And most of all, give them the space to be curious, let them climb the tree, let them stay up a little later watching the stars. Those are the moments they’ll remember. And if we’re lucky, they’ll pass that love of wild places on to the next generation.
And if I could offer one piece of advice… just go, just get out there and do it! It might not be easy, it might be stressful and uncomfortable when you have a toddler kicking you in the night asking to go outside into the dark for a wee, but I can promise you this—you will make some of the best memories you can ever imagine.
If you are thinking about bringing more adventure into your life through wild camping, I would love to hear from you. Drop me a line, tell me your plans, tell me what your worried about, I am here for it all...
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