Frequent Asked Questions

A land-based play and youth development initiative funded by the Wild Child Foundation. Led by trained Play Guides using intentional environmental design, we create conditions for child-directed game-play to strengthen self-regulation, resilience, and peer connection.

Our research is led by research partner Jordan Thoreson, with observational frameworks guided by a cross-disciplinary Advisory Board that includes leaders in psychology (including Dr. David Cox), community, and sports. Researchers collect de-identified observational field data to examine behavioral outcomes, peer collaboration, and autonomy.

The Canyon Heights pilot is designed for students in Grades 2 through 6. Grade 7 students participate in an authentic peer-leadership capacity as Junior Play Guides.

Wild Child is led by trained Play Guides using an ecological dynamics framework. Rather than directing kids verbally, Play Guides intentionally shape the physical and social landscape—using natural landscape features, loose materials, and subtle boundaries - inviting kids to invent rules, adapt games, and discover their own solutions. Guides hold the space and maintain safety boundaries so children have the freedom to test their edges.

Our cross-disciplinary Advisory Board brings together leaders in psychology, community, and sports who provide multidimensional guidance. They review our research methodology, ensure developmental validity, and assist in evaluating the data collected across cohorts.

We do not put participating children on social media. None. Real Play requires an environment where kids feel completely free to experiment, take healthy risks, and resolve disagreements without the pressure of an external camera. Our learnings are shared through anonymized research summaries and written essays.

The Lead Play Guide is an environmental curator and safety anchor. Play Guides hold the space, maintain clear physical and emotional safety boundaries, and design the physical layout with rich affordances. Within that secure perimeter, children have full agency to govern their choices, invent games, collaborate with peers, and decide how their play unfolds.

A meaningful peer-leadership role for Grade 7 students at Canyon Heights. Junior Play Guides participate directly alongside younger peers (Grades 2–6) within the game-play, modeling creative engagement, fostering inclusion, and building positive cross-grade camaraderie.

Children engage in emergent game-play and outdoor activity prompted by the terrain and materials curated by Play Guides: building loose-parts structures, creating collective games with self-negotiated rules, navigating dynamic physical obstacles, and collaborating across ages.

Yes. Sessions are intentionally supervised by trained Play Guides using the outdoor risk-benefit model ('as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible') developed by Dr. Mariana Brussoni (UBC). Guides eliminate genuine hazards while preserving the manageable risks essential for developing spatial judgment and self-trust.

Registration for this fall's pilot at Canyon Heights opened Wednesday, September 16 at 6:00 PM directly through the school community, with cohort spaces balanced by grade (Grades 2–6). Broader community cohorts will open as pilot phases expand.

Reach out through our inquiry link. We are actively speaking with forward-thinking educators and community leaders to plan future cohorts.

Sessions run outdoors in all reasonable weather - the outdoor, natural setting is core to the model, not a backdrop.

We operate as the Wild Child Foundation, self-funded through personal contributions to power our research pilots. Formal non-profit and charitable registration is currently underway.

Currently at Canyon Heights Elementary—Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:00–4:30 PM, starting Tuesday, September 29.

The findings will shape an expanded pilot phase in spring, ultimately establishing broader community-wide access to our Play Guide and Real Play model.