Welcome to Deer River Wildground
Where childhood runs free.
Nestled on the banks of the Deer River, our programs offer children space to grow wild and rooted — exploring the woods, tracking the seasons, and learning from the land itself.
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We believe in muddy boots, stories around the fire, and letting kids be kids. Whether they’re building shelters, following animal tracks, or simply wandering with wonder, each child finds space here to stretch, breathe, and belong.​
Experience the Wildground
Sprout & Me
Toddlers to age 3 (with parent/caregiver, 45 minutes)
A gentle, joyful time of connection and discovery for toddlers and their grown-ups. Explore the wonders of nature together through songs, stories, sensory play, and seasonal adventures — all at a pace perfect for little feet and curious minds.
Little Wilds
4–7 years (drop-off, 3 hours)
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An immersive, child-led nature experience where young explorers dig, build, splash, and wander. Through imaginative play and outdoor adventures, they develop confidence, creativity, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Wildkeepers
8+ years (drop-off, 3 hours)
Designed for older adventurers ready to take the lead. Wildkeepers learn hands-on earth skills, nature crafts, outdoor safety, and stewardship — all while building friendships, independence, and a lasting bond with the land.
From our family to yours — a return to wildhearted childhood.
We’re the parents of three spirited boys who spend their days chasing frogs, building forts, and getting gloriously muddy. Deer River Wildground was born from our desire to protect what we believe every child deserves: the freedom to roam, to wonder, to belong to the land — and to themselves.
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As a family, we’ve watched how nature restores what our fast-paced world often forgets — imagination, resilience, calm, and joy. In the woods, our children aren’t being measured or managed. They’re exploring, creating, and becoming. They're learning the lost art of play — the kind that doesn’t come in a box or follow a script, but rises from within when children are given time, space, and trust.
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We created Deer River Wildground to share this gift with others. To offer a refuge for kids to be kids — to climb trees, craft with their hands, feel the seasons on their skin, and learn the rhythms of the natural world. It’s also a quiet stand for mental wellness. Because when childhood is rooted in nature, in movement and connection and freedom, something powerful happens: kids grow stronger, steadier, and more sure of who they are.
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This isn’t school. It’s not therapy. It’s something older and wilder. It’s a place where childhood runs free — and where every family who walks our trails becomes part of the story.
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-MaKenna & Chris
