Social Media

You can find me on the following social media platforms...

Muddy Faces

Nick Couzens. Mission: Wild Adventure

Nominated by Helen Parsons, Emma May Harrison, Paula Smith, Jo Webb, Liz Couzens. Nominates Muddy Boots Nursery.

Nick couzens

Nick Couzens
Mission: Wild Adventure
Crediton, Devon

Chosen as a Mud Champion because:
an inspiring, enthusiastic leader

email Missionwildadventure@gmail.com
Insta missionwildadventure
TikTok missionwildadventure

Nomination highlights

"He inspires and guides children to love the environment we live in, to notice and respect nature. Whilst having a muddy good time, always! Children absolutely love their time at Mission: Wild Adventure because of Nick’s passion for the outdoors. He is inspiring the next generation and it is wonderful to see!"

"Their enthusiasm for all things outdoors truly enthuses children."

"My son has been attending this group in the evening once a week. He absolutely loves it, he told me Nick is the best teacher he's ever had. He usually returns muddy and often wet as they get in the stream, cook on open fires, build shelters, forage etc."

"Outstanding and incredibly creative outdoor leader. Inventive and highly engaged, focused on children having a wonderful time and reaching their muddy potential. Children encouraged to be wonderfully muddy and engage with their surroundings through inventive and hands on play. My child has the most fantastic experience and always wants to participate when Mission Adventure happens. I completely trust Nick with the safety of my child but also that my child will have the most tremendous fun."

Tell us a bit about what you do at your project / your role

My aim is to simply get children playing outside. Playing in mixed groups of all ages, just as children have done for millennia. I love seeing the older children include the younger ones and the younger ones taking charge. Getting muddy is vital to this. Coming home with mud on your clothes, slightly out of breath is a huge indicator that you’ve had an adventure - and that is what childhood should be about, a non stop series of adventures, punctuated with a bath now and again. At Mission: Wild Adventure the children strive to solve a series of missions and challenges while playing and having fun.

What do you love about your work?

I love seeing children laugh and play together, getting experiences in the outdoors and developing more and more each day.

What are the benefits – why is muddy, outdoor, nature play so important?

Children aren’t designed to sit still and listen. Children’s natural state is running around holding a stick with mud on their knees. Children need to get wet, muddy and challenged by the outdoors occasionally. It helps them grow into adults that can protect nature and pass on these views and beliefs.

Top tip for muddy/messy/nature play

Don’t be afraid of it. Give children the chance to stick their hands in a muddy puddle and watch them smile.

Resource recommendation

A paddling pool filled with soil and mix in some water.

I’ve written jokes on waterproof cards and the kids can rummage around, pick one and read it out.

Pay it Forward – who would you nominate as your Mud Champion?

Muddy Boots Nursery.

How will you spend your Muddy Faces voucher?

Buying resources that will get children’s imaginations running wild.

Anything else you would like to say?

This is honestly one of the proudest moments of my career! I aim to offer children the type of childhood I had and am so grateful I can do that. Thanks to Muddy Faces and to everyone who nominated me for this. You’ve made me very happy 😃

See also

Mud play tips

These tips are from the experts - Forest School practitioners, outdoor leaders, teachers, families - people who love mud play and it’s benefits so much that they have generously shared their skills, knowledge and experience with us.

We thank them all - and welcome any new mud play tips you have - send them to share@muddyfaces.co.uk

Read More about Mud play tips

Mud gallery

An amazing collection of photographs demonstrating the joy, fun, learning and creativity that mud play can bring to every setting!

Real photos of mud play & learning from the UK & around the world.

Read More about Mud gallery

Mud activities

If you want FREE mud activity downloads and mud play activity inspiration, you've come to the right place!

Read More about Mud activities

FREE Mud Kitchen book

Making a Mud Kitchen has everything you need to know about mud kitchens – all the whats, whys, wheres and hows - and is available to download for free.

Making a Mud Kitchen has been translated into TWELVE different languages and counting! Download your free pdf in:

• English • Croatian • French • German • Greek • Hungarian • Icelandic • Italian • Portuguese • Spanish • Swedish • Turkish or Welsh below.

A printed version of Making a Mud Kitchen is available to purchase in the Muddy Faces shop.

Read More about FREE Mud Kitchen book

Mud

Welcome to our Mud page! Come and explore mud and the whys, hows and wherefores of mud play, along with some inspiration for bringing mud and messy play into your setting.

Read More about Mud

Shop for mud kit

All the mud play & mud kitchen resources you need for Forest School, outdoor play & learning in our Muddy Faces shop.

Read More about Shop for mud kit
Return to top

Newsletter

Keep in touch

Register to receive our free email newsletter, full of outdoor inspiration, dates, deals and competitions.