Play Rangers

Term Time Sessions

Join the play rangers for building camp fires, toasting marshmallows, creating woodland crafts, climbing trees, rope swings and lots more outdoor fun! During our sessions children and young people are encouraged to explore their local woodland and open spaces, where they can play freely. Play rangers sessions are free and take place 4-6pm every weekday during term time.

Play Rangers will be taking their winter break from Friday 28 November 2025. They will return in February 2026 - more information will be provided nearer the time.

Days, times and locations

Children must be in Year 1 - Year 7 to attend. Children in Reception are too young to attend. 

You must first purchase the Play Ranger Annual Membership before attending a session. This is £6 per child, per year. 

CLICK HERE to book onto a Play Ranger session once you have purchased your membership. 

Holiday sessions

Join the play rangers for building camp fires, toasting marshmallows, creating woodland crafts, climbing trees, rope swings and lots more outdoor fun! During our sessions children and young people are encouraged to explore their local woodland and open spaces, where they can play freely. 

During the Easter and summer holidays we have a timetable of sessions taking place across the district everyday.

Children must be in Year 1 - Year 7 to attend. Children in Reception are too young to attend. Children currently in reception,  going into year 1 in September are too young to attend.

You must purchase the Play Ranger Annual Membership before attending your first session. This is £6 per child, per year.

CLICK HERE to book onto a Play Ranger session once you have purchased your membership.

Locations

School sessions

Regular lunchtime sessions

Our Play Rangers deliver dynamic lunchtime sessions that bring excitement, team building and an element of risky play to school every week. On scheduled days we go into schools with a range of outdoor based equipment and activities and help children stay active during their break.

Emma Cole, Head Teacher at Malvern Way Infant & Nursery School said "Using the Play Rangers to deliver activities as part of our lunchtime provision has been hugely successful. The children count the days until Wednesday and participate in the games in large numbers. All the children are overwhelmingly positive about the fun they have at lunchtime. The play rangers are fantastic with all of our children but have a fabulous intuition support children with additional needs. Although they only attend once a week, they know the children and adapt their approach to meet the needs of all.”

Duncan Roberts, Head Teacher at Little Green Junior School said “We are always delighted to see our allocated Play Rangers arriving. It means we are going to have a brilliant lunch time with engaging activities and children thoroughly enjoying an organised and structured activity. The Play Rangers offer a range of activities and skills that our own talented MSAs just couldn’t be expected to deliver. Worth every penny!”

Team building

Our team building sessions are designed to foster collaboration, strengthen relationships, and build a more cohesive class dynamic. With a diverse array of activities, including water challenges, tug of war, and balloon games, we encourage active participation and teamwork. Anticipate a bit of wet and muddy fun, as these experiences not only bring joy to the children but also involve teachers, creating an inclusive and memorable bonding opportunity for everyone involved.

Liz Ormonde, Head Teacher at Eastbury Farm Primary School said“The sessions exceeded our expectation. Lee's dynamism and enthusiasm ensured that even the most reluctant pupil embraced the fun and got involved. What a great way to build team work and collaboration. We definitely will be booking more sessions so we can build on this work.”

Bespoke workshops

School sessions designed to support a specific part of the curriculum. For example, the team regularly deliver Stone age sessions for the children at Yorke Mead Primary School, in the sessions the children learn how to safely start a fire with flint and steel and create tools such as pickaxes and hammers.

Activity days/trips

Our Play Rangers can deliver activity days for schools in one of our parks or open spaces. For example, the team have run a Year 6 leavers day at Leavesden Country Park with a jam-packed schedule of activities. The Play Rangers also regularly run an ‘Into the woods’ trip for a Year 2 class at Croxley Hall Woods with activities including den building and roasting marshmallows around a fire.

Shejal Radia, Class Teacher at Tanners Wood JMI School said“What a fantastic day, the children’s faces said it all today. Your Play Rangers are amazing! Thank you so so much.”

Our Play Rangers team are highly versatile, we regularly work alongside schools to design bespoke sessions that meet their needs and aims. Interested in having the Play Rangers in your school? Get in touch with us by emailing leisure@threerivers.gov.uk

Parent feedback

“My 3 children all love Play Rangers, and always jump at the chance to go to a session. We are so lucky to have such fantastic Play Rangers who always ensure that they all have so much fun. What a fabulous idea to get the kids involved in the outdoors.”

“This is the best thing the council fund. We are so lucky to have this.”

“The staff are fantastic and super energetic at all times. They give loads of options for fun games.”

“My son has been attending for the last 4 years and absolutely loves the sessions.”

“A wonderful service provided by Three Rivers District Council that is much appreciated! Children are experiencing risky play and being outdoors in the fresh air in their local open space. We LOVE Play Rangers!”

“They both absolutely loved it, especially the crafts and cooking over the bonfire.”

“Good wholesome outdoor fun. Play Rangers has been a real highlight for my children over the summer holidays, they loved every session.”

“Don't know what we would do without the adventures the Play Rangers bring to the holidays.”

“The Play Rangers are lovely people, so good with children and so much fun.”

Play Ranger Annual Membership

In order to sustain and improve the quality of our Play Ranger sessions, we have made the decision to introduce an annual membership fee and new booking system called Playwaze. 

This fee will be £6 per child, per annum.

Once purchased, you will be able to book on to as many Play Ranger sessions as you choose with no additional charges. All term-time and holiday sessions will remain FREE to attend. 

CLICK HERE to purchase the Play Ranger annual membership.

Complete the form and follow the steps to join our 'play ranger community' 

Once you are in the community you will see the options of Memberships and Activities. The annual membership can be purchased from the memberships tab. Once your membership is activated go to the activities tab or calendar to book on the play ranger session you wish to attend.

Play Ranger Code of Conduct

Please make sure you and your child are familiar with our Play Ranger rules before attending:

• Ensure my child arrives on time and is picked up promptly after the session
• Ensure my child is dressed appropriately for the weather (sun cream, hat, rain coat etc)
• Respect the staff, our equipment and other children at all times
• We have a zero tolerance policy to aggressive or rude behaviour to other children or staff (no hitting / swearing / biting / fighting)
• Keep your green bib on for the whole session
• Stay within the boundaries the staff set
• Go to the toilet before you arrive
• Bring a water bottle with you
• Remain reachable and responsive in case of emergencies
• Respect the environment used by disposing of rubbish properly and leaving areas clean and tidy

Failure to adhere to the code of conduct or repeated incidents of unacceptable behaviour may result in a verbal warning from play ranger staff, a written warning from leisure development staff, temporary suspension from attending play rangers or (as a last resort) a permanent ban from attending play rangers.