The Perfect Kids Birthday Party in Tasmania
Inspired by lutruwita/Tasmania’s unique natural places and seasons, two childhood educators are bringing children’s birthday party dreams to life.
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Puddle Jumpers’ Annie and Karen (image: Ella Lucy Photography)
Puddle Jumpers Tasmania’s Annie Richmond and Karen Lorensen are proof that some of the best relationships are a serendipitous result of the twists and turns of personal history eventually bringing two people together at the bottom of the world. Born in America and Brisbane respectively, Annie and Karen found their own ways to Tasmania, each with an early career in childhood education along the way. By the early 2000s, they were job-sharing at a childcare centre in Hobart’s Sandy Bay, quickly forging a strong friendship that hinged heavily on their shared love of nature-based play.
“We were both like bowerbirds, always collecting bits and pieces from nature, and bringing them into the centre for the children to play with,” says Karen. “Our access to so many beautiful Tasmanian places is quite unique - the bush and beach are our playgrounds.”
That access to Tasmania’s wild beauty and changing seasons was the inspiration for Puddle Jumpers - Annie and Karen’s increasingly busy side hustle that beckons young Hobartians outdoors with magical workshops and parties.
“We recognised an opportunity to play to our strengths and the things we love the most outside of our usual work day,” says Annie. “Puddle Jumpers is all about repurposing and recycling everyday and natural things to create something beautiful that children will treasure.”
A Puddle Jumpers nature-based birthday party (image: Ella Lucy Photography)
From its experimental roots as a one-off workshop for friends and family, Puddle Jumpers has grown into a sought-after offering that keeps Annie and Karen occupied most weekends of the year. Their bespoke parties invite the birthday boy or girl to select a theme - think dinosaurs, fairies, or unicorns - which forms the basis for several craft-based experiences in an impressive mud kitchen lovingly set out before the guests’ arrival. Using locally foraged items like leaves, shells, driftwood, seaweed and pebbles, the lucky partygoers might go home with a wool-covered pinecone “bee”, a sparkling jar of faerie dust, or a canvas painted with natural earth-based pigments. The fun always culminates in a scavenger hunt, where hand-written clues and secret keys lead to a treasure chest of enchantments.
“We’re starting to realise how unique this is because of the reactions of people around us,” says Karen. “The incredible support of our Tasmanian community has meant that we’ve been able to branch out in to workshops for adults and seasonal occasions, as well as popping up at events and festivals.”
A Puddle Jumpers invitation to create (image: Ella Lucy Photography)
Annie and Karen agree that lutruwita/Tasmania’s extraordinary natural spaces, strong sense of community, and high quality of life make it a veritable paradise for young families and, in turn, for Puddle Jumpers.
“It works so well here, because the people who choose Tassie as home typically love the outdoors, are passionate about nature, and want to escape the hustle and bustle of a busier place,” says Annie.
“I love the simple life, so Tasmania is perfect for me,” says Karen. “There are so many quiet, secluded places right here on our doorstep, and we believe that beauty should be available to everyone - especially the children.”
A Puddle Jumpers party (image: Ella Lucy Photography)
Visit Puddle Jumpers or email puddlejumperstasmania@gmail.com to discover more and book your own Tasmanian nature-based party or workshop.
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