Saturday 20 October 2012

Bush Gathering



Educating outdoors in nature is increasingly happening at locations all over Australia. Sue Elliott and I invited a group of Victorian educators to meet and share some of the great work they are doing.

Today we met at the Darebin Parklands environment centre. 

I loved hearing how strong and different philosophical belief shaped pedagogical practice. Passionate educators articulated that it was essential to maintain the vibrant educational community we are in. How we educate must be shaped by the context in which we work. We have a lot we can learn from each other. There is not, and should not be a one size fits all approach to educating in the outdoors. 

Thursday 11 October 2012

Jacaranda Bush Kinder

Congratulations to the team of educators, parents and children of Bush Kinder at Jacaranda Preschool.
It has been great following the your Bush Kinder News.
It was a privilege to assist your community get Bush Kinder up and going.

Wednesday 10 October 2012

Bush Kinder for Gowrie Australia


Gowrie are a leading training, research, and resource agency in Australia.
At the end of 2011 I was approached to write an article for their journal

Bush Kinder presentation University of Melbourne

I had the pleasure of lecturing to a group of Master of Teaching students at the University of Melbourne.
Some students were clearly aligned to Bush Kinder with their existing teaching practice and philosophy, others were challenged.
I enjoyed hearing stories from students with diverse world and cultural backgrounds.
Industrial, urban and country environments all provide opportunities for children to engage with nature.
One student told of playing in a paved courtyard with stones, burnt matches, another of waiting for a flower to bloom that signified holidays with her family. Memories of a childhood in nature evoke powerful and positive emotional responses.
Thank you to the students for your insightful questions and to Sarah Young  [teacher/ lecturer/ clinical specialist] for your guidance and the invitation.

Climbing trees




“Once a symbol of an idyllic childhood, this nature-loving pastime is so significantly on the decline that only 19% of Australian children enjoy a clamber in their local tree” Planet Ark research 2011


How high are children allowed to climb at Bush Kinder?

Children have different levels of confidence and ability. Reaching for that first branch may require an educator to be beside a child ready to catch. It may also be appropriate for an educator to watch from afar with a child many metres up a tree. 

Tuesday 9 October 2012

Dirt Doesn't Hurt

An early years forum looking at mental health in the early years.

Launch of the "Dirt Doesn't Hurt" resource.


Enabling children to experience natural play, independently



How do we enable families to give their children more opportunities for independent, outdoor, creative, messy play?
How do we support them to let their children build confidence, take educated risks, and become resilient?
How can we pass this information on to parents, and model these behaviours in our settings – bringing our communities onside


Presenters: Kim Coulter, Doug Fargher, Vanessa Wiggenraad, Leigh Bartlett