Wednesday 31 July 2013
Saturday 27 July 2013
Going bush!
Wednesday 31 July 2013
Remember climbing trees and jumping in puddles? Playing in nature was an important part of growing up for most of us. Research suggests that children who spend more time outdoors in nature are happier, healthier, stronger, smarter and more social. Let’s look at ways of reconnecting our children with nature and the outdoors.
Doug Fargher will present this session for parents and guardians of young children.
Doug Fargher is the founder of Bush Kinder, and has been working in Early Childhood for more than 20 years. He is also the proud father of four children. Doug has a passion for allowing children to learn through play, outdoors in nature. Doug is teaching in theBush Kinder program and directing its implementation, as well as consulting and speaking nationally about connecting children with nature.
Places are limited. Registration and payment must be received prior to the session. No refunds or exchanges.
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Dunkeld Bush Kindergarten
Even farm kids in the bush need Bush Kinder.
Dunkeld is at the foot of the Grampians in rural Victoria. Dunkeld kindergarten now run a very successsful Bush Kinder program. My colleague Ben Goodes and I happily supported the forward thinking educators and parent community at Dunkeld get started with a Bush Kinder to suit their specific needs. Congratulations Dunkeld!
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| Click image to watch ABC Video of Dunkeld Bush Kinder |
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| Click image for the Dunkeld Bush Kinder story |
Bush Kinder and Regulations
Bush Kinder has challenged many educators view on what early childhood education should look like.
Over the past fortnight I have been fortunate to make conference presentations and engage in discussion with many inspired educators at the City of Yarra and Wyndham City. These Councils see the benefits that engaging children in nature will have on their community.
Too often as educators we do not follow through with great ideas in fear of regulations. Sadly we do this even when we know our ideas are good for children.
As advocates for children we need to question and read more deeply. Australian law and regulations can and does support good curriculum ideas. The Australian National Quality Framework certainly supports educators providing meaningful learning experiences to children. When offering great ideas like Bush Kinder, educators will be challenged to justify why they are offering it. It is important to recognise and articulate why and how Bush Kinder benefits children, their community and the wider world.
Over the past fortnight I have been fortunate to make conference presentations and engage in discussion with many inspired educators at the City of Yarra and Wyndham City. These Councils see the benefits that engaging children in nature will have on their community.
Too often as educators we do not follow through with great ideas in fear of regulations. Sadly we do this even when we know our ideas are good for children.
As advocates for children we need to question and read more deeply. Australian law and regulations can and does support good curriculum ideas. The Australian National Quality Framework certainly supports educators providing meaningful learning experiences to children. When offering great ideas like Bush Kinder, educators will be challenged to justify why they are offering it. It is important to recognise and articulate why and how Bush Kinder benefits children, their community and the wider world.
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| With Claire Warden at Wyndham's educators conference. |
Wednesday 8 May 2013
Bush Gathering 2
The beach was the location of the second bush gathering. The fortunate children of Balnarring Kindergarten use this space as their learning environment. Awarded educator, Karen Anderson and her community have embraced the opportunities their natural environment offers them.
The Mornington Peninsula appears to be a hot spot of passionate educators and families offering programs where being outdoors in nature is an integral part of their curriculum.
A small and growing number of services all over Victoria are beginning to successfully offer Bush Kinder and similar programs.
Fran Hughes joined us from Randwick TAFE, NSW. Fran is developing a training package she hopes will support current and future educators in Australia. I am very happy to have been asked, along with others in the field, to have input and wish Fran every success.
If you are offering children a program that is outdoors in nature and are interested in joining our informal bush gatherings please get in touch with me and I will pass your details onto the group bushkinder@gmail.com
Thursday 14 March 2013
Greening Australia at Melbourne Museum
It was fantastic to see interested representatives from the Children's Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Cranbourne, the Werribee Open Range Zoo, Merri Creek and rangers from parks within the City of Melbourne. These forward thinking people are all looking at ways of providing appropriate wild play spaces for children.
Educators working in early childhood, primary and outside school hours care were also participants in our workshop. They saw clear educational benefit in spending more time teaching their students outdoors in nature.
Thursday 14 February 2013
Sustainability Living Festival
Victorian Child and Nature Connection has organised a panel discussion
Cecile van der Burgh - VCNC
Doug Fargher - Bush Kinder
Stephen Parker - Muddy Boots and Sandy Hands
Gio Fitzpatrick and Neil Blake - Port Phillip Ecocentre
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