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! 

Click image to watch ABC Video of Dunkeld Bush Kinder

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.

With Claire Warden at Wyndham's educators conference.

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