Our children are the future stewards of the earth and so we need to allow them to explore the wonder and awe of the natural world.
Playing and learning in nature promotes a deep sense of identity, purpose and belonging for children and encourages practices and behaviours to be imbedded within the curriculum that reflect the need to protect and nurture the outdoor environments in which the children live and play.
Risky Play
Thoughtfully selected and incorporated into each outdoor space is a variety of indigenous shrubs, climbers, trees, wildflowers and grasses that flourish within their native habitat. These rich layers of local native flora encourage teachers and children to build and establish strong and respectful relationships with the local Indigenous community allowing positive learning experiences such as plant and wildlife identification and Indigenous inhabitancy of the local area.
Nature lessons in biodiversity begin to emerge as the indigenous plants grow and respond to the seasons. Dotted amongst logs and rocks, they produce a wondrous cycle of seeds, pods, buds and flowers attracting local wildlife by providing food and shelter for all sorts of little creatures. This versatile, ever changing landscape invites children to explore and discover the unique interconnectedness between plants, humans, birds, bees, bugs and insects.