Bush School
Bush School is a nature-based outdoor education program inspired by the Scandinavian approach to early childhood education known as Forest Schools. Since 2014, John Brotchie has successfully led our Bush School program, providing enriching experiences for our children.
Our approach emphasises regular outdoor time in nature, in all weather. Children engage in child-initiated play within a local nature parkland, fostering a deep connection to the environment and encouraging exploration and discovery.
Bush School's Vision
DISCOVER, CONNECT, RESPECT
Bush School's aim is for the children to reconnect and appreciate the natural world. We will provide unhurried time for the children to play and explore in a local, natural setting. We will give the children opportunities to connect with our natural environment, the local community and learn about our local Aboriginal culture and history.
Bush School is a "wilder" environment where risk and challange is part of the experiences. Children, with the support of educators, will build resilience, problem solving skills, teamwork, risk-taking and a sense of wonder.
Benefits of Bush School
According to research "one in ten Aussie kids play outside once a week or less. We have become a nation of indoors, not outdoors" (From Climbing Trees: Getting Aussie Kids Back Outside:2013). Today's children play in overly safe playgrounds or are involved in structured, organised sports or training events, and more and more children spend time inside on devices such as computers, iPads and gaming consoles. An Australian survey showed a substantial decline in just one generation, with 73% of parents saying they played outside more than inside compared to their children with only 13% saying their children played outside more than inside.
There is a growing body of research, which strongly indicates that the benefits of active outdoor play are profound. Children with significant time outside had greater development in concentration, play, physical development, and social skills. From anenvironmental perspective, children who learn outdoors develop a deep understanding of conservation and environmental issues.
Research conducted on children who attend Scandinavian Forest Schools compared to children who attend regular Nursery Schools displayed the following attributes:
- better social skills
- more attentive
- fewer infections and better general health
- better language development
- improved life skills such as independence, resilience and problem solving
Bush School at John Brotchie
Bush School is part of our preschool program; you need to be enrolled and attend our preschool program to attend Bush School.
Bush School is held on Wednesday, in our local parkland approximately 1km walk from preschool. The children start their day at preschool, getting ready-packing their bush school bags and getting dressed in their safety and wet weather gear. At approximatley 9.30am the children leave preschool and start their walk down to our bush school site. When they arrive, they start by having a short rest, morning tea and water before heading off to play. The children are involved in a variety of play opportunities in the natural environment, only limited by their imagination. Some of their favourite experiences include, tree climbing, stick play, building gunyahs with long sticks, making art with leaves, flowers, and sticks or swinging on the rope swing.
After playing in nature all morning we walk back to John Brotchie to clean up, have some lunch and enjoy the rest of the day outside in our beautiful outdoor playground.
Parent/ family volunteers are always welcome and are very helpful at Bush School.
