Bush Kinder at the Cranbourne Gardens
Engaging Early Childhood with Nature
Current research suggests that time spent in a Bush Kinder setting assists children in building lifelong and impactful relationships with nature. With its natural bushland setting, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne has become a popular site for numerous local Bush Kinder programs.
The spectacular Woodland Picnic Area at the Cranbourne Gardens provides a perfect landscape for your group to engage in Bush Kinder. This is the designated area for you to carry out Bush Kinder when visiting, and has access to toilets and shelters. We request Bush Kinders use this space to keep safe as well as to preserve the surrounding natural bushland ecosystem.
Through a carefully planned and delivered Bush Kinder program children have the opportunity to be observant, learn, play, collaborate, connect and become confident in navigating their natural environment. To support the development of your Bush Kinder program at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne we provide the following information and resources.
Bush Kinder Workshops
Twice a year our Learning Facilitators deliver a full-day workshop to assist educators in planning a safe, informed and appropriate Bush Kinder program. The program is designed to orientate educators to how best to utilise the landscape, it is recommended that organisations complete it annually. Organisations receive a ‘Bush Kinder Ready Certificate’ on completion.
Bush Kinder Teacher and Student Induction
Our Bush Kinder Induction program for Bush Kinder groups including educators and children. This 1.5 hour orientation program is led by a Learning Facilitator and introduces educators and children to the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne Bush Kinder site. The group will journey on a guided exploration through the bushland to the Woodland Picnic Area observing the diverse plant and animal habitats on the way. They will learn about safety in the bushland and come to understand how to play and learn with a conservation lens. It is recommended that groups complete this program annually.
Register for Bush Kinder
Registering your Bush Kinder program annually helps us to continue to supporting and communicating with Kindergartens and Early Learning Centres. To register for Bush Kinder please complete the form below outlining the days and dates of your program as well as key contact details.
Resources
Some resources that may be of assistance to delivering your Bush Kinder Programs