Nature Program

Waterfall Gully Preschool Nature Program

Our Nature Program runs from Terms 2-4 in our Banksia, Waratah and Wattle four-year-old groups.

Welcome to Waterfall Gully Preschool. We hope you and your family will have a fun, memorable and educational experience this year. Part of our curriculum at Waterfall Gully Preschool is to offer a nature program in several of our four-year-old groups – Banksia, Wattle and Waratah. Our program is held on the beautiful parklands of Seawinds Garden at the top of Arthurs Seat State Park. We are learning on the land of the Bunurong and Boon Wurrung People of the Kulin Nation.

The Nature Program is held on Wednesdays, beginning in term 2, with the children being dropped off and collected from Seawinds Garden. (Please refer to our Policy Booklet below for all information regarding our Nature Program). The program will run for terms 2, 3, 4, weather dependent.

Banksia Group.      Wednesdays 9am -12pm

Waratah Group.    Wednesdays 1pm – 4pm

Wattle group.         Wednesdays 1pm – 4pm

The children have the opportunity to learn in and on Country. The children experience local flora and fauna including kangaroos, koalas, various birds, plants and trees. Children walk, play and explore using the environment as a provocation for their learning and understanding of the world around them. The teachers have a curriculum set out to facilitate learning, with the flexibility to include discoveries in nature.

Our Nature Program provides children with the opportunity to be outdoors, regardless of the weather. We have waterproof rain suits and sunhats available for all the children to wear. This ensures all children have the opportunity to play whilst staying warm and dry.

Nature programs have many benefits for children’s learning including supporting their mental and physical health and wellbeing. Children are given space and time to learn in an environment that nurtures creativity and exploration. Children are naturally inquisitive and this program offers children an environment that facilitates learning alongside their peers and teachers. Children are given opportunities for risky play in nature whilst being cared for and educated by experienced teachers and educators who have undertaken training to facilitate nature learning.

Families are asked to pick up and collect their children from Seawinds Garden’s, Arthurs Seat, each week. In the event, that the program is cancelled the session will run as per usual at the kindergarten.

Here is an article written by leaders in the education field in regard to the benefits of Bush Kinder. Bush Kinder – Wellbeing and Resilience

Here is a link to the Bush Kinder Handbook by Parks Victoria Bush Kinder Handbook

You will find information regarding the Legislative Requirements of a nature based learning program in this article In Nature – Information Sheet

You can find out more about Arthurs Seat State Park here: Places to See – Arthurs Seat State Park