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This immersive free play experience develops a connection to nature by exploring local flora and fauna, storytelling, and sensory play. .
 Mini-Fests are perfect for multi-age Vacation Care Days as learners use their agency to manage their time and move between activities of interest. Programs can be tailored to your needs and based on seasonal change, graduated elements of risky play, and a mix of sensory, imagination and active play activities.

 

Activites may include potion making, muddy chef creations, cubby building, watercolour painting, clay creatures and sunflower seed bombs, and kite flying.

 

Mini-Fests can be held on school grounds, at local green spaces or even in National Parks like Belair National Park.

 

Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours per session (times can be negotiated)

 

Cost:

$950 +GST (for up to 50 students)

$1475 +GST (for up to 75 students)

$1850 +GST (for up to 100)

 

Target Audience: Early Years to Year 6

 

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Nature Play SA’s unique cubby building excursion engages students in a real-world STEM challenge set amongst the beautiful surrounds of Belair National Park. Facilitated through a series of team challenges, students use natural, open-ended resources to problem solve, design and build imaginative cubby creations. The timeless surrounds of nature and a setting steeped in history provides the perfect platform for collaborative learning, where cooperation and resilience are the keys to success and sustainable practices are embedded throughout.

 

Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours

 

Cost:

$950 +GST (for up to 50 students)

$1475 +GST (for up to 75 students)

$1850 +GST (for up to 100)

 

Target Audience: Early Years to Year 6

 

 

 

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Save on the cost of buses and host a Mobile Cubby Building experience in a green space at your site. Watch as a little village springs to life using large and small loose parts.

 

Our Mobile Cubby Building experience develops creativity, cooperation, and resilience. It allows students of all ages to use natural, open-ended resources to problem-solve, design and build imaginative cubby creations. Perfect for groups of up to 50 students per 2-hour session. During inclement weather, this program can also be facilitated in a large indoor space/gymnasium.

 

Duration: 90 minutes to 2 hours per session

 

Cost:

$950 +GST (for up to 50 students)
$1475 +GST (for up to 75 students)
$1850 +GST (for up to 100)

 

Target Audience: Reception to Year 6

 

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An active adventure, blending ‘screen time’ with ‘green time.’ Learners will explore their surroundings on a high-tech treasure hunt using GPS technology. Geocaching tops into problem solving, team building, and creative thinking while promoting physical activity outdoors.

 

STRUCTURE OF SESSION

  • Sessions run for 90 minutes.
  • Students will be working in small groups of 2 or 3.
  • After our briefing, groups will seek out hidden caches and return to HQ to ‘check in’ before searching for another.
  • There will be 10 – 15 caches to find, set by our staff within your space/grounds.
  • Program is differentiated to suit Reception to Year 6 students.

 

$800 +GST (for up to 50 students)

$1100 +GST (for up to 100 students)

 

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Small staff PD sessions perfect for primary school educators. Visit us at Wittunga House in Blackwood or we can come to you. Sessions typically run 60-90mins depending on your needs. Select from our menu of PD options:

 

  • “Embracing Outdoor Learning in Primary School” – A practical workshop exploring sensory play, bookish play based on stories, and using the entire school yard as an outdoor classroom. This PD provides educators with ideas and resources they can use “the next day”. This session also briefly explores the perceived barriers to outdoor learning for educators, parents and the built environment.

 

  • “Loose Parts and Play Space Affordance” – How natural assets, the built environment and loose parts can support play and outdoor learning. This session explores perceived barriers to outdoor learning and guides participants through an audit of your physical environment to identify new opportunities for outdoor learning and play.

 

Min-Max number of participants: 10-25

Cost: 60min session – $350; 90min session $450

*Additional costs may apply for sites outside metro area.

Location Requirements: Indoor and outdoor space

 

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Nature Play SA offers a unique range of experiences in Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta that sees learners explore Kaurna and European history, discover unique flora and fauna, engage in experiences centred around connection, wellbeing, and stewardship.

 

We offer a variety of programs which range from 90 minutes to full-day experiences! Programs include mobile cubby building,  exploring mini-beasts, mini-festivals, and geocaching excursions which allow plenty of time to explore South Australia’s newest national park and nature play space.

 

Book now on the link below or contact our Education Team to tailor a program to your needs [email protected]

 

       

 

 

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Beyond the Classroom is all about supporting schools and educators to rediscover their connection with green and blue spaces in their local community.

 

This excursion allows students to learn in, with and through nature by exploring local flora and fauna unique to your space. Students walk, create and engage in a series of activities that serve as a springboard for future learning and connection with the space. Educators will finish sessions with the knowledge, confidence and resources needed to revisit the space and keep the connection going. This excursion can be held in any significant local nature space, including:

 

  • National Parks
  • Beaches
  • Wetlands and Rivers
  • Reservoirs

 

If you are interested to explore this excursion opportunity, please email our education team and allow us to prepare a program based on your needs.

 

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This exciting bespoke excursion is hosted in the stunning grounds of the Wittunga Botanic Gardens. The Mini-Beasts theme is weaved though all activities, with particular focus on native caterpillars & butterflies; spiders; moths; and macro invertebrates (water bugs).

 

During this experience, learners explore the grounds of the Wittunga Gardens in search of the mini-beasts that call it home. They will discover unseen worlds by identifying macro invertebrates from the central lake, and use their artistic expression to create mini-beast inspired artworks to take home.

 

Note: This excursion can also be hosted in other locations including Belair National Park and Glenthorne National Park – Ityamaiitpinna Yarta.

 

Duration: 90 minutes – 2 hours

 

Cost (per student): $17 [+GST]

 

Target Audience: Our Mini-Beast and Water Bug Excursion is perfect for years K-6. Groups of up to 100 (or five classes) can be accommodated in a bespoke experience.

 

Conditions: Minimum spend of $400

 

A $200 cancellation fee applies if your confirmed booking is cancelled without rescheduling.

 

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Small staff PD sessions perfect for early learning centres and educators working in early learning. Visit us at Wittunga House in Blackwood or we can come to you. Sessions typically run 60-90mins depending on your needs. Select from our menu of PD options:

 

  • “Embracing Outdoor Learning in the Early Years” – A practical workshop exploring sensory play, nature tables, and bookish play based on stories. This PD provides educators with ideas and resources they can use “the next day”. This session also briefly explores the perceived barriers to outdoor learning for educators, parents and the built environment.

 

  • “Loose Part and Play Space Affordance” – How natural assets, the built environment and loose parts can support play and outdoor learning. This session explores perceived barriers to outdoor learning and guides participants through an audit of your physical environment to identify new opportunities for outdoor learning and play.

 

Min-Max number of participants: 10-25

Cost: 60min session – $350; 90min session $450

*Additional costs may apply for sites outside metro area.

Location Requirements: Indoor and outdoor space

 

 

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Date: Friday, September 8th

 

Location: Lakeview Room, Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, 145A Mount Barker Rd, Hahndorf

 

Time: 9am to 3pm. 

 

Description:  

Nature play goes beyond play spaces – it addresses the needs of the whole child. It considers how we guide and foster student agency, connectedness, wellbeing, and belonging. This full-day workshop explores nature play at a much deeper level that transcends beyond physical spaces and examines what it means to ‘belong.’ It focuses on how we view children as capable and competent, how we design learning experiences with children, how to set up successful programs like bush kindy, and connections to Country through art and language. These elements form an important part of belonging.

 

This workshop will feature a keynote from the fabulous Lisa Burman, author of a new book titled “A Culture of Agency” which is available in July. 

 

Tickets: SOLD OUT

 

Who is this for: Early Years and Primary School educators 

 

 

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Date: 23rd of October, 2023

 

Where: National Wine Centre, Adelaide

 

Time: 9am to 5pm. 

  

Taking Risks for Wellbeing is a call to action. It asks educators, policymakers, health practitioners and services that support families and children to be bold in their approach toward nurturing and maintaining children’s wellbeing. Through provisions for risk-taking in play spaces, as well as in their approach to teaching and learning. Stepping outside the accepted norm to champion wellbeing as a priority.  

  

It means delving deep into what wellbeing looks like for the whole child. Facilitating action to change or improve school approaches to teaching, learning and play to foster a culture where wellbeing can thrive.  

  

The Conference will feature two well-known and prominent keynote speakers: Tim Gill (UK), renowned author, speaker, consultant and global advocate for children’s play and mobility; and Madhavi Nawana Parker (Aus), Director of Positive Minds Australia, who is one of Australia’s leading experts on wellbeing and resilience. 

 

 

Tickets: $395 + Booking Fee (lunch and morning tea included)

 

Student: $276.50 + Booking Fee (lunch and morning tea included). Please Note: Registered higher education student; current photographic University, TAFE or other college ID required on entry.

 

 

 

 

 

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Our Mobile Cubby Building experience develops creativity, cooperation, and resilience. It allows students use natural, open-ended resources to problem solve, design and build imaginative cubby creations. Perfect for groups of up to 60 students per 90 minute session.

 

Save on the cost of buses and host a Mobile Cubby Building experience in a green space at your site. This incursion is also perfect for schools exploring the use of loose parts play during free play time.

 

Duration: 90 minutes per session

 

Cost (per student): $17 [+GST]

 

Target Audience: Reception to Year 6

 

Conditions: Minimum spend of $700.

 

A $200 cancellation fee applies if your confirmed booking is cancelled without rescheduling.

 

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Birdwatch: calm your mind and ignite your curiosity with learning to birdwatch or identify through their song.

 

Watching birds can be relaxing and rewarding as we observe these feathered creatures going about their day-to-day lives. When we get to know the birds around us it provides an opportunity to tune into daily and seasonal rhythms that often guide their behaviour and movements.

 

Observing birds is a powerful form of mindfulness. It allows us to be present, to feel connected to something greater than ourselves. It’s not about their names – but the way we feel when that connection finds us.

 

If unfamiliar with bird watching let go of any preconceived ideas. Find a place in nature to sit or slowly wander. Allow patience to find you, observe without expectation, and soon your senses will take over.

 

Check out these resources:

 

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Find a sit spot: tune into your surroundings by quietly sitting in nature.

 

Uninterrupted time in nature helps let go of the stresses that pull our hearts away from what matters most – family, friendship, dreams, and adventure. Finding a place to sit and ‘be’ can take practice. But eventually, your mind will find its rhythm, and nature will sing to you.

 

As you begin to practice spending time in a ‘sit spot,’ start with a minute or two. Eventually, you will know the right amount of time and can let your mind drift with nature.

 

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Plant veggies: nurture the earth and your soul by planting veggies and herbs in your garden or a pot.

 

 

There’s nothing quite like homegrown produce. The smell of freshly picked tomatoes, the crunch of newly podded peas and the anticipation of pulling your first carrot or beetroot from the soil. Whilst there is some work involved – gardening is a journey of trial and error, nurture, and nourishment.

 

Here are five ways to get you prepared and excited about gardening:

 

  1. Select the right veggie patch that suits your space (from pots to raised garden beds there are plenty of options)
  2. Make sure your patch is in a nice sunny position, sheltered from strong winds
  3. Prepare your soil with good quality compost and for extra nutrients add some aged horse or cow manure
  4. If just starting out, choose fast-growing reliable veggies that you like to eat (a combination of herbs, leafy greens, root-based veggies, and those that produce vegetables from a flower i.e. tomatoes and zucchinis)
  5. Water your veggies regularly
  6. Tend to your garden with joy and it will teach you many things.

 

One of South Australia’s most loved gardeners and presenters is Sophie Thompson (Sophie’s Patch) has a great book, blog and often hosts and presents at events.

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Nature Play SA acknowledges Traditional owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and Elders past, present and emerging.