Since 2025 an integrated weekly Bush Kinder program was established as part of the kinder 4 program at One World for Children. This learning opportunity allows children to thrive in the natural setting of Wurdi Youang (the You Yangs), engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that connect children with Country, each other, and themselves.
Children partake the role of Nature Detectives, discovering fascinating natural treasures – including chrysalis shells, seed pods, bird nests, and animal tracks. Such discoveries spark rich conversations and a sense of wonder, encouraging observation skills and curiosity about the world around them.
Bush kinder produces beautiful opportunities to explore the life cycles of trees – from tiny new sprouts pushing up through the earth, to strong mature trees, to stags (dead trees) that still play an important role in the ecosystem. These observations naturally lead to discussions about change, growth, and the passage of time in nature.
What the children had to say about their weekly time at Wurdi Youang:
“I like searching for lots of feathers”
“I like climbing the tree. It made me happy to go high”
“I like looking for sticks like a boomerang”
“We saw lots of kangaroos today. There was a big family of kangaroos”
“There was a possum in the toilet!”
“I like to lie on the picnic rug and listen to the galah’s and cockatoos”
“I found a coolamon (an Aboriginal term for a carrying tray or vessel) and now I’m going to collect gumnuts to carry”
Time spent in the bush supports children’s emotional regulation, resilience, and creativity, while also encouraging teamwork, problem-solving, and respect for the land whilst embedding Aboriginal perspectives into daily experiences learning from and about the Country we walk on and acknowledging its cultural significance through stories and practices shared by Traditional Owners.
