Join us for a weekly Bush Kindy Kids program (9 sessions) at Braeside Park where children learn through play and develop new skills by using tools and learning bushcraft skills. We have a strong Indigenous/Australian focus and share this knowledge through engaging stories and educational bush walks that inspires a deep connection to nature and encourages the use of gross motor skills through climbing, balancing and building.

At Bush kindy, children learn bushcraft and bush survival skills led by experienced leaders. We investigate a different topic each week, learn how to track and find animals, how to safely use tools and make projects, build bush shelters, how to navigate and read maps, use a compass and even prepare food.

Braeside Park, located between Melbourne’s south-east suburbs of Mordialloc and Keysborough and offers diverse areas to explore that meanders through Red Gum grasslands, heathland and wonderful wetlands.

Eco Explorers bush programs are facilitated by qualified and experienced nature play educators (read more about our team here) that are highly skilled and knowledgeable in the area that they work in.

Our Braeside bush kindy is led by Katie. Katie is a passionate environmental and early childhood educator who has over 20 years experience running environmental education programs and more recently, working with children as a kindergarten teacher. She is also a level forest school leader and has many years bush survival experience while conducting field research  ‘off the beaten track’  in remote farming, forested and desert landscapes. From an early age her father, an exploration geologist, taught Katie to read maps and the bush to survive and she looks forward to sharing these skills with the next generation of great explorers!

Our program has been developed to give your child optimum opportunity to build their gross motor and physical skills through movement and fine motor skills during our craft activities. Research clearly shows that the more time your child spends in nature, the better they are prepared for school, both physically and emotionally.

Bush Kindy allows parents to disconnect from their busy lives (and technology) and re-connect with their child in nature. This time is as much for you as it is for your child. Our programs bring together a community of like-minded parents who understand the benefits of . The sessions are relaxed and completely child led and parents are encouraged to follow their child’s lead.

Bush kindy is an all weather outdoor session so you need to make sure you bring appropriate weather protection and clothing. Children and adults must wear closed footwear when walking in the bush, sun hats, sunscreen, wet weather gear, plenty of snacks and water and even a change of clothes for those muddy play days! Our program will only be cancelled in the event of an extreme weather warning; fire, storm, high temperatures and strong wind.

Ages: 3.5  years – 6 years (siblings under 18 months are welcome to attend for free).

*Parents are responsible for their children at all times.