The be eligible to book you must fit the below criteria:

• MUST live near Mill Park and within the City of Whittlesea 
• Have children aged 1 – 5 years
• Have barriers (physical, mental, financial, emotional) which have limited you or your child accessing the outdoors. 
• In need of support due to isolated or being new to the area. 
• Need to commit weekly and attend the 6 week program

Join us for a weekly nature club program (6 sessions) where families gather to enjoy all the benefits that nature has to offer at Mill Park Recreation Reserve located in Mill Park.  

This family nature club has been funded by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as part of the COLE grant (Caring for our local environment) to give local families with young children who wouldn’t normally access the outdoors the opportunity to do so in a facilitated bush playgroup and supported environment.

We provide a gentle rhythm to our facilitated programs with a focus on sensory play, storytelling, song, craft, learning, unstructured play and plenty of opportunities to build gross motor skills through climbing, balancing and movement.

Eco Explorers bush playgroups 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 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.

It’s also a time for 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 bush playgroups bring together a community of like-minded parents who are supportive and welcoming.

Bush playgroup is an all-weather outdoor playgroup so you need to make sure you bring appropriate weather protection and clothing. Children must have closed footwear when walking in the bush, sun hats, sunscreen, wet weather gear, plenty of snacks and water and a change of clothes. Our playgroup will only be cancelled in the event of an extreme weather warning; fire, storm, high temperatures and strong winds.

Ages: 1 – 5 years

*Parents are responsible for their children at all times.