Bush adventures for braver children
Weddin Landcare has accompanied several local schools on excursions to local nature reserves to provide learning experiences for students about their environment, challenge children to step outside their comfort zone and provide opportunities for them to really connect with nature.
Capacity building - LEP23-005-Weddin-02_LLC_012
The issue
Despite living in a rural location, surrounded by some beautiful nature reserves that are easy to access, many local children still have not had the experience of camping or playing freely in nature and understand little about the importance of places such as the Weddin Mountains.
The solution
Weddin Landcare encouraged local schools to conduct excursions to the Weddin Mountains National Park and Company Dam Flora and Fauna Reserve to spend time connecting with nature and learn more about the natural history, geology, cultural significance, flora, fauna and other habitat features of the areas.
The impact
Weddin Landcare have now participated in several overnight excursions to the Weddin Mountains with local combined small school groups as well as day trips to Company Dam Flora and Fauna Reserve with the Bush Kindy group from the Grenfell Preschool and Long Daycare Centre. Local Landcare Coordinators, Melanie Cooper and Claire Diprose have led taught the children about the geology, history, flora and fauna of these areas. Local Wiradjuri woman, Aunty Julie Ferguson has also joined some of these excursions to conduct yarning circles, sharing knowledge about the importance of the Weddin Mountains, the plants, animals, water and landscape to Aboriginal people and demonstrating some tools and traditions. Other local experts also joined us to speak on various topics such as snake safety.
Activities such as bush ‘spot it’, photography, building fires, night-time spotlighting, star gazing and storytelling, humpy building and adventurous bushwalking expeditions all provided valuable learning experiences for the children, some of whom had never been camping or even bushwalking before. These experiences challenged the children and put many of them out of their comfort zone but they were all very proud of their achievements when they realised they had survived! Children were also allowed to just explore and play during extended ‘free time’ and it was wonderful to see how imaginative, relaxed and happy everyone became, including the teachers, the more they bathed in and connect with nature.
Key facts
- Weddin Landcare partnered with local schools to run excursions to nature reserves, offering environmental learning experiences in the outdoors.
- Many rural children had not experienced camping or nature play, nor understood the importance of their surroundings.
- Activities like bushwalking, yarning circles, night spotlighting, camping and free play helped build confidence, teach Aboriginal culture, and deepen connections to nature.