Bush Kinder: Youngsters in Violet Town have an opportunity to learn about ecology thanks to a Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal grant.
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Violet Town Kindergarten has received a $4264 grant for its Bush Kinder program through the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s Strengthening Rural Communities fund.
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The idea behind the project is to develop the ecological identity of all children in Violet Town Kindergarten’s care.
This Bush Kinder program will:
• Educate children about veteran trees and dangers associated in nature; and
• Develop a natural low impact barrier with the children and the kindergarten’s committee of management to identify the fall zone of veteran trees in the area used for periods of uninterrupted play, guiding children to respect the veteran tree zones for flora and fauna.
The great outdoors: Violet Town Kindergarten is developing a Bush Kinder program.
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Goulburn Region Preschool Association CEO Ronni Druitt said these funds would contribute to purchasing the appropriate items required for Bush Kinder.
“(Those include) weatherproof clothing to provide to our vulnerable children to use, travel carts to transport our items, fishing materials and other items to explore nature,” Ms Druitt said.
“We will also provide the children with waterproof cameras to use and then download them back at the centre and discuss what we found.”
Research has shown that some of the benefits of Bush Kinder include:
• Outdoor play gets children moving;
• Being outside makes children happy;
• Boosted immunity;
• Promotion of creativity; and
• Respect for and connection to the environment.
“Attending bush kinder offers children the opportunity to grow at their own pace, connect to others with kindness and creativity, learn holistically and increase their communication, self-regulation and confidence.
“This will undoubtedly contribute to empathy within the community.
“Children are reminded to practice respect and care for the land that they are playing on which in turn will teach them to respect and care for the community they live in.
“Grants such as these are integral to our small communities that support Early Childhood Centres with new and existing programs improving learning environments.
“Children are natural learners and so this program funded generously by FRRR will provide them with the time and an ideal environment for them to learn in uninterrupted play in the bush, using what nature has provided as learning materials.”
For more information on GRPSA, please contact Teagan Stewart, Marketing and Communications Officer on 5826 2780 or email teagan@grpsa.com.au.
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