Not inside four walls, but under open sky. Not apart from one another, but together.
Community is the soil beneath everything I do. It allows learning to grow in its own time.
Out here, learning slows. It breathes. It unfolds gently.
Children belong in these spaces. They listen with their whole bodies. They notice what adults often forget.
A feather on the ground. A trail of ants. A leaf changing colour.
In caring for small things, they learn how to care for the world — and for each other.
But this is never just about children.
It is also about families.
About walking alongside one another. About slowing down together. About seeing the world again through curious, wondering eyes.
When families are part of the journey, nature becomes shared language. Connection moves beyond the moment and into everyday life.
This is how community grows.
Quietly. Patiently. With trust.
I believe deeply that community should never come with a barrier. That nature belongs to everyone. That learning is richer when it is shared.
When people feel welcomed, when they feel held, when they know they belong — they show up.
For their children. For each other. For the earth that holds us all.
Through these shared experiences, we are raising future stewards of this precious planet.
Not by telling children to protect it — but by helping them fall in love with it.
Because we care for what we are connected to.
Nature reminds us that nothing grows alone.
Roots intertwine beneath the surface. Forests thrive through cooperation. Life is sustained through relationship.
And this is my invitation.
If you are seeking a place where your child can grow slowly, where learning is guided by curiosity and care, and where families are welcomed as part of a living, breathing community
You may have noticed that we always have 2 hammocks strung between the trees in the shade every session – why is that?
Here’s why !
Hammocks offer several benefits for children’s self-regulation:
Sensory Integration: The gentle swinging motion provides calming vestibular input, which helps regulate the nervous system and promotes a sense of balance and equilibrium. The cocoon-like feeling of being enveloped in a hammock provides deep pressure and proprioceptive input, which can be grounding and calming for children who are overstimulated or anxious.
Self-Soothing: Hammocks create a cozy and private space where children can retreat to when they need a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The gentle sway and comforting embrace of the hammock can help children self-soothe and regulate their emotions.
Emotional Regulation: The calming environment of a hammock can help children manage their emotions and develop coping strategies for stress and anxiety. The rhythmic motion of the hammock can also be soothing and promote relaxation.
Focus and Attention: The gentle swaying motion of a hammock can help children focus their attention and improve concentration. This can be beneficial for children with ADHD or other attention disorders.
Body Awareness and Proprioception: The hammock provides opportunities for children to explore their bodies and develop a sense of body awareness. The gentle pressure of the hammock on the body can also help children develop proprioception, which is the sense of where their body is in space.
Overall, hammocks can be a valuable tool for promoting children’s self-regulation and emotional well-being. They provide a calming and comforting environment that can help children manage stress, anxiety, and sensory overload.
AND….are a beautiful way to just connect to self in nature !!
When adults share stories with children—whether from books, their own lives, or through imaginative play—children are exposed to rich language, new ideas, and complex sentence structures. This encourages them to think critically and expand their vocabulary.
Storytelling sparks creativity and imagination, helping children make sense of the world around them and express their own thoughts and feelings. Whether they’re telling stories of their own or listening to others, they learn about emotions, problem-solving, and diverse perspectives.
The skills children gain through storytelling helps develop a lifelong love of learning. When children are introduced to storytelling early on, they gain confidence in their ability to express themselves and connect with others.
Literacy and storytelling go hand in hand in early childhood development. By sharing stories and engaging children with language, it also opens the door to a world full of imagination, creativity, and endless possibilities.
*At Bush Knowing we greatly value and share carefully created early learning experiences and stock a wide range of resources that can support storytelling with your children.
As an invested local community member, parent, educator and facilitator … I truly believe we all want our children to and develop a deep sense of responsibility and care for the earth.
For this to happen we must support every child’s sense of agency to be its stewards today and everyday. Fostering these skills has always been at the heart of everything at Bush Knowing.
When we shift our focus locally we can to ensure a meaningful connection and understanding of the natural places and spaces that we explore.
I recently posted where l questioned how many children could name at least 10 of their local bird species…it saddens me to think that there are some but not enough.
Children ARE our Current and Future Environmental Leaders
We know .. children hold the potential to be the leaders, activists, and innovators of tomorrow. From reducing waste to advocating for policy change, today’s children will play an active role. But this will only happen if we start nurturing their connection to nature while they are young.
The Power of Families in Shaping Environmental Values
Families play a pivotal role.
The everyday choices families make—from recycling to conserving energy to choosing sustainable products—serve as a foundation for children’s environmental values.
By making eco-friendly practices part of daily life, families not only reduce their own environmental impact but also set an example for their children. These practices become ingrained in the child’s mindset, laying the groundwork for a lifetime of environmentally conscious decisions. When children see their parents making thoughtful choices to protect the planet, they learn that caring for the Earth is not just important, it’s essential.
The Importance of Connecting Children to Nature
Children who grow up with these experiences are more likely to develop a sense of responsibility for the environment. This connection nurtures a deep appreciation for wildlife, forests, oceans, and ecosystems—and it encourages children to see themselves as part of the natural world, not separate from it.
Teaching Sustainability Through Play and Exploration
Outdoor play and exploration provides rich opportunities for children to learn about sustainability in a hands-on way. Whether it’s planting a tree, or learning about local wildlife, children have the chance to engage with the environment in a meaningful way. These experiences teach them about the cycles of life, the importance of conservation, and the impact of their actions on the planet.
When families engage in these experiences , children can see firsthand the positive impact of their actions. This can include things like starting a garden, using reusable shopping bags, or reducing food waste. These small but significant experiences fosters a generation that understands the importance of sustainability.
Fostering Local and Global Citizenship
Teaching children to care for the planet helps them to understand their role as local and global citizens. By instilling a sense of empathy and responsibility for the planet, we help children understand that the health of the Earth is interconnected with the well-being of all people, animals, and ecosystems. This perspective encourages children to think beyond their immediate surroundings and consider the impact of their actions on a global scale.
Nurturing Tomorrow’s Earth Stewards Today
Our children are the stewards of the future.
Families, educators, and communities have a crucial role to play in nurturing the next generation of environmental leaders
By fostering a love for nature, teaching sustainable practices, and instilling a sense of responsibility for the planet, we can ensure that children grow up with the knowledge, skills, and compassion to protect and restore the Earth.
By working together as families and communities, we can raise a generation of young people who will care for this planet as if their future—and the future of all life on Earth—depends on it. Because, in truth, it does.
I’m not sure how you feel about discussing this topic with young children – but l know from many years of experience that it is an important and valuable learning experience.
Every morning before a session l complete an important site check to look at the upper, mid and lower canopy as well as the leaf litter and creek areas.
I had actually noticed the crow last week on my previsit – before bush kindy term started – to ensure that there were no other major issues. Sadly the weed species on our site have not had any attention from the Moreton Regional Council for some time and l quickly sent an email to the Public Spaces coordinator.
On a side note ……I had a meeting with council on site Wednesday morning where l explained the need for some weed removal -hopefully we have some response soon.
At that time l noticed the crow laying beside the creek- it was very stinky and covered in flies – and l recognised the value in leaving it alone so that we could explore this learning experience.
We were so excited to start our term and as part of our daily morning sharing and discussion l mentioned my find.
For many children this was a focus of their interactions, conversations and wonderings !!!
Observing with our new magnifying glasses.
So many questions, so much discussion.
The new magnifying glasses provided the perfect opportunity to view the decaying skeleton. Even the youngest of the group spent quite some time observing from a distance, as well as close up.
From their observations and musings there were many questions which included ….
Why does it have no eyes?
Why are the flies on it?
Why does it have white feathers?
Why did it die ?
Where did it come from?
“It has no eyes”
I could have chosen to remove the dead bird from our bush site… just imagine….. we would have missed out on a fabulous rich and meaningful learning experience.
Death and decay are so fascinating.
It’s a really valuable way to investigate and understand the circle of life.
In our discussions and responses – we used very simple, honest and direct language.
We look forward to observing what happens each week and the connections the children will make.
Since 2003 l have been very fortunate to visit a wide range of early childhood services in Denmark that are based in nature.
In Denmark there is a deep and long held cultural understanding, appreciation of and expectation that children should play in nature regularly.
Early childhood services, well resourced and funded facilities in local parks and forests connect children, families and communities.
Nature reference books at a local council run environment centre -Naturecenter Hindsgavl, Middelfart.
Parental leave is generous and guaranteed childcare places are available to families within local neighborhoods.
I have been both challenged and inspired from what l have observed and through interactions and conversations with educators, children and families.
Children respect and learn about the circle of life from creatures found in the local forest, Skovbornehaven Odder 2012.
When translating what happens in many Scandinavian countries there are many elements of nature immersion that just can’t be replicated in our environment. One of the most significant and impacting factors is our Australian wildlife and climate.
For many years Australian early childhood services have also known of the benefits children and educators gain when spending time playing in nature. It is very encouraging to see so many early childhood services recognising and embracing this.
A growing industry of training Forest School Leaders, has given confidence to many in the teaching profession, as well as parents and the wider school/local community.
Skovbornehaven, Middelfart, Denmark August 2019
On my long service leave in 2016 l attended Inside out Natures residential course in Viborg, Denmark with Jane Williams-Siegfredsen. Jane gave me great insights into understanding this curriculum approach.
Skovbornehaven, Skive Denmark June 2016 This service is nestled in a forest beside a fjord.Hondruphus Naturbornehave, Tjele Denmark June 2016
I have been visiting this fabulous local centre in Odder each time l go to Denmark, for over 10 years. Each time l visit l am inspired by their connection to the local forest, their community and for becoming an internationally recognised ‘Green Flag’ School.
Skovtrolden Aarhus Denmark June 2010 – this early childhood service takes the children by bus from their central building in the city, to their forest camp beside the beach several days a week.This local child care centre has a well established service in the town as well as this summer camp base, held for 6 weeks in the forest, Randers – Denmark 2016.
My last visit to Denmark was in 2019 and due to the pandemic it may be a little while yet until l return. I look forward to more time spent exploring these amazing spaces then.
Hello and welcome to my new and long awaited blog. This has been in the makings for some time as l have been slowly updating and reworking the website with the help of Lindsay Salmon’s expert support.
So….what can you expect….good question….in my spare spare time….hahahah…says every busy mother….l aim to write about and share my adventures and love of teaching as we learn in and with nature.
I hope to express the importance of fostering stewardship in these early years and the remarkable way children and families are reconnecting with and learning from their environment.
Here’s to a great year. I hope you can join me for this journey.
So much to observe on our return for the new year.
It’s the start of another year for Bush Knowing. 2022 is our 4th year of operation in what has been a particularly tough time for a lot of small business owners.
As you may be aware l operate this Forest School at the end of my part time teaching week, balancing this with my love of being in nature.
Creating these sessions each week is hard work, though an absolute joy to share with families.
Today l spent some time – reflecting – observing – listening and thinking about our sessions. This special place that l have the privilege of caring for and learning from, offers so much.
I stood quietly on the bank of the creek for a few minutes and then wandered around the dense and weedy trails. For over 12 years I have had a special connection to this beautiful and wild green space.
So much to see, so much to hear, so much to learn.
I often tell the children to ” Look up, look down, look all around”.
And today…that’s what l did.
This solo visit gave me the opportunity to view this space from many perspectives.
Fungi, butterflies, a Sacred Kingfisher, a carcass of a dead crow, a fast flowing creek, lots of weeds and growth amongst the native trees.
I can’t wait to learn in and from nature with you in 2022.
