Nature Play

Over the past decade, there has been a growing international interest in nature play. Unstructured outdoor play is one of the best ways to develop children’s skills and increase their motivation for learning whilst fostering a love of the earth. 

Here in Queensland, nature can be part of our everyday life thanks to our temperate climate and easy access to backyards, parks, reserves and native forests. Bush Knowing Forest School is proud to be an official Nature Play QLD activity provider and an Approved Provider Member of the Australian Forest School Association (AFSA); giving Brisbane families an opportunity to engage with and learn from nature throughout the year. 

Learning in, with and from nature since 2018

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Why play in nature with Bush Knowing?

Bush Knowing Forest School is the creation of Joanne Sørensen – an experienced, and qualified Forest School Leader and Early Childhood Teacher. Jo has been teaching for over thirty years and in 2024 resigned as a Teacher/CoDirector after a long and rewarding career. Bush Knowing Forest School was established in 2018 as a way to help Brisbane families get back to nature by offering a range of child-led play and exploration sessions.

How can we play safely in nature?

Before every Bush Knowing Forest School session we risk-assess our bush site. This includes the weather, the creek (including the water), and the flora and fauna from the ground to the upper canopy. We highlight any tripping areas (like fig tree roots) where we need to remind children to step with high knees. We also collect and dispose of any rubbish. 

When you arrive for your session, we start with a mandatory safety talk. This briefing informs you, as a parent or primary caregiver, how to support your child to play safely in nature. The briefing adjusts each week based on seasonality and the risk-assessment performed.

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Our guidelines for play

• The Red Rope: Our bush site is marked by low-hanging red ropes as a visual reminder to children about where we play. We teach children to “touch and turn” when they reach the red rope. Each week the placement of the red ropes can alter based on the bush site’s risk assessment. Please take the time to view the red rope locations with your child as you explore.
   
• Drop and plop: When playing in the creek, we only lift stones that are the size of a palm. We check to ensure we have a “safety bubble” around us (your child’s arm length) before bending down to pick up the stone. We drop the stone to “plop” into the water with bended knees.
  
  
• Snake safety: Snakes are native animals and an important part of our natural environment. We educate children and their caregivers to following these supportive guidelines. We also host special Snake Safety visits from Reptile Adventures throughout the year.
  • If you see a snake in the distance – stop and stamp your feet. The snake will feel the vibrations and hopefully slither away. Tell the nearest adult.
  • If the snake is very close to your body – freeze. Stand still and call out for help.

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At Bush Knowing Forest School, we observe and learn from the land and waterways as the seasons and weather change.  We weigh up every child’s need to be challenged and take risks throughout their learning journey and have developed a considered approach to our sessions ensuring every child’s interaction and connection continues in a safe, and balanced way. 

Got a question?

If you would like to know more about the benefits of nature play, or about how our sessions can support your child to engage with the outdoors safely, you can contact me via email, Facebook or Instagram. Alternatively, you can complete the form below.

I look forward to hearing from you!