Violet Town Kindergarten and Childcare – Bush Kindergarten
Violet Town is a small regional Victorian town that is resides on Taungurung, Yorta Yorta and Bangerang lands. Every Wednesday during autumn, winter and spring the kindergarten and childcare centre take the youngest members of the community from 6 months to 6 years out into the local Shadforth Reserve.
During our weekly explorations the educators practice our centres and educators philosophy of slow pedagogy, exploration and wonder of the natural environment as the third teacher and child led learning.
These explorations are made possible due to the trusting relationships developed and established within these philosophies.
In our weekly explorations the children spend 5 hours learning, developing and scaffolding skills. Some of the skills that the children have got to experience and explore during our weekly visits include children learning about being socially responsible and show respect for the environment, develop dispositions for learning including curiosity, confidence, cooperation, enthusiasm and persistence. Other skills include scavenging/sorting, researching, risk taking, senses, fire safety and cooking .
Throughout our journey this year we have witnessed children’s confidence, knowledge, support and time spent in the natural environment this has been viewed by educators, parents and volunteers when children branch off into small groups to explore, investigate and ponder what they can find, do or discover.
Each week we do a reflection and publish it on the Violet Town Kindergarten and childcare facebook page. In these reflections we demonstrate and highlight the daily learning that has occurred during the day, the adventures we have had and some of the challenges or adaptations we have needed to do so that all children are included no matter what their skill level or confidence is.
In August we have been showcased in the Goulburn Region – Early Years; Educational Department Newsletter and also in the Euroa Gazette. Our bush kindergarten program has been around since 2018 but this year is our first year to include the childcare on our adventures.
Through this year we have reflected, adapted and sought options that have allowed children of the younger age or a different ability to join us. Some of these have included coming up with ways to cater for the children who need bottles, sleep, or children with limited movement in the natural environment.
FUTURE PLANS
During 2023 we have worked on developing a great professional team where all the educators and teachers philosophies align. We plan on renaming bush kinder to nature learning as it provides greater inclusive practices for all ages and depending on growing demand we may need to provide further nature learning options.
