Bush School at Callan Park

Bush School is an outdoor program that gets children moving, creating, and thinking in a stimulating natural environment, giving them a chance to explore, discover, connect with nature and learn at their own pace.

The program is designed to inspire a love and respect for the natural world in children through outdoor exploration, bushcraft activities, and storytelling.

After just a few sessions, your child may start to experience the benefits of connecting with nature such as increased creativity, confidence, attention span, and sense of responsibility in the great outdoors.

Led by experienced educators, this nature play program for children aged 2.5 to 5 years and their caregivers reconnects families with nature in Callan Park’s beautiful surroundings.
What happens at Bush School

Bush School children will engage in a range of nature play activities every 5 weeks. Discover the activities for the upcoming terms:

Term 1 (13 February – 13 March)

• Week 1 (13 Feb): Get to know the mud kitchen, climbing tree, bug hunting space, chalk rocks and more with the story of Dingo’s first day of Bush School. Make your own Bush School pet stick friend to show around!
• Week 2 (20 Feb): Discover the wondrous animals in the park, learn how we can help keep their home clean and make your own animal using clay.
• Week 3 (27 Feb): Hear the story of the Little Brown Spider and craft your own woven spider web.
• Week 4 (6 March): Learn about the incredible life cycle of the cicadas, make your own cicada shakers and music.
• Week 5 (13 March): Listen closely to the sounds of the bush and make your own instruments to form a Bush orchestra.

Term 2 (20 March – 10 April)

• Week 1 (20 March): Learn animal tracking skills following tracks, scatts, sounds and more- test your skills to get a closer look at who lives in the park!
• Week 2 (27 March): Build a shelter the Bush School way, one of our most beloved Bush School sessions will have everyone working together to build shelters and enjoy bundling up inside.
• Week 3 (3 April): Discover the fabulous life cycle of a frog with a frog story, frog hunt, games, and frog craft.
• Week 4 (10 April): Get to know the surprisingly large variety of Australian animals who lay eggs and enjoy an egg hunt adventure!

Throughout the program, children will enjoy a variety of stories songs, craft and games that enhance their learning, development and enjoyment.