BUSH school Adventures
REGISTER FOR BUSH SCHOOL HERE:
What is it?
If you're reading this, you probably value a more holistic approach to education than schools can offer.
On the Bluegum Bush School day adventures we take this holistic approach into wild nature, asking -
‘How can we use nature-connection mentoring to support our kids to be at home in any environment?’
Please note: your child does not have to be a homeschooler to come. All kids/teens welcome.
How does it happen?
The Bluegum Bush School program uses time-honoured mentoring practices used by nature-based cultures worldwide, such as:
- storytelling
- artful questioning
- rapport-based relating
- nature connection games
- awareness exercises
- bushcraft and survival skills
We inspire, activate and focus the internal wisdom of each child, meeting them where they are at to catalyse their journey of growth, discovery, and self-empowerment, helping them to be more at home in the world.
What does it look like?
Once every 2-3 months a small group of kids and nature mentors head into the bush for the morning.
Our Jervis Bay mornings for 5-14 years run from 9am - 12:30pm on Saturdays.
Our Mongarlowe (Braidwood) mornings for 5-14 years run from 10am - 1:30pm on Sundays.
(See dates page for our upcoming dates)
Each session may include: stories to awaken curiosity; games to get things moving; a journey leading to more focused activity. We usually finish with some reflection on what we’ve experienced and learned, and a celebration of what we’ve achieved or what we’re grateful for.
Expect kids to come back dirtier, full of stories and things to share, a bit more sparkly eyed and probably dog-tired.
What to bring:
All kids/teens will need to bring plenty of snacks, ample water, sun protection, waterproof jacket, warm jumper, a comfy backpack to carry it all and suitable footwear.
Where is it?
Various awesome bush locations around the Jervis Bay area, dependent on weather and activity.
We also now have a bush school meet at Mongarlowe, near Braidwood.
How much?
$65 per child/teen, for 3 or 4 hours (dependent on age group) of high quality mentoring.
Do you have a curriculum?
Our ReWild Curriculum fosters meta-skills such as awareness, curiosity and problem-solving; empowering kids to be fully and truly at home, not only in the wild, but also in the world at large - whether city, suburb, forest or savannah.
The five sections of the ReWild Curriculum address attributes such as:
Monkey Body - movement, vitality, play
- what does it mean to be at home in our bodies?
- how can we discover more about the possibilities for movement and expression?
- how can we nurture our co-ordination, strength, flexibility and agility?
- what can the animals teach us about having a wild body?
Artisan Hand - creating and crafting with natural materials
- what do you see in that piece of wood?
- how can we choose and harvest in a way that actually helps the bush?
- how can make the things we need to live in the bush; string, baskets, pots, shelters, fire sticks, stone and bone tools?
- how can we help our hands to get cleverer at creating things from the natural materials we find?
Eye of the Tracker - eco-literacy, navigation, reading the book of life
- how can we read the stories of the bush written in soil, bark, breeze, on leaf and limb, in cloud and bird call?
- how does the landscape show us where to find water? where to find shelter? how to find our way?
- what are the birds telling us?
- when we look at a footprint, can we see the animal moving in our mind’s eye?
- how do we navigate, identify, interpret the habitats and inhabitants of the bush?
- how do we come to know the places and characters in this great story called Life?
Mind of the Jedi - self-awareness, focus, inner stillness
- how can we be like a quiet pool of water, so still that the reflections are crystal clear?
- what happens when we watch, and wait and listen?
- how can we tune our ears to the quietest sounds, the rustle of beetle, of earthworm, of distant birdsong?
- how can we use our owl eyes, our kangaroo ears, our dingo noses to drink in the sensory symphony of the bush?
Wild Heart - care of self and others; joyful, creative expression
- how do we know we are truly alive?
- how can we cherish and and care for all things that live?
- how can we feel, deeply and fully?
- how can we share how we feel with others, and hear them in return?
- how can we create with all our hearts the inspiring stories, the beautiful songs, the joyful games and dances, the special things that we most want to?
- how can we bring what is inside us out into the world, as a gift for others?
REGISTER FOR BUSH SCHOOL HERE:
Come and Join the Bush School Tribe!
