Welcome To Bush Pods 2024
~ Choose Your Own Adventure ~
*** Enrolments for term 1 are now open ***
The Bush Pods provides children and families with a space to reconnect with our natural environment, and ultimately gain an awareness of their senses, strength, creativity and confidence in themselves. On private bush properties, your child will be given the opportunity to learn and play in a nurturing and natural environment.
We aim to release children from the burdens of heavily structured learning and competition, in order to recapture the power of imagination, playfulness, and wonder for learning and growth with plentiful, unbounded time to contemplate, relax, run, climb, explore, create, make, record and perform.
Our weekly Bush Pods program is beneficial for families seeking outdoor, fun and nurturing experiences in nature for their children ages 0 -13 years old, or as a part of the homeschool program, or as an alternative education opportunity to compliment the school week for school aged children.
2024 BUSH PODS
Term 1 ~ February 5th to April 11th
~ The Bush Pods acknowledges that we work and play on Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri country and recognise the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri people as the traditional custodians. We pay our respect to all First Nations peoples of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands and their Elders, as well as the land, air, water, animals and plants, from the past, present and into the future. ~
BUSH PLAYGROUP – TUESDAY
Ages 0 to 3 attend with parent or caregiver ~ 9:30am – 11:30am
The Bush Playgroup is a space for children to work directly with a parent, engaging all of their senses and developing a curiosity in the natural world. Within this space, the children can begin to establish fundamental understandings of the natural elements as they experience the rain, a cool wind, a flowing creek and a warm sun.
12 places available ~ when places are filled there is a waitlist ~ bookings are essential
For more information please see program descriptions on the booking link HERE.
New To Bush Pods?
Book a BUSH PLAYGROUP session and experience a nurturing and playful exploration with your child in nature.
ALL YEARS ~ BUSH SCHOOL – WEDNESDAY
Ages 4 to 12 ~ Drop & Go ~ 10am – 3pm
The All Years ~ Bush School is a space for children to be together in nature for a range of dynamic and creative play, sharing, teaching, and learning alongside and from one another. The five-hour session allows children a deeper immersion of play, creation, mindfulness, and socialising. A place where learning, sharing, creativity, curiosity and risky play is encouraged!
14 places available ~ when places are filled there is a waitlist ~ bookings are essential
For more information please see program descriptions on the booking link HERE.
New To Bush Pods?
Book an ALL YEARS session to have space and time to play, build cubbies and make new friends!
BUSH kINDY – THURSDAY
Ages 3.5 – 6 yrs ~ Drop & Go ~ 10am – 2pm
The Bush Kindy is a space for children to comfortably and confidently begin forming their own independence and engage in self directed play and experiential learning with others and the natural world. Within this setting, children can begin to grow a stronger sense of identity and build a sense of community as they are able to work socially, sharing ideas and interests.
12 places available ~ when places are filled there is a waitlist ~ bookings are essential
For more information please see program descriptions on the booking link HERE.
New To Bush Pods?
Book a BUSH KINDY session for your child to build their independence and develop friendships.
Frequently Asked Questions At the Bush Pods???
What can my child expect at a Bush Kindy or All Years session?
The quick answer is a lot of fun, creativity and adventure in nature!
Every session is unique in its own way depending on the group of children, the weather and season, and what we decide to do as a group, as well as children’s individual interests. There is a rhythm within our programs that makes each session known and safe for everyone. In the morning we tend to do a lot more movement, bush walking, explorations, games, and eating! The children are usually hungry, excited to chat, and the energy is high. Dynamic play is always at the core of the activities that the children delve into such as the making in the mud kitchen, building cubbies, getting creative in their art journals and climbing and swinging in trees. After lunch the energy usually becomes more calm and the play has a quality of deep engagement. Children are more apt to continue on a project they have already started, or hang out in the hammock and talk together, or work in their art journals. There can also be time for additional walks and games when requested. The sessions also build more stamina and resilience for the natural elements, problem solving and working together with others. Just before home time, we all pack up and then all create a hilarious story together, and no one wants to leave because we are having so much fun. Please see program descriptions on the booking link HERE.
Can I stay at the session to help my child transition into Bush Kindy OR All Years?
The quick answer is Yes to settle your child in.
The Drop & Go nature of theses sessions is the goal for all children and their parents, as the benefits are lifelong foundations for your child’s independence, self awareness, development of trust and friendships, practising age appropriate responsibilities, decision making, and so much more.
For some families, this may be the first time you are leaving your children with someone other than family, and that’s a big deal. We have been there too, so we support you and your child to get to know the teachers and the environment together and develop a clear and positive way to say goodbye. For one family this looks like – a big long hug at a favourite tree, putting bags and water bottle in their spots and 10 pushes on the swing. Another family get straight into the art box materials and paint a picture together in the child’s art journal (that we provide for each child). Sometimes there are easier goodbyes than others, and all of them are important for building trust, care, confidence, and boundaries, and we do this well, with awareness and intention at the Bush Pods.
How does combining the ages work in the All Years ~ Bush School session?
The quick answer is really well, because in real life we are all ages!
It is our belief that we are all teachers and learners, and by combining these age groups together at the Bush Pods it allows for a greater range of dynamic and creative play, questions, friendships, sharing, teaching and learning alongside one another. Our expectations for the varying age groups will still remain, with all children engaging in a version of play-based learning that is developmentally appropriate and particular to themselves. This approach stems from our belief that it is of high importance that children are able to move within the session as they need to, creating their own goals and outcomes, and inspire one another, as we do in real life.
Do the sessions still run when it’s wet or windy or hot or dry?
The quick answer is Yes!
We run all of the sessions in ALL WEATHER, and to be honest, we have the most fun and inner growth when the weather is a bit wild.
PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE WEATHER THAT IS FORECASTED AT THE LOCATION OF THE BUSH PODS SESSIONS YOUR CHILD WILL ATTEND… not the weather in your backyard! How much your child will enjoy the day, in any given weather, will depend on how they are dressed, and if they have spare clothes and socks! Never underestimate the importance of a hat, extra socks and rain jacket.
We also take weather very seriously and have a severe weather policy that is our guide, as well as checking in with CFS reports. If the weather is forecasted to be outside of our safety zone, we will cancel the session with given notice to all families attending.
How much is the EARLY BIRD term discount & when do I have to sign up?
The quick answer is, you can save a lot of money when you ENROL your child and PAY IN FULL
for the entire term BEFORE THE 1ST WEEK of the term.
< Term 1 EARLY BIRD is now closed. >
Term 2 ~ May 6th – April 11th ~ 9 weeks
ENROLMENT OPENS ~ Tuesday April 2nd
* Enrol and Pay In Full by May 5th to RECEIVE YOUR EARLY BIRD $$ SAVINGS
Bush Playgroup: TERM 2 ENROLMENT for 9 weeks is $270 ($30/week), that’s $90 savings – 25% off !
After May 5th – Regular price is $40/ child per session.
Bush Kindy:TERM 2 ENROLMENT for 9 weeks is $684 ($76/week), that’s $136 savings – 16% off !
After May 5th – Regular price is $91/ child per session.
All Years ~ Bush School: TERM 2 ENROLMENT for 9 weeks is $738 ($82/week), that’s $162 savings – 18% off !
After May 5th – Regular price is $100/ child per session.
Can I reschedule or change a date that we have signed up ?
The quick answer is No.
Please understand that Bush Pods is committed to providing families with the opportunity to partake in nature play and learning activities, however our numbers are limited by our ratios. When a family wants to change dates or cancels, they prevent another family from participating in our program. Because fees, costs, resources and staffing are based on particular ratios, Bush Pods unfortunately cannot offer ‘make-up’ days or offer refunds if your child is unable to attend.
This is why we recommend that you sign up for the term, so that you (and your child) have the flexibility to drop in and out as needed, ‘when life happens’, and the security of knowing that your child’s place is held at the Bush Pods. The term fees are significantly lower as well, to balance out the days when ‘life happens’ and your child is unable to attend. We hope you understand.