As Pasi Sahlberg, deputy and research director of the Gonski Institute for Education in Australia, says, “The benefits of outdoor learning and play based learning are proven, we need to act on that research.”
Here at Nature. Be in it. we are tenacious about child led, play based learning. Our world-class programs build a rigorous outdoor learning community in your educational setting. We support and facilitate the integration of immersive outdoor play into the culture of your centre or school. We work in collaboration with leadership, educators, teachers, assistants and children to create a best practice nature play or bush school program specific to your community.
Nature. Be in It. programs develop resilient, creative, engaged learners and environmental stewards through immersive outdoor learning and play. You will learn to listen, notice, question and document children in play and how to create safe, engaging learning spaces outside where all can grow.
Browse our nature training services below or contact us to tailor a program for you.
Why you need this!
Hear from the experts in child psychology (10 min mark) and education (6 min mark)
Bring nature play to your school or centre.
Outdoor Mentoring Program
Embed nature play as part of your school practice with weekly/fortnightly mentoring.
Duration: 1 term or full year
Whole of Organisation Training
Train your entire staff in best practice outdoor learning pedagogy.
Duration: 4 hours theory & practical
Nature School Quick Start
Get started with your own nature program in this introductory session at your school + site audit.
Duration: 2-4 hours
The Ultimate Outdoor Classroom
Keep up to date on the latest nature play research. Includes theory and practical application.
Duration: 2 day practical
Pop-up Nature Play
We’ll come to you or meet you off site to give the kids a nature experience to remember.
Duration: 1 x full day excursion or incursion
Why you NEED Nature Play! Kids and experts share their experience.
OUTDOOR MENTORING PROGRAM
Embed nature play as part of your school or day care centre’s practice with regular, ongoing mentoring.
Duration: 2 Terms or a full year
Our mentoring program offers complete support ensuring your Nature Play/Outdoor Learning program is of the highest quality and rigorous in design and delivery. Embed best practice standards in nature pedagogy and link outcomes to the Australian Curriculum or EYLF through Inquiry Based models to actualise creative, safe, joyful learning spaces where all can grow into their best selves.
When you join our mentoring program, we are part of your team - we support you to lead and manage outdoor sessions, design hands-on, authentic learning activities, develop policies and procedures, inquiry based curriculum, and establish structures of working in and with nature into the fabric of your learning community; including staff, carers and parents and local council.
We’ll be there to keep up to date with the latest methods in pedagogy and identify outdoor learning needs as they arise. We coach the whole team to build capacity and leadership, improve outcomes and provide inspiration and ideas to open minds and hearts to the joy of learning.
Designed for schools and day care centres who are committed to making nature play and outdoor learning a pillar of their school’s future success, Nature. Be In It. Mentoring will bring your school to the forefront of outdoor learning for less than the cost of a full-time educator, but with all the benefits.
Contact our team to find out more and check availability.
What people are saying.
“Thanks so much Kara. I appreciate all that you have done for us. The confidence and knowledge I have gained from you and Ina has been awesome. The sessions have been so beneficial for myself, the children and parents.”
Katie Williams,
Woodbridge Primary School
“Bush School has fundamentally changed my pedagogy in and out of the classroom. Kara mentored us as educators to see the open-ended learning opportunities that Bush School provides. It has changed the way I teach.”
Jodi Freeman,
Cambridge Primary School
WHOLE OF ORGANISATION TRAINING
Train your entire staff on the basics of outside learning and inquiry based learning.
Duration: 4 hours theory & practical
The 4 hour program is usually run during your regular after school weekly staff meetings. Delivered in digestible 1 hour blocks alternating between theory (inside) and practical (outside). The balance of theory and practical is integral to establishing a best practice program which stands the test of time.
Understand the benefits including why we are taking learning outside, planning of outdoor learning, how to best utilise your school grounds and build confidence and capacity across your team.
Modules include;
•Why are we taking our learning outside & what do we do
•How can we use our school grounds ?
• What is the setup and safety?
• How do we plan and meet requirements?
•What are the best ideas and routines for our sessions?
The package often moves on to a workshop with each class and their teachers offered at a discounted price for the first day. This way your children and staff get real-life calibration with each age group and/or year level.
Contact us to find out more.
What people are saying.
“Very hands-on. Knowing how to implement the ideas has greatly inspired me.”
Deb King, Evandale Primary School
“What you are advocating for in education is truly amazing! We need more like you in both public and private school education.”
Misty Olsen, Calvin Christian School
NATURE SCHOOL QUICK START
Get started with your own nature program in this introductory session at your school + site audit.
Duration: 2-4 hours
If you’re a school or day care centre wondering where to start with your outdoor learning program, our quick start session will quickly give you a plan to regularly build outdoor learning into your day-to-day activities.
We start with a one hour professional learning presentation to as many staff as you need and follow this with a site assessment to suggest suitable outdoor learning areas and how they can be used, as well as the essential equipment needed and suggest easy and affordable modifications you may make to bring more outdoor time into children’s days.
Some of the questions answered during our quick start session are:
What does a best practice nature play or outdoor learning program look like?
Are my school grounds or day care centre grounds suitable?
What do I need to do to set up a high quality program
How do we fit it into the curriculum and EYLF?
Contact us and get started.
What people are saying.
“An amazing, inspirational and nourishing PL. Wonderful as a brand new term begins!”
Nerida Schulz, Evandale Primary School
“Kara’s input to our inquiry planning was incredibly valuable. Thank you so much.”
Year 2 Teaching Team, Howrah Primary School
THE ULTIMATE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
Keep up to date on the latest nature play research. Includes theory and practical application.
Duration: 2 days
Locations: Launceston Mar 23 & 24 2023 Hobart Mar 30 & 31 2023
Our immersive Ultimate Outdoor Classroom professional learning days have been designed especially for schools and day care centres to provide all the theory and practical skills to empower you to take your outdoor learning to the next level.
And the best thing is - it’s all outdoors!
Guided by leading experts in child psychology and nature education, we’ll help you’ll increase your skills and knowledge to work confidently with children outside and build capacity in your school to regularly utilise outdoor learning spaces to optimise childhood development and foster school values.
Once our days together are over you can choose to implement your learnings independently or engage the Nature. Be In It. team for ongoing mentoring support.
Over our two days together you’ll learn:
Why free nature play is essential to whole child development.
Best practice nature pedagogy and loads of practical ideas.
How to support and take reasonable risks, including; real hand toolsl), tree climbing and mud play.
Aboriginal cultural practices with fire & fire cooking.
Stillness in Nature: Nature connection & the benefits.
Risk benefit analysis & developing a workplace outdoor learning handbook.
Documentation & planning - links to Inquiry Based Learning.
Fostering resilience, team work, problem solving, grit and creativity (how to communicate these).
What to do when things get messy or uncomfortable!
Contact our team to find out more and check availability.
What people are saying.
“A huge thank you for being here to inspire and encourage us to take our learning outside”.
Kim Shield, Waimea Heights Primary School
“Incredibly engaging, motivational, resourceful and knowledgeable. I’m inspired!”
Genevieve Walsh, St Michael’s Collegiate
POP-UP NATURE PLAY
Bring the curriculum and EYLF alive with an immersive outdoor learning experience for you and your children.
Duration: 1 x full day excursion or incursion
Great for schools or day care centres who would like everything taken care of, the beauty of pop-up nature play is that we organise the full day’s activities based on your curriculum requirements and provide everything needed to make it happen!
We can come to you or create a program for the day at a location of your choosing (or multiple locations if you book us each term).
We’ll conduct a risk benefit assessment of the location and consider the age of your children to create a range of practical, child led provocations.
Take the stress out of organising nature play and outdoor learning for one day a year or book us for an experience with the kids each term.
Contact our team for a free custom quote and assessment for your next pop-up nature play experience.
What people are saying.
"I have never seen students so engaged in the last 7 years I have been here."
Principal, Williamstown Primary School
“The day was so much fun, I learned so much and can’t wait to try it out.”
Educators, Discovery Early Learning
Organisations we work with…
