First I thought I wanted to become an outdoor education teacher - having skills in disciplines such as abseiling, rock climbing, bush walking, kayaking etc.
Gradually I moved away from that idea thinking I just wanted to focus on bush walking and become a day leader for bush walks and then an overnight leader and eventually a leader for multiday trips.
This call to return to the wild is strong and I just want to go camping in the mountains, bush walking and cycling.
Returning to nature will help rebalance my life. I also feel the same way about children. They need to spend more time in nature to make connections to the natural world so they will feel this urge to become custodians.
There are a number of school in Europe that are Forest Schools - these are catching my attention.
I have now discovered that in Australia there are Bush Schools that are based on the same philosophy and pedagogy as the Forest School.
In the Blue Mountains - Springwood there is a school called wildground.com.au/bush-school that seem to have some amazing programs running for young children.
I have also now discovered Nature School in Port Macquarie. thenatureschool.org.au (facebook) a non profit school that caters for students 3-6years and permits them to be in the bush developing knowledge, skills and concepts that are essential for life and far more important than 'screen time'.
Imagine a preschool where nature is the classroom. There are no chairs, tables, play equipment, organised games or fences to prevent the children from wandering into nearby bush. Welcome to The Nature School Inc.; a not for profit organisation with a vision to create a world in which all children learn from and within nature.
We are seeking your support to lay the foundations for a socially cohesive and sustainable future by nurturing creative, independent, healthy, resilient and environmentally aware children.
Extensive research has shown that the benefits of nature play for children are far reaching. They include:
- Increased confidence, self-efficacy and self esteem
- Increased social, physical, cognitive and language skills
- Increased motivation and concentration
- Positively influences family engagement and relationships between children and family members
- Less chance of being overweight
- Deeper conceptual understandings
- Respect for the natural environment
- Better learning experiences and more imaginative play
- Promotes future generations of environmental stewards
- Improves mental and physical health and wellbeing (from Nature School)
I will continue to read the the Nature School with the view to visit the school when I am in Australia.
Great article: Natural School Port Macquarie
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