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Bush School

Book in for Tuesdays or Fridays in December and Book in EARLY for Tuesdays or Fridays in 2025

Want to get your kids off the screens – and out into nature? Join our Bush School program! 

These days, children spend more time than ever inside, especially on their devices.  

Bush School at Centennial Park will get your kids moving, creating, and thinking in a stimulating outdoor environment every week, giving them a chance to explore, discover and learn at their own pace.

This unique Nature Play program tailored for children aged 2.5 - 5 years is led by our expert Education Rangers, who bring urban children and their parents back to nature in the heart of Centennial Park.

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

After just a few sessions, your child will have gained all the benefits of Nature Connection and Nature Play by developing their creativity, confidence, attention, and sense of responsibility in the great outdoors!

Don't believe us? Check out our latest Bush School review on ellaslist here.

Time: 9:30-11:30
Place: Bush School Ash Paddock

Royal Randwick, Centennial Park NSW 2021, Australia



What's happening at Bush School in 2025?

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

  • Week 1 – Tues 19 Nov and Fri 22 Nov: Discover the amazing life cycle of a seed and make your own seed egg to plant at home! 

  • Week 2 – Tues 26 Nov and Fri 29 Nov: How many different colours can you find? Collect colourful natural treasures you can use make to your own works of art.  

  • Week 3- Tues 3 Dec and Fri 6 Dec: Turn colourful plants into natural paints. Bring fabric and make your own designs using our Bush Kitchen mud bath! 

  • Week 4 – Tues 10 Dec and Fri 13 Dec: Can you find a ‘tree spirit’ in the forest? Make your own with clay and natural materials! 

  • Week 5- Tues 17 Dec and Fri 20 Dec: Time to make some festive decorations with bush materials. Come decorate the Bush School site with us and take home your own unique piece of decorative art! 

  • As always, there are many stories, songs, craft and games awaiting! 

     

    *Weekly session themes subject to change pending weather and children's emerging interests 

  • Week 1 - Tues 4 Feb & Fri 7 Feb: Get to know the mud kitchen, climbing tree, balancing logs, 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 - Tues 11 Feb & Fri 14 Feb: Discover the wondrous animals who live in the pond, learn how we can help keep their home clean, and make your own pond animal using clay. 

  • Week 3 - Tues 18 Feb & Fri 21 Feb: Take a closer look at who lives in the pond using dipnets, find out about the important role these teeny creatures play in the ecosystem through games and stories. 

  • Week 4 - Tues 25 Feb & Fri 28 Feb: Learn about the incredible life cycle of the cicadas, make your own cicada shakers and music. 

  • Week 5 - Tues 4 Mar & Fri 7 Mar: Listen closely to the sounds of the bush and make your own instruments to form a Bush orchestra. 

    *Weekly session themes subject to change pending weather and children's emerging interests. 

  • Week 1 - Tues 11 Mar & Fri 14 Mar: 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 - Tues 18 Mar & Fri 21 Mar: 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 - Tues 25 Mar & Fri 28 Mar: Discover the fabulous life cycle of a frog with a frog story, frog hunt, games, and frog craft. 

  • Week 4  - Tues 1 Apr & Fri 4 Apr: Explore the Guriwal trail, learn the story of the Casuarina seed, and find out about D’harawal seasons. 

  • Week 5 - Tues 8 April & Fri 11 Apr: Get to know the surprisingly large variety of Australian animals who lay eggs and enjoy an egg hunt adventure! 

    *Weekly session themes subject to change pending weather and children's emerging interests. 

A uniquely Australian nature play program

The Bush School program is rooted in the heritage and ecology of the unique Australian landscape. It was developed through research and concepts from international best practice in nature education as well as current education models such as Forest Schools and Nature Kindergartens. Centennial Park offers the perfect outdoor classroom for your child’s nature connection. 

Learn more about Bush School and they theory behind nature play at our Bush School site. Parents will also have the opportunity to receive training and advice on how to nurture and mentor their own nature child.
 

What happens during a typical day at Bush School?

Our sessions include storytelling, nature-based activities, free play (climbing, digging, imagination, creativity), art making and nature games.
 

9:30am - 10:00am - Arrival, grounding child-led Nature Play time

10:10 - 10:30am - Exploration and games

10:30am - 10:45am - Storytelling and snack time

10:45am - 11:15am - Bushcraft time

11:15am - 11:25am - Game and child-led nature time

11:25 - 11:30am - Thank you and goodbye circle

We will set up a tarp village in case of wet weather, to allow your little one to continue nature play in the outdoors.

“She has made so many amazing gains in language, in social skills, in perseverance, in motor skills… Your program is in such a beautiful gathering place in nature to learn and practice respect and appreciation for two of our most important resources, each other and the earth.”

Samantha, Bush School parent

"I am seeing my 3 1/2 yr old grandson grow and develop each week at Bush School. He knows Tuesdays are Bush School days, is excited to get there and he hangs on Ranger Dani's words. He has become more observant, sharing and curious, and between classes he repeats activities learnt. 

It is also creating a new bond between us which is heart-warming to experience. Both of us love the craft activities and Ranger Dani's excellent stories. 

Bush School is a wonderful experience, especially in the middle of a city and for children born into the Covid lockdown. 

Highly recommended."

Bridget, Bush School Grandmother
"Amazing learning experience for both kids and parents, learning to see and appreciate what’s around you."
Bush School Mother
"A wonderful natural calming experience every week."
Sam, Bush School Father

Save 10 % with a 5-week pass or book a single ticket for a drop-in session!

 

Bush School is available at $35 per session, and we now offer a 10% discount for booking a five-week pass ($157.50 instead of $175).  If you'd like to try Bush School before booking in multiple weeks, you can book a single ticket.

Get your Bush School ticket! You can buy drop-in tickets ( one session) or a 5-week pass (five sessions) for either Tuesday or Friday.

Book your 5 Week Pass or Drop In Tickets for Tuesdays here..

Book your 5 Week Pass or Drop In Tickets for Fridays here.
 

Do you have questions about Bush School? Get in touch:

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Important information about Bush School 

Plan your visit
  • Bush School is an outdoor program and will take place in all-weather except for high winds and electrical storms.
  • Participants (adults and children) are expected to dress for the outdoors, including bringing wet weather gear, a hat, sturdy enclosed shoes and waterproof footwear when required.
  • If we are expecting rain, tarp shelters will be set up in the outdoor classroom to provide some cover for our participants.
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult. There will also be a dedicated snack break during each session, so please bring food for your child.

Meeting point: Our Bush School site is located amongst the beautiful Paperbark trees on the Guriwal Trail side of Ash Paddock, off Grand Drive, Centennial Park. See map here.

Bush School is available on Tuesdays or Fridays Save 10% when you purchase a five-week Bush School pass. Refunds available if you or your child are unable to attend due to illness, Ticket exchanges available if you are unable to attend your session. 
COVID-19, Infectious Disease and Viruses

COVID-19, Infectious Disease and Viruses: 

I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that all attendees associated with this booking do not attend if: 

  • We/I show any COVID-19, Infectious disease or virus symptoms or feel unwell. 
  • We/I have had a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting within 12 hours of the program. 
  • We/I have been asked to self-isolate. 
  • We/I have had a positive COVID-19 test result and continue to have symptoms. 

If any of the above apply to you or any attendee associated with this booking we request that you do not attend this program. In this instance please contact us via email to arrange a refund of your ticket for any of the above reasons. 

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