Bush School is an outdoor program that gets children moving, creating, and thinking in a stimulating natural environment, giving them a chance to explore, discover, connect with nature and learn at their own pace.

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

Led by experienced Educators, this 5-week program for children aged 5 to 12 years and their caregivers connects families with nature in Western Sydney Parklands' beautiful surroundings.

Week 1 Underwater discoveries: dip netting - Find out who’s living in Grey Box Gum Dam. What can tiny creatures tell us about the health of the environment?

Week 2 Shelter building - Can you put a roof over your head? Learn simple knots to sling a tarpaulin roof. Learn to make a wind- and waterproof shelter from bushland materials.

Week 3 Bushcraft: whittling - Learn to safely use wood craft tools to cut green timber and make tent pegs and butter knives.

Week 4 Foraging Food and medicine: the power of Weeds! - Weeds can be a problem for the environment, but they also have many nutritional and healing powers. Make herbal tea and some healing ointment, all out of the plants growing around you every day.

Week 5 Campfire cooking - Learn how to build and light a fire without matches, then celebrate and share all your Bush School stories as you cook your own damper over the fire!

Age: Children 5 – 12 years

Meeting point: Our Bush School site is located near the Pavilion at Lizard Log, in Western Sydney Parklands.

Please note: this is not a drop-off program, caregivers retain duty of care for their child(ren) throughout the activities.

Things to know before you attend

Please come prepared, as this program will go ahead in all-weather unless it is unsafe to do so (for example, during high winds, thunderstorms or total fire bans). Children must wear enclosed shoes.

This program is suitable for children aged 5 - 12 years.

We require a minimum of 10 participants for this booking to go ahead. We reserve the right to cancel the event in case of dangerous weather or if minimum participation numbers are not met. In these circumstances a refund will be offered. Please refer to our full terms and conditions for more information.

If you have any questions or wish to notify us of a cancellation or other issue, please contact us at education@gsp.nsw.gov.au.

What to bring to the event

Ensure your child comes prepared for this session by:

Bringing a refillable drink bottle

Dressing for the weather with sun protection (hat, sunscreen, cool clothing) and wet weather gear (raincoat, shoes and change of clothes)

Wearing enclosed footwear.

Your responsibilities if you feel unwell

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 time

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 on education@gsp.nsw.gov.au to arrange for a refund of your ticket.