Go Beyond: Establishing a bush kindy program

Join us for an immersive full-day professional development workshop designed to equip early childhood educators with the knowledge and tools needed to establish and enrich a bush kindergarten program.  

Hosted in Belair National Park to showcase first-hand what’s possible in an open-ended natural environment, and led by experts in the field, Go Beyond will feature a keynote by Doug Fargher, a leading voice in outdoor learning and bush kindy education. Doug’s work in this area has revolutionised early childhood learning environments, focusing on how natural spaces can foster holistic development in young children. 

The workshop will explore every aspect of starting a bush kindy program, offering real-world insights from South Australian kindergartens that have successfully integrated bush kindy into their curriculum. We’ll hear a keynote from Lee Munn, an early adopter of the bush kindy philosophy, who founded one of the first programs in South Australia at Lobethal Kindergarten—a program that continues to thrive two decades later. We’ll also gain practical insights from highly skilled educators at Stirling District Kindergarten and Flagstaff Hill Kindergarten. These case studies will highlight the practical steps, challenges, and successes in transforming traditional early childhood settings into vibrant, nature-based learning environments.

Throughout the day, you will participate in hands-on sessions that take you step-by-step through the process of establishing a bush kindy at your site. Proud Warumungu/Yuggera man David Booth will guide us through integrating Aboriginal perspectives into your program. We’ll explore logistics, from selecting a safe and accessible natural space to planning transportation and ensuring children are equipped for all weather conditions. And discuss practical risk management strategies. 

We’ll also delve into pedagogy design, with a focus on child-centered, nature-based play that aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and supports development across the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) domains, with the bush kindy approach designed to nurture children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive development. 

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of how to create a program that promotes resilience, creativity, and connection to nature. Go Beyond is not just about inspiring new ideas—it’s about giving you the tools to make them a reality. 

Full program released soon. 

This Professional Development Workshop has been made possible through the support of Green Adelaide, Flinders University and Credit Union SA.