Learning in nature: a retreat for educators to connect, learn and inspire

Agenda

• 9:45 am - 11:00 am

  Event Opening: registration, music by Naomi Keyte and official welcome

  Grab a coffee and enjoy Naomi Keyte's nature-inspired guitar and vocals while you register, mingle and settle in. Naomi Keyte is an Adelaide based singer and songwriter who uses the vehicle of contemporary folk music to explore multiple ways of connecting; connection to self, connection with others, and connection to personal and collective narratives. Today, Naomi will be performing a special set that centres on connection to nature and place. She recently used her music as a vehicle for environmental advocacy in the Art for Takanya Residency facilitated by the Bob Brown Foundation. At 10:30 join us for an official welcome to the day.

• 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

  Immersive Experience 1: Nature connection perspectives from ZoosSA or Play Naturally OT

  Be inspired by two industry experts who share their expertise in nature connection and nature-based learning in their given fields. Option 1: Wild Creations: Using Nature to Nurture Creativity* Wild Creations is a resource developed by the Wild Learning team at Zoos South Australia that uses scaffolded engagement with the natural world to support wellbeing outcomes and literacy development. In this interactive session, participants will experience practical activities from the resource while exploring applications across outdoor education, environmental, and wellbeing contexts. Please note, the resource provided and utilised in this session is designed for children who have some level of reading/writing and therefore is best suited to primary and secondary teachers rather than early-years. The session will however provide some differentiation for pre-school teachers. Option 2: Regulate before you Educate: Sensory Integration, Nature Style* An immersive, experience-based session exploring how the senses in nature can support wellbeing and regulation — for students and educators alike. This session is run by Prue Spry, Occupational Therapist and founder of Play Naturally OT, who will guide participants through hands-on sensory experiences in the natural environment. Grounded in sensory integration theory, this session explores how all 8 sensory systems are nourished by nature — and how integrating these in the natural environment can settle the nervous system and create the conditions for real learning to happen. *Please note, these sessions are capped and once the session reaches capacity, participants will automatically be placed in their next preference. You will have a chance to select your preferences at the check-out. Please ensure you are happy with both options before registering in case you don't get your first preference.

• 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

  Lunch

  A catered lunch will be provided.

• 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

  Immersive Experience 2: 'Spark, Explore, Connect' - Experience learning at Arbury Park

  Join the Arbury Park teaching team to dive into experiential learning in our outdoor classrooms. This session invites you to immerse yourself in a journey through the eyes of your students.  Discover ways to look deeper and activate curiosity, reflect on collaborative problem-solving challenges, and find calm through mindfulness and creativity in the outdoors. Gain fresh perspectives and practical ideas to enrich your teaching practice and expand connections with your community. 

• 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

  Afternoon tea

  Afternoon tea will be provided.

• 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

  First Nations Storytelling with David Booth

  Sit around a campfire with David Booth, a First Nations Educator who will blend cultural education with the local environment to help you connect deeper to this place and leave with a stronger understanding of First Nations connection to Country. David's session will include sharing Dreaming stories that have strong connections to Country and an interactive movement/dance workshop accompanied by David playing the yidaki. Traditionally, story-telling and dance has always been a way to share, connect and pass on knowledge from generation to generation. You will be invited to reflect on your own connection to place and each other throughout this session, leaving you feeling nourished, connected and inspired. Adelaide Hills based David Booth and the Booth family are the founders of 'Imbala', an organisation which provides cultural awareness workshops and performances as a way to offer people a better understanding of Aboriginal culture and diversity. David Booth acknowledges that the land he lives and work on is the lands of the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples. He pays his respects to the traditional owners of country as a representative for culture and a holder of Aboriginal knowledge. He is a proud Warumungu (NT) and Yuggera (Qld) man.

• 5:00 pm

  Optional: Stay on to connect with other educators, enjoy a guided nature walk or rest and reflect

  While the official close of the day is at 5pm, you are welcome to stick around until 6pm for a guided nature-by-night walk or continue connecting, relaxing by the fire.

• 6:00 pm

  Optional: Overnight stay

  Arbury Park staff are generously inviting participants to extend their retreat into an over-night stay, utilising Arbury Park Outdoor School's dormitories as accommodation. This will be organised through an expression of interest, so please register your interest at the check-out. You will be notified with arrangements should this go ahead. Accommodation is free of charge. Dinner (delivered from a local eatery) and breakfast will be arranged an extra cost. Mattresses are provided, you are requested to bring your own single fitted sheet, sleeping bag and pillow.