Designed for children 2-5 years old accompanied by a guardian. Older siblings are welcome to come along too!

Join us for our special series of Nature Play Winter Sessions!

Come along to CERES Environment Park in Brunswick East, where our experienced early years outdoor educators will guide you and your little one through playful, hands-on experiences designed to spark curiosity, build confidence outdoors, and deepen connection with the natural world. Together, we’ll slow down, tune into the seasons, and explore the wonders of our local winter ecology.

Day 1 - Fantastic Fungi! 🍄

Mon 14th July 10am - 12pm

Let’s go on a magical mushroom hunt! We’ll look under logs, peek in leaf piles, and use our senses to discover all the tiny treasures hiding around CERES. Children will make their own mushroom prints, build fairy homes from sticks and moss, and enjoy story time in a mushroom ring.

Day 2 - Nature Crafts 🌻

Tues 15th July 10am - 12pm

Using sticks, leaves and clay, little hands will craft beautiful creations from nature. We’ll weave, squish, stamp, and string - turning bush treasures into colourful works of art to take home.

Day 3 - Splish, Splash, Bug Dash! 🐛

Wed 16th July 10am - 12pm

Put on your gumboots - we’re off to the wetlands! We’ll search for water bugs, wriggly mini beasts, and water-loving birds. There’ll be bug hunts, splishy-splashy water play, and muddy puddles just waiting to be jumped in as we explore the magical world of wetland creatures.

"Being outdoors in nature offers unplanned, unknown, unpredictable encounters; these are significant provocations for learning." (Adapted from Waters, 2012)

Dates:

Mon 14th July 10am - 12pm (Fantastic Fungi)

Tues 15th July 10am - 12pm (Nature Crafts)

Wed 16th July 10am - 12pm (Splish, Splash, Bug Dash)

Cost:

$25 per child, per session

Testimonials:

"Really fantastic ... the kids are still raving about it! They learned so much in the happy, relaxed and fun atmosphere - created by their amazing teacher :)"

"Loved the experience. Very relaxed. Great to get the children outdoors exploring. Can't wait for the next one."

"We had a wonderful term, a great mix of unstructured and structured play! Fantastic educator"

What you'll learn:

Nature-play and curiosity are at the heart of this program. Our thoughtfully designed learning experience will connect your children with nature, allow them to explore independently, discover the wonders of our natural world and participate in caring for our environment and people.

What to bring:

Children should bring a hat, water bottle, and a snack. Consider bringing along a change of clothes as things may get messy!

What to wear:

Outdoor clothing that can get dirty, closed-toe shoes and a hat; dress for all weather conditions.

Appropriate for:

Designed for children 2-5 years old accompanied by a guardian. Older siblings are welcome to come along too!

Location:
You will meet your educator at the CERES Visitors Centre.

Please note: Any dogs attending must be kept on a leash at all times.

For further questions please call (03) 9389 0144 or email studentprograms@ceres.org.au