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Bush Kindy Teaching

Offering place-based child-led nature play programs in community spaces

​Programs

Select below
child climbing log at bush kindy
Families

Explore the popular family-focused programs that foster a love for the outdoors and nature play.

areta and child engaging in activity
Education Settings

Enhance your educational offerings with our tailored services for FDC, OSHC, ECEC & Schools.

areta and councillor miriam stemp at an event
Community

Bring nature-based learning to your Community, Government or Corporate program or event.

​Free Bush ​Playgroups for Families

Many thanks to the wonderful sponsors and supporters who provide funding to enable these free programs.

Family Day Care, ECEC Services and Students please enquire via the Contact form.

children playing at daisy hill bush play group

Daisy Hill Bush Playgroup - Daisy Hill

Supported by: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group and funded by Sunnybank Community & Sports Club

Cost: Free (with morning tea provided)

Ages: 0-5 years 

When: Term 1 2025, Weekly, Tues 9:30am-11:30am 

Where: Daisy Hill

Enrolments: Termly enrolments are now filled. Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for Term 2 updates, or Contact us to express your interest.

child learning to light a fire with flint at kindy explorers loganholme

Bush Kindy at Alexander Clark Park - Loganholme

Supported by: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group funded by Logan City Council, Community Project Grant

Cost: Free

Ages: 3-8 years, younger siblings welcome

When:  Term 1 2025, Weekly, Wed 9:30am-11:30am 

Where: Loganholme

Enrolments: Termly enrolments are now filled. Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for Term 2 updates, or Contact us to express your interest.

child and carer water play at brookhaven bush babes bahrs scrub

Brookhaven Bush Babes - Bahrs Scrub

Sponsored by: Frasers Property Australia

Cost: Free (no morning tea provided)

Ages: 0-5 years

When: Term 1 & 2 2025, Fortnightly, Thurs 9:30am-11:30am

Where: Bahrs Scrub

Enrolments: via Eventbrite

early years place queensland government logos

Mutooroo Bush Playgroup - Eagleby 

Supported by: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group and funded by Queensland Government

Cost: Free

Ages: 0-5 years 

When: Term 1 2025, Fortnightly, Thurs 8:30am-10:30am

Where: Eagleby South State School

Enrolments: Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for updates or Contact us to express your interest.

​Free Bush ​Playgroups for Families

Many thanks to the wonderful sponsors and supporters who provide funding to enable these free programs.

Family Day Care, ECEC Services and Students please enquire via the Contact form.

children playing at daisy hill bush play group

Daisy Hill Bush Playgroup

Supported by: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group and funded by Sunnybank Community & Sports Club

Cost: Free (with morning tea provided)

Ages: 0-5 years 

When: Term 1 2025, Weekly, Tues 9:30am-11:30am 

Where: Daisy Hill

Enrolments: Termly enrolments are now filled. Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for Term 2 updates, or Contact us to express your interest.

child learning to light a fire with flint at kindy explorers loganholme

Bush Kindy at Alexander Clark Park - Loganholme

Supported by: Kingston East Neighbourhood Group funded by Logan City Council, Community Project Grant

Cost: Free

Ages: 3-8 years, younger siblings welcome

When:  Term 1 2025, Weekly, Wed 9:30am-11:30am 

Where: Loganholme

Enrolments: Termly enrolments are now filled. Please follow on Facebook or Instagram for Term 2 updates, or Contact us to express your interest.

child and carer water play at brookhaven bush babes bahrs scrub

Brookhaven Bush Babes

Sponsored by: Frasers Property Australia

Cost: Free (no morning tea provided)

Ages: 0-5 years

When: Term 1 2025, Fortnightly, Thurs 9:30am-11:30am, start date TBA

Where: Bahrs Scrub

Enrolments: Commencement to be advised, please follow on Facebook or Instagram for updates, or Contact us to express your interest.


​Education Settings

children completing leaf threading activity
Incursions

Nature-based experiences tailored for babies, toddlers, and kindy-aged and school-aged children, catering to various developmental stages. These fully-resourced sessions include child-led nature play, songs, and puppetry. Bush Kindy Teaching is fully insured for optional elements like firetool use, and risky play. Offering flexible booking options for individual rooms or whole centres, with discounted termly packages available for ECEC, Family Day Care, OSHC and school settings.

Contact for more info
child playing with mud making handprints on a tree
Excursions

Enjoy fully facilitated programs designed and led by a qualified ECT and Forest School Leader. Sessions can include unstructured nature play, intentional teaching, interest-driven activities, seasonal science exploration, bushcraft, hut building, tool use, fire cooking, and engaging group times. 

Contact for more info
areta leading the children in a musical activity with seedpods
Holiday Programs

Engage children during school breaks with our immersive holiday programs. These nature-based adventures combine fun, learning, and outdoor exploration. Programs can be customised to suit your facility's needs, offering a unique alternative to traditional holiday care that promotes physical activity, creativity and environmental awareness. 

Contact for more info

​​Community

families enjoying bush kindy session
Regular Sessions

Bush Kindy programs, sponsored by local councils, non-for-profit, and corporate partners, offer a unique opportunity to invest in your community's wellbeing. These multi-generational programs engage families from various backgrounds and abilities, delivering measurable impacts including increased nature appreciation and strengthened community bonds. Aligning with environmental, health, and community objectives, Bush Kindy sessions activate underutilised spaces while fostering early childhood development.

Contact for more info
areta facilitating a bush kindy workshop at an event
Workshops

Bring the Bush Kindy experience to your community events or facilities. Tailored workshops offer engaging nature based activities suitable for diverse age groups and abilities. These sessions promote environmental awareness, foster community connections, and showcase your organisation's commitment to innovative, family friendly initiatives. 

Contact for more info
families engaging in a bush kindy pop-up event in logan
Pop-up Events

Create buzz and engagement with a pop-up Bush Kindy program at your event. Perfect for festivals, community celebrations, or public space activations, these flexible installations bring the joy of nature play to unexpected urban settings. They offer a tangible demonstration of your commitment to community wellbeing and innovative public space use.

Contact for more info

​​Contact

Meet ​Areta

areta and toddler smiling together
Hello! I'm Areta,

With over two decades of early childhood education experience and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Hons), I've dedicated my career to championing the power of play in children's lives. 

My unique journey and extensive qualifications have shaped Bush Kindy Teaching's innovative approach to early childhood education. I believe in fostering connections between communities and the great outdoors, where each nature play experience becomes an opportunity for learning and growth. 
areta playing a song on a recorder for a child at a bush kindy session
My philosophy is rooted in understanding that play is integral to early years learning and healthy brain development. I strive to normalise outdoor play in bushlands, parks, and green spaces, encouraging everyone to enjoy nature while reducing barriers to connection and exploration. 

As a certified Forest School Leader, I ensure our programs follow principles of minimal waste, ecosystem protection, and regular, extended playtime. I'm committed to activating green spaces across sectors, believing that everyone should have equal access to nature play opportunities in their local communities. 

areta listening to a child tell a story
  • Bachelor Early Childhood Studies (Hons) - University of Melbourne
  • Certificate IV Training & Assessment 
  • Certificate III Visual Arts
  • Level 3 Forest School Leader (UK)
  • Level 2 First Aid CPR
  • Blue Card
  • National Police Check
  • All relevant COVID and early childhood related immunisations



​FAQ's

Do you offer training?

Absolutely! With over 13 years of experience delivering the Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care, and as a certified Cert IV Trainer and Assessor in Tertiary education, I offer a range of professional development options from onsite workshops to tailored online courses and personal mentoring. Read more..


What is Bush Kindy?

Bush Kindy refers to play-based learning for children in outdoor environments whereby interaction occurs between nature's loose parts, each other and Educators/Teachers. Bush Kindy can also be called - Bush Kindergarten, Bush Kinder, Nature Play, Forest Schooling, Nature Immersion or Beach Kindy. You can read more about my programs here, or read about what sets bush kindy apart at the blog post here.


Is there a Bush Kindy near me?

Currently I have 4 Bush Kindy sites - Daisy Hill, Loganholme, Bahrs Scrub and Eagleby, you can register your interest via the Contact form. I also often run sessions within early childhood settings, community groups and school forest areas too. Pop up nature play events, and school holiday programs also occur in different locations. I'm open to new locations and would love for you to Contact me to discuss.


What should my child wear?

For Bush Kindy Playgroups it is recommended to wear long-sleeved cotton shirt and pants, covered toe shoes, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, and insect repellent. On wet or muddy days, children can wear puddle pants/suits/rain jackets and gumboots if they wish.


Do you cancel in bad weather?

Yes, in cases where there's a chance of severe hail, electrical storms, or high winds. Most programs are given the option for a makeup session in these circumstances. Otherwise, the Bush Kindy programs run in all weather.


What happens at a bush play session?

Bush play sessions generally include loose parts play, arts and craft, nature exploration, sensory play (mud, sand, clay, water), maybe a small bush walk, exploration of plants and animals, group songs/story/puppet time. Risky play (fire and hand tools) is also offered where specified. You can read more about my programs here.


Do you use food in your play?

While I LOVE messy eating and allowing children to play with their food at meal times, Bush Kindy Teaching programs are designed to focus on nature related sensory and loose parts play. In addition to being a Forest School provider I have a strong focus on sustainability, so also aim to maintain a zero waste program. 


Why are some programs and events free?

Inline with the Bush Kindy Teaching philosophy to foster equal access to bush play for all communities, through the support of local organisations and funding opportunities I aim to make as many of my programs and events free. In 2024 we ran 138 free sessions, you can read more about this via the blog post here. If you would like to offer support, or sponsor future programs please Contact us.


How far will the mobile service travel?

I am based in Logan so the majority of the Bush Kindy programs are here and the surrounding areas. I do travel further afield such as Ipswich, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast etc. If you're interested in our offerings feel free to Contact us, as I'm open to discussing options to share nature play with as many as possible. 


Can you make the group sizes bigger?

Group sizes are specific to the location and Bush Kindy program or event. I assess each location and specify the number of families to maximise its unique offerings. Generally, groups with more than 20-30 families are more suited to pop-up events etc. School and OSHC group numbers can be extended dependent on ratio. 


Do your programs incorporate holiday themes?

As much as I love celebrating special occasions and cultural days throughout the year, Bush Kindy Teaching programs typically avoid specific themes. Following children's interests, seasonal changes and making observations allows the program to have more meaning and unique relevance, providing better support to those attending.


How do you cater for all abilities?

Please let me know before you attend if you or your child have particular requirements so we can ensure you feel relaxed and have easy access to our sessions. All Bush Kindy programs provide wheelchair access, shade, diverse play experiences, options for all abilities and ages. Nature offers a world of options to delight all senses. Nature also has no walls or annoying loud echoes so usually even the most noise sensitive person can enjoy the experience. 


Why is the program sometimes different every session?

I incorporate elements of unstructured play alongside intentional teaching moments. Participants have the option to continue the unstructured play or join in for a focussed moment to enjoy songs, stories, movement, exploring a particular topic of interest, or a cooking experience. This allows the children to lead the play, while also allowing opportunities to invite people together. 


How can I give my feedback?

Feel free to share your thoughts anytime through the Contact form. For families in my current Bush Kindy programs, I usually provide a link to participants every three months for anonymous feedback. Continuous growth and improvement is very important and I strive to improve with your knowledge and support. 


What ages are the programs and events catered for?

Unless specified on the bookings page, I embrace participants of all ages to our programs. I particularly enjoy welcoming grandparents, aunties, uncles and elders from the community.


Can I bring my pet?

Please inquire before bringing your pet, as some locations do not allow domestic animals, and we may have children in the group with allergies. 


Can I bring food for my family?

You're welcome to bring your own snacks! Please be mindful of taking your rubbish and leftover food when leaving.

With Thanks to our Parents and Community Partners for their Support

With Thanks to our Parents and Community Partners for their Support

​Testimonials

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Disclaimer | Privacy Policy  Terms & Conditions

Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.