Bush Kindy

Our Bush Kindy has got off to a gentle start.  As the children have settled into new routines, they are becoming more familiar with each other as a group.  The have also been familiarising themselves with the bush environment and play structures surrounding the home campsite, as well as discovering the joys of our precious creek a little further afield.  Everyone was excited by the Bush Basket Kristi made out of bamboo and left for us to decorate with wool, and that also led into some children making ‘bush balls’ out of leaves, sticks and wound wool.  As well as learning some of our morning circle songs, they have heard Bunuru stories about Bindi Bindi the butterfly, cicada, and the changeable weather.

Bush School

Our Bush School year has gotten off to a fine start, with the Class 1’s and 2’s so far blending very harmoniously as our 2021 tribe of Bush kids.  We began Week 1 at the Earth Station, where the children picked wild blackberries, made dream catchers, and potions among other activities, before heading to the forest, where they reacquainted themselves with our beloved creek, who was very close to dried up in true Bunuru fashion.
In the intervening week there was a huge downpour of rain and the creek levels has risen, so in Week 2 we gathered in the refreshed and sparkling forest, and with karri trees shedding their bark profusely, it was a fine opportunity to make bark boats and follow them as far as we were able.
Our camp was a hive of activity, with many interesting creations, such as Zade and August’s ‘swordgrass dagger’ featured in the photos.
In Week 3, after the initial interruption of class and sibling school photos, it was time for our Bunuru adventure of exploring the contours of the creek from where it enters the school site.
There were a few challenges along the way, and these provided some wonderful opportunities for problem-solving and working together as a group.  We made it safely back to our home campsite, and will attempt the remaining section in the week to come.  Keep sending those spare clothes and towels!
Another source of excitement last week was the arrival of our Bush Journals, into which the children placed their first entries in the afternoon.  A few samples can be seen below.

Bush Journal Entries