The Bush Preschool program started in 2021. 

The Bush Preschool program has been developed by Gilgandra Preschool to build connections and relationships with people, cultures, and places in their local community in a way which truly reflects the unique geographical, cultural and community context of the service.  It encourages spending uninterrupted time in the natural world where children learn beside Educators building on confidence, self esteem, resilience an independence.  

Studies show that nature-based learning increases children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills, by for example, encouraging children’s creativity and resourcefulness. This program also provides vast opportunities for children to interact with their peers and learn collaboratively as they connect with the land and explore the natural environment. It is not surprising therefore that nature-based play promotes children’s health and wellbeing and can reduce incidents of inappropriate or challenging behaviour.

This program has limited spaces available to ensure the health and safety participants.

 

Bush Preschool Philosophy

At Gilgandra Preschool, our Bush program is grounded in a deep respect for Country, acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land, specifically Wiradjuri land, and embedding Indigenous perspectives throughout our practices. We acknowledge that the land is a teacher and that we share a responsibility to care for it. Respect for all living things is central to our philosophy, and we encourage gentle and thoughtful interactions with the natural world to nurture empathy and awareness in our daily practices.

We believe that outdoor, play-based learning in natural environments fosters children’s curiosity, creativity, and connection to the world around them. Through imaginative play, storytelling, and hands-on experiences, children develop a strong sense of belonging and stewardship for the land, plants, animals, and waterways. Following the principle of leaving only footprints, taking nothing in and removing nothing out, we teach children to tread gently, honouring and protecting the environment.

Safety is a fundamental part of our philosophy. Children are supported to assess risks, make safe choices, and build resilience as they explore the bush environment under close guidance. Fire safety is embedded meaningfully, with children taught how to approach and use fire with care, responsibility, and respect. These moments also provide valuable opportunities for rich language development and meaningful conversations as children engage in collaborative learning, share stories, and reflect on their experiences. Risky play, such as climbing trees or using natural resources for exploration, is embraced as a way of building confidence, problem-solving skills, and adaptability.

We embrace all weather conditions, encouraging children to develop perseverance, adaptability, and a sense of adventure. The open-ended nature of the bush environment inspires creativity, curiosity, and imagination, while also fostering collaboration and problem-solving among peers. By embedding Indigenous practices, stories, and seasonal knowledge into our Bush learning, we deepen children’s understanding of Australia’s rich cultural heritage and foster respect for the world’s oldest continuous culture.

Our Bush program is a space where children are free to explore, imagine, create, and connect, to themselves, to others, and to Country. In these spaces of freedom and discovery, children build meaningful relationships with nature that they will carry throughout their lives.