Bush Time is a treasured part of life in the Early Learning Centre – a signature St John’s Grammar experience. From the age of 3, our Early Learners and their families are welcomed into Belair National Park to learn and play in this beautiful natural environment.
Nature-based learning has many benefits for children: from connecting with Kaurna Country, to developing resilience when faced with challenges, and even encountering some of our local creatures, Bush Time empowers children to express agency and ownership over their learning.
Across each Bush Time session, strategically planned over consecutive days, children revisit familiar spaces and build on their learning – from balancing on logs to climbing the ‘Fairy Stairs’, discovering local wildlife and embracing the natural world around them. Bush Time opens up opportunities for us as educators to model a life long love of learning as we research and inquire alongside the children.
Time spent in Belair National Park also supports our ELC educators in helping to develop children’s self-regulation skills and sense of wellbeing, providing them with the opportunities to explore risky play and build their self-confidence.
It’s a common sight to look around our Base Camp in serene Long Gully and see all the children hard at work within their play. Our older ELC children enjoy stepping into a mentorship role within our Bush Time days, supporting our youngest learners as they explore the new challenges that Bush Time can bring.
