Bush Kindy at Karawathat State Forest 5.07.19
My gosh! What a fantastic day of play, fun and, learning. Some of us were lucky enough to travel with our families, the rest of us rode in the bus.
When we got to Karawatha Forest we had our morning tea and just checked the place out. Then we explored, played, discovered, learnt, talked, negotiated, took turns whilst playing in the nature playground and in the bush itself.
Before lunch we all gathered together and went to look at the Eco Centre. It was fantastic. There were lots of great hands-on things for us to touch, feel, talk about, learn about and, even jump on.
Then, after we all hoed down on Kangaroo sausages, yes I did say kangaroo (delicious).
We packed up our gear then, and went for a bush walk to see what we could find. We kept to the path so we would leave no environmental damage. The only thing we left behind was our footprints, and the only thing we took from there was photos. It was a fantastic day.
Bush Kindy Adventure to Karawatha Forest: The benefits of Nature Based Educational Programme
· The program recognises the significance of land in Aboriginal culture and encourages children to reconnect with and appreciate nature.
· Children learn how to work together and take turns in a group environment.
· Studies have shown children who regularly engage in nature-based play develop higher physical, social, and emotional skills.
· There are significant health benefits that include improved cognitive function, increased creativity, kinder peer interaction, reduced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and reduced rates of aggression.
· Bush Kindy is play that is led by the children, with support from educators, allowing children to take reasonable risks in a supervised environment.
· Children develop a respect for nature, their environment and, learn about sustainability in context.
· This experience will be a fun educational experience that children will remember for years.
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Karawatha Forest Park
Karawatha Forest Park is located 18 kilometres south of Brisbane’s CBD adjoining Compton Road at Karawatha and Kuraby. The forest is approximately 900 hectares in size and is one of the largest areas of remnant bushland within the city.
One of the most successful wildlife movement solutions in Brisbane is the land-bridge linking Karawatha Forest on the southern side of Compton Road to bushland on the northern side of Compton Road.
Visitors to Karawatha Forest Park can enjoy birdwatching, bushwalking and using the picnic and barbecue facilities. You can also visit the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre and nature playground.
History
Karawatha Forest Park was protected by land purchases through the Bushland Preservation Levy and is one of Brisbane’s major natural areas. Council has also acquired land to the south and west of Karawatha Forest, ensuring that vital bushland links with Greenbank are maintained to preserve our significant flora and fauna.
The forest’s infertile soils and sandstone ridges were formed by continual cycles of mountain building and erosion over many millions of years. Some of the sandstone outcrops were laid down in the Triassic-Jurassic age when dinosaurs, not wallabies, grazed here.