Advanced Bush Kindy is a two-day, in-person training that focuses on the practical, on-the-ground skills you’ll need to master the implementation and supervision of adventurous nature play activities such as using hand tools, fire, tree climbing, building temporary structures, ropes and water play with children.
With best practices, procedures, and systems that will give you the confidence to deliver adventurous play programs that will empower children to play boldly in the natural world.
⁘ DAY ONE ⁘ Embedding Bush Kindy
Embedding Bush Kindy in your Early Years service is about more than just taking learning outside. It’s about understanding nature as a partner, helping children deeply connect with nature, breaking down barriers, and creating a sustainable, inspiring, and inclusive program that supports children, families, and staff.
In this advanced training, we’ll guide you through the practicalities, strategies, and philosophies of embedding Bush Kindy into your everyday practices. From navigating logistical challenges to inspiring a love of nature in even the most reluctant stakeholders, this session will empower you with the skills, knowledge, documents and confidence to make Bush Kindy a cornerstone of your service.
(Theory and Prac)
Gain the tools, strategies, and philosophies to successfully embed your Bush Kindy into and across your service.
History
What is Bush Kindy exactly?
Theories and Pedagogies
Your Bush Kindy Philosophy
Why Bush Kindy? The Benefits
Statistics and Concerns
Risky Play
Relationships and Respectful Communication
Your Role
Equipment
Documentation & Planning
Addressing Common Barriers and solutions to the most common hurdles, including weather, staff resistance, transit, toileting, concerned stakeholders, meal breaks and rest time, uninspiring spaces, ratios, and insurance
Risk Assessment
Emergency Procedures
Group Management
Policies & Procedures
Safety Briefings
Everyday Nature Play - Stick Play, Rock Play, Mud Play
Naked Pedagogy Activities - we’ll run through a pretend session with lots of activity ideas for you to take back to your service.
⁘ DAY TWO ⁘ Advanced Bush Skills
(Theory and Prac)
This is where the real fun begins!! Day two will empower you with the skills and knowledge to seamlessly integrate real life skills into your programs.
Water Play
Tree Climbing
Hand Tool Safety (hammers, hand drills, hand saws, whittling knives)
Camp Fire Safety and Bush Cooking
Ropes, Knots and Shelters
From mastering hammers, handsaws, hand drills, and whittling knives to implementing campfires safely, tying knots and building shelters, we’ll guide your through all the safety aspects, maintentance requirements and tips and tricks for safe group mangement around these activities.
And you’ll also walk away with specific DONE-FOR-YOU checklists, risk-benefit assessments, policy and procedure templates, safety briefings and activities linked to the EYLF.
And you will get these valuable resources:
Advanced Bush Kindy Training Attendees get FREE access to our premium online training course & community Valued at $2499 AUD
ADDITIONAL POLICY TEMPLATES INCLUDING: Toileting and Hygiene, Transit, Ratios, Snakes, Emergency Management, Missing Children, Severe Weather and Organisational Culture & Values
Three-Year Sustainability Management Plan Template & Ecological Impact Assessment
Our signature Children's Autonomy Framework
Minor & Major Incident Report Template
Yearly Seasonal Planner
Insurance Proposal Template
Communications Kit for Stakeholders
Behaviour Support Plan Templates, Behaviour Risk Assessment Templates, Behaviour Management Flowchart and Follow Up Email Template
Our signature Emergency Pocket Protocols PDF
👋 Hello, We’re Nicki & Vicci!
We are former Teachers turned Co-Founders of Wildlings Forest School. We’ve gone from being stuck indoors trapped under mountains of paperwork and departmental pressure to taking the roof off learning - quite literally!
Over the last seven years, we’ve empowered thousands of children to return to nature through play with risk and adventure.
We show up to work each day with a smile on our faces knowing that not only will we have an amazing day outdoors, but also that children are benefiting from our time together in nature now and far into their future.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Absolutely! Lifelong learning is just that... life long! If this floats your boat, do it!
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No, this is not a Diploma, or Certificate 3 in Wild School Skills (AKA University, TAFE or RTO equivalent accredited course), nor a Level 3 Forest School Leader Course (UK). But please be aware that doing a Level 3 from a UK provider does not simply equate or transfer to Cert 3 here in Australia. It is not accredited here in Australia and currently, there is no accredited Wild or Forest School skills course here in Australia. Our course concentrates only on what we truly believe you really need to get outdoors, without the waffle and heavy load of assessments these institutes often require.
That’s not to say we don’t have assessments - we do, but only where safety or values are concerned.
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Yes! As much as we can - remembering that ratios are dependent on many factors, not limited to: your country/state/industry requirements, mentor experience/skills/quals, needs, ages and skills of children, weather, activity, location etc. But yes, we do give you guidelines for each adventurous activity
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Absolutely. We offer group discounts for those centres/schools that want multiple team members or their entire team to all get a completion certificate for insurance purposes. Contact us at hello@wildlingsforestschool.com for our group package rates.
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What we offer is similar in many ways as many of us are training people in the same skills. However, modules we offer that are different/additional to a typical Level 3 Forest School Leader qualification include:
Adventurous Activities
Water Play
Tree Climbing
Temporary Structures (cubbies/raft building) including safety briefing scripts, policies, procedures and how-to’s
Everyday Nature Play - including rock play, stick play, mud
Safe Outdoor Spaces, Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity
Play and your role in the Forest
Breaking Down the Barriers Module including
Wildlife
Plant ID
Transport and Transit
Logistics such as toileting and water (drinking and washing)
People - Risk averse directors, helicopter parents, uninspired staff
Insurance
How to fix Uninspiring spaces
Ratios
Children and Risk Assessment
Dynamic Risk Assessment
Venue Risk Assessment
Risky Play
Programming and Planning including
Respectful Communication
How to educate parents
Building Community
Group management (for each adventurous activity and in general)
Behaviour support
Resource provision
Planning (including multiple planners and tools that link to EYLF and ACARA)
