OUTDOOR LEARNING
Project Update
Whilst there may not be a lot to see in terms of progress with the Outdoor
Learning Project at this stage, you can rest assured that we have been very busy
with a lot of the ground work behind the scences.
The Outdoor Learning Team visited 3 sites last term to look at some great
examples of Playscape Design and hear of the challenges facing those who have
undergone re-development of their outdoor spaces.
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College. A Project Site map has now been developed and is available to view in
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Issues around Risk Management are at the forefront of our planning and we
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around each activity.
Three projects to get us moving are:
Early Years Nature Play Space
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T is an area begging to be enjoyed. Theres
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not much to do here except removal of a
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few cubby building frames, some bird boxes,
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build 2 platforms over the drains to become a
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stage and a jetty, and add some loose parts.
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then just let the imaginations of the children
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run free.
ru
FFor a start, this area will be opened as a Lunch
Time club to Early Years children.
T
To risk
nothing
is to gain
nothing
((Please start collecting seed pods and pine
ccones to be added to our loose parts collection.)
Year 8 - 12 Outdoor Classroom
This area is located outside the Outdoor
Education classroom.
We have applied for a grant to develop the
area with a learning cirle constructed of
logs and rocks with bird attracting plants to
surround the area.
Adjacent to this is will be an Edible Indigenous
garden.
Primary Sandpit
Concept drawings are underway to re-develop
the primary sandpit, introducing more natural
elements like rocks, logs and water.
INSPIRING SUCCESS
COLLEGE NEWS
Outdoor Learning
Project Progress
The new Nature Play area at the front off th
the C
College
ll
h
has b
been a
hLYe of aFtLYLty oYer the Sast few weeNs anG Ls alPost reaGy for oFLal
opening. Several unsafe trees and limbs have been cut down and now
provide natural elements for climbing and imaginative play. The area
is now equipped with frames for cubby building, platforms for a range
of imaginative purposes and loose parts for construction and role play.
The word seems to be spreading about the value of nature play through
excited Junior Primary children who have been exploring the area with Sue
Matene over the past month or so. The area has also sparked the curiosity
of older students and seems to have provided a social nook whilst waiting
for the bus, which is great.
The next important step is for us to engage all Primary students in
identifying the risk benets and ha]ards and to coconstruct simple
agreements that will minimise inMury. )or example, the benets of playing
with sticks and how to carry and play with them safely, as well as the
importance of laying them out at and wellspaced apart.
Rebuilding the Junior Primary sandpits will be the next major project.
Concept drawings are underway to combine the two pits into one, which
will connect with a nature play area down the adjoining slope. Water will be
the all-important element added here for water play in the sand and in the
watercourse to be added into the sloped play area, along with more shade
trees, rocks, logs and maybe even a fossil dig-pit. Fundraising from the
Credit Union SA School Community Rewards program and Remembrance
Day will ensure this is a quality development.
We are pleased to advise that we have been successful in winning a
$1500 grant from Natural Resources Management (NRM) to support the
Can you help us with
Loose Parts?
We are very grateful for the donations received from sta and families of loose
parts for our nature play areas. We are still keen for more so if you can help
out with any items such as sticksbranches (more than 1.5m long), signicant
logs (that can be kept whole or cut), hessian or thick rope, we would be pleased
to hear from you. (Pick-up can be arranged). Phone Tania Guest : 8329 2300.
useful loose part examples
INSPIRING SUCCESS
