Early Childhood

Bush Kindergarten

Kids love the outdoors - it helps them learn, to build a sense of belonging and to grow into healthy and happy young adults. With their wild imaginations and curious minds, a natural space becomes a new world to explore, run, climb and play in.

Spending regular time in nature through a Bush Kinder program helps children to fall in love with, care for and create life-long connections with their local landscapes.

How to start a Bush Kindergarten

Our parks, reserves and waterways protect our natural and cultural environment and provide recreational opportunities. It’s important to respect our special places and to find the right park that suits your needs.

The spaces most suited for regular outdoor learning are metropolitan parks, regional parks and visitor sites within national and state parks. Wilderness parks and nature conservation reserves are primarily reserved for the protection of significant plants and animals and in some cases may not be suitable for regular visitation.

Doing an initial scoping and induction session with a Ranger is the best way to find a safe and accessible site that meets your needs. Rangers know their areas inside and out.

Call 13 19 63 or email info@parks.vic.gov.au to contact a Ranger. 

Use our Bush Kinder Handbook (PDF 4.3 MB) to help you design your program so that you tread lightly during your time outdoors and know who to contact for more information.

Registering your Bush Kindergarten online

ParkConnect is Parks Victoria’s online database for emergency management and visitor communication. Let us know you’ll be visiting with your kinder by registering your visit schedule through the Bush Kinder Activity Plan on ParkConnect. 

Submit Bush Kinder Activity Plan

Registering at least one month in advance helps us to better understand your planned visit(s) and keep you safe by organising a coordinated emergency management response with local ranger teams and government departments if required.

User guides are available on the ParkConnect Education page if you need help with setting up a ParkConnect teacher account or submitting your plan.

Supporting resources

• Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Network (ECOLN)
• The Department of Education and Training (Bush Kinder Page)