Bush Inventors’ Club – Nature-based after school program
Bush Inventors’ Club is a nature-based after school program providing a space for fun, a space for play, a space for connection – with nature, with other people and most importantly with self.
Educated by Nature provides a space where children feel empowered. A space where children have time and freedom, balanced by boundaries and guidelines to push against to feel secure. A space where we come prepared with tools, equipment, resources and knowledge for ‘just-in-case’ opportunities. We come with the mind of a mentor – the sharp eyes, keen ears and sixth sense to anticipate the support a child may need by observing their behaviours, actions, words and all the other languages with which they communicate.
Bush Inventors’ Club is inspired by the work of Gever Tulley and the Institute of Applied Tinkering, shaped by the work of Jon Young and the 8 Shields Institute, and seeks to develop children’s self-risk assessing skills. Our Nature Educators encourage and allow risk taking, with support in identifying hazards and understanding body awareness.
At Bush Inventors’ Club, children have the opportunity to:
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Use real tools to build, construct and tinker
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Build, invent and create
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Construct cubbies
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Connect with mentors and leaders
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Explore nature, find animals, insects and plants
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Play wilderness awareness games
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Set personal goals and conquer challenges
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Explore fire management and safety (season and location dependent)
Bush Inventors’ Club is a ‘drop and leave’ after school program for 6 to 12 year olds. Each group meets weekly for 8 sessions throughout the school term.
We have an average staff to child ratio of 1:8. All staff have a Working with Children Check, with at least two staff at each group being first aid trained. In most cases the Lead Facilitators are qualified teachers.
Please contact us if your school or organisation is interested in hosting a Bush Inventors’ Club.
Locations
Bush Inventors’ Club is currently offered at the following locations:
Bold Park Community School, Wembley - Group meets on Mondays, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Crawley - Group meets on Tuesdays, 3.45pm - 5.45pm
Crawley Homeschool - Group meets on Tuesdays, 10am - 1pm
Christchurch Grammar School - Group meets on Wednesdays 3:20pm to 5:20pm (Exclusive to Christchurch Grammar School students)
Beehive Montessori, Mosman Park - Group meets on Wednesdays 3:15pm - 5:15pm (Exclusive to Beehive Montessori students)
Baldivis Homeschool - Group meets on Thursdays 9:30am to 12:30pm
Guildford Grammar School - Group meets on Thursdays, 3:30pm - 5:30pm (Exclusive to Guildford Grammar students)
"We moved back to Perth from Norway earlier this year and having spent the last two years playing in nature, I knew as soon as we arrived that I had to find opportunities here for my children to do what they did there; connect with nature, time to just 'be' without the pressures of academia, sporting achievement or the nuances of daily life. I learned of the Bush Inventors’ Club run by Educated by Nature and knew I had to get him in there. Everything that the Educated by Nature team does with the kids is for a reason. Of course they just play, but every activity has a purpose, an educational purpose, an emotional intelligence purpose, a brain-stretching purpose, I knew that having this activity in his week would help him work his way through. I wasn’t wrong, my son comes home stinking of bonfires and smiling from ear to ear. He’s usually carrying something he’s made – anything he likes. He gets time to be himself, with no judgement and a huge amount of love and encouragement. Daniel and his team have provided the outlet and the gentle guidance along the way so that they have the opportunity in their day to be children, be brave and be happy in their skins."
Hattie, Mother