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:

Use real tools to build, construct and tinker
Build, invent and create
Construct cubbies
Connect with mentors and leaders
Explore nature, find animals, insects and plants
Play wilderness awareness games
Set personal goals and conquer challenges
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. Bush Inventors’ Club costs $195 per child.

We have an average staff to child ratio of 1:8, with group sizes capped at 28 children. All staff have a Working with Children Check, with at least two staff at each group being first aid trained. The Lead Facilitators are qualified teachers.

Please contact us if your school or organisation is interested in hosting a Bush Inventors’ Club.

"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

Bush Inventors’ Club – Nature-based after school program

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