Gardens offer treasure challenge

WHAT are your children getting up to these school holidays?

BotaniKIDS, the Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens’ children’s program, is welcoming little learners under five years old to an open cottage day this Tuesday, 5 July.

Convenor Julie Bradby said a range of activities will be available to kids at the Gatekeeper’s Cottage, including a cute mouse-themed scavenger hunt, created in 2012 by former BotaniKIDS volunteer Geraldine Roberts.

“Geraldine is an artist and illustrated a beautiful picture of a family of mice who are scavenging for certain things in the gardens,” Mrs Bradby said.

“It’s absolutely lovely. Children can colour it in, and then go on a walk to find things in the gardens like curly or furry leaves, sticks with bobbles on them, and a good place for fairies to live.

“Geraldine devised it so children could keep it, get it laminated, and it could be used as a placemat or kept so they can do the hunt again.”

Ms Bradby said any chance for children to get outside and explore in their early years is a golden opportunity.

“They love to be outside, in the rain, hail or shine, and the scavenger hunt helps to teach them to take notice of special things around them, and to observe the close details of nature,” she said.

Attendees of the open cottage between 10am and 3pm will not only be able to try the hunt, but to do some activities inside at the children’s bench, on the deck and veranda, and read the many books in the BotaniKIDS library with a garden, plant, or outdoor theme.

Visit facebook.com/ballaratbotaniKIDS to register an arrival time.