AFTER hosting their inaugural Ballarat sessions last school term, Eco Explorers are bringing their children\u2019s outdoor bush program to the region once more.<\/p>\n
Beginning on Wednesday, 13 July, the program invites families with children up to four years old to learn practical lessons about the natural world.<\/p>\n
The sessions will take place at Gong Gong Reservoir Park, and Eco Explorers founder and director Melinda Bito said after six years running in Melbourne, she\u2019s excited to see the initiative expanding.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat\u2019s has a lot of natural land around it so it\u2019s ideal that we\u2019re moving into this space and getting the local kids in touch with nature,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all about sensory play, smelling the leaves and playing in puddles with a sort of mindfulness aspect to it. There\u2019ll be different themes each week based around the change in the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople want to explore. They want to connect to their community and this does all those things while supporting children\u2019s social skills and mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 10-week program will take place each Wednesday with Bush Babies sessions for children aged one to two taking place from 9.30am to 11am.<\/p>\n
The Tawny Toddlers sessions for kids aged three to four will follow from 11.30 to 1am, and each week will be facilitated by bush playgroup facilitator and early childcare educator, Janet Lovejoy.<\/p>\n
Each session allows up to 12 families, and Ms Bito said the program is also teaching its younger participants how to care for the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s an important part as they go into school, they take that love of the environment with them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was definitely a conscious part of the program, having the children continue that conservationist mindset and really caring for the world around them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER hosting their inaugural Ballarat sessions last school term, Eco Explorers are bringing their children\u2019s outdoor bush program to the region once more. Beginning on Wednesday, 13 July, the program invites families with children up to four years old to learn practical lessons about the natural world. The sessions will take place at Gong Gong […]<\/p>\n