PRETTY posies were hand-gathered by early learners at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens this week to be shared with some special friends at an end-of-year picnic.<\/p>\n
The little participants of BotaniKIDS presented the flowers to vocational major students from Loreto College, who they got to know as part of a partnership between the nature program and the school.<\/p>\n
The Loreto students baked snacks and planned games for the picnic, and played with the pre-school-aged kids as their parents and carers watched on.<\/p>\n
BotaniKIDS convenor Julie Bradby said the program has brought together an intergenerational village.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s become a community all about wellbeing and being outside,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about enjoying the beauty and the open space of the gardens, and using the gardens as a source of quality learning for under-fives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve become friends with the young mums, and we\u2019ve got a whole lot of grandparents in our group.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every second Tuesday, the Loreto students have been part of BotaniKIDS, supporting the children in their environmental learning, and helping the volunteers.<\/p>\n
Some of these students are planning to pursue careers in the childcare, hospitality, agriculture, and horticulture industries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhatever food and craft activities they prepare for us are in their stream,\u201d Ms Bradby said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hospitality girls do the cooking, the ag girls do the planting, seeds and make soil… It\u2019s helping the students as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Penny Commons has been taking her grandchildren to BotaniKIDS each week and said the program hasn\u2019t just benefited the little people.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really wonderful for the young mums as well,\u201d she said. \u201cAs a grandmother, it\u2019s lovely for me to get to meet them, and to see the little ones interacting.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the young mums have little babies, and the Loreto girls will nurse them to give the mums a bit of a break.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe children have grown to really trust the Loreto girls well. It\u2019s lovely seeing the generations together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Loreto College vocational major teacher, Anne Mader, said the partnership has encouraged the girls to boost their interpersonal skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re dealing with different age groups; parents, carers, grandparents and young children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey love it. It\u2019s very interactive, and it\u2019s getting them ready for the workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PRETTY posies were hand-gathered by early learners at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens this week to be shared with some special friends at an end-of-year picnic. The little participants of BotaniKIDS presented the flowers to vocational major students from Loreto College, who they got to know as part of a partnership between the nature program and […]<\/p>\n