Frequently Asked Questions
What is nature play?
Nature play is an outdoor experience that encourages children to explore, imagine, and connect with nature. It provides endless possibilities for creative play, sensory exploration, and learning in a beautiful, natural environment.
Nature play promotes physical and emotional wellbeing and builds positive dispositions towards learning.
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To learn more, visit https://natureplayqld.org.au/about-nature-play
What do I need to bring?
Children need to bring a hat, shoes, a spare change of clothes, a water bottle and a packed lunch/snack (depending on the session). We have a fridge for lunch boxes and water bottles.
There will always be messy play and creative arts on offer, so I recommend wearing clothes that are ok to get wet, dirty and stained.
For parents that are staying, please bring a travel mug with a lid so you can make yourself a hot drink and enjoy the time with your child/ren.
Are your programs safe?
We value risky play and are very passionate about the benefits of giving children the freedom to explore, discover, investigate and learn without adult intervention, however we do take safety very seriously. Our staff are qualified and experienced educators who provide learning environments and resources that have been thoughtfully planned each week. We scaffold the learning around the use of each tool/resource to ensure that each child can confidently use it safely.
We are fully insured, and have policies in place for all activities and scenarios. We dynamically risk assess every week to ensure hazards are managed. All of our staff and volunteers have a current blue card and our staff have current first aid qualifications.
What can I expect when I attend Pine Playgroup?
As you step into the space, the soft sounds of instrumental music greet you and you instantly feel your shoulders relax. The rush of the morning disappears. You look into your little one's eyes and see a sparkle; they are staring excitedly at the magical nature play spaces in front of them.
We begin by gathering together to acknowledge the Country on which we play and sing some songs. It's a nice time to settle in, acknowledge familiar faces and hear about the morning's offerings.
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You and your child/ren then move on to explore the beautiful play experiences. Although the experiences will vary each week, there will always be a nature craft activity to do together and take home. There will almost always be a table with sensory indulging playdough of lavender, mint or orange. You may also find water play, a mud kitchen or potion play. Loose parts promote creativity and language development and will also make an appearance each week in different ways. You will engage in sensory and exploratory play and every single activity will encourage an appreciation for nature.
We spend time outside, under the trees, surrounded by birds and insects, connecting with other families and taking time to breathe. Towards the end of our time together, we gather again for lunch, a storytelling session and say goodbye... until next week.
What can I expect when I attend Featherpine Folk?
We gather under the trees in a Yarning Circle, acknowledge the beautiful Country we are about to play on and establish what our day will look like. This will include an affirmation and breathwork and children will have the opportunity to share thoughts and feelings with the group if they wish to.
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We then move out to play, explore, discover and learn.​ Our main objective of Featherpine sessions is nurturing our wellbeing and building positive dispositions towards learning and healthy habits of mind. We develop these qualities through play... especially nature play.
Children's play will look different each week and for each individual child and we cater for this by providing resources and materials to invite and provoke ideas and learning and then following their lead as to where the play goes. You will see lots of loose parts, art and craft supplies, puzzles, games, hand tools, resource books, exploration equipment, a mud kitchen and a whole lot of nature! It is so difficult to say what our sessions will look like in detail, but each one will be engaging and fun.
Each participant will be given a journal to use at our sessions. These can be used for art, documenting new discoveries, scrapbooking nature finds or mindful musings.
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We come together for lunch to reflect on our morning, saying goodbye to some friends, before diving back into play. At the end of our session, we pack up and gather once more to share our reflections on the day.
