Kindy’s, Pre-schools and Play Centres
Rockdale Kindergarten – 13 June 2016
Rockdale Kindy were well prepared in gumboots and overtrousers – all set to “go bush” – Rockdale teacher and grandparent helper were joined by Nature Discovery teacher Wendy and Chris and Bronwyn. First job was apple picking – the huge “Monty’s Surprise” apples were plucked from the tree so that they didn’t get damaged by frosts. Monty’s Surprise is an eating/cooking apple, bred in New Zealand, which has very high medicinal properties (it’s one you could graft at the grafting workshops to be held in October at the Community Nursery). Next was Nature Centre discovery time followed by kai time. Then, exploring the bush – Wendy taking the lead through the dark, muddy and secretive tall bush – following the orange triangle trackmarker. A few mushrooms, some tangly vines, the seed collector, smelly plants and interesting patterns were found. The underfoot conditions made it like an adventure course – climbing over and under trees and through the deep mud of the kahikatea swamp forest. Chris
Roslyn Bush Playcentre – 6 June 2016
A bitterly cold frost added an extra layer of wonder as the Roslyn Bush Playcentre explored the community nursery. The children followed the signs through the orchard and stopped to watch a tui singing in one of the apple trees. Some apples were picked up and carried back to the education centre, and the children helped clear the autumn leaves off the track to better show the way through the trees. The worm farm was met with wonder and compared to their worm farm at Playcentre. After a puzzle and some kai in the education centre the group walked with Bronwyn partway around the pond, noticing the pest traps and tracking tunnels and using senses to explore the native tree species - smelling, feeling, and looking at the different leaves. We finished off by feeding the nursery ducks. There was a great sense of wonder as the children explored. Bronwyn
Otatara Preschool – 29 May 2016
A small group of energetic children came well dressed for the weather on Monday 29 May 2016 accompanied by two teachers. Eager to get ahead, they enjoyed the hide and the moa before racing around the track back to feed the ducks. In the Education Centre they did the big bug jigsaws before a song with Bronwyn. Chris
YMCA Early Learning Centre 23 May 2016
All weather gear was the order of the day on Tuesday 23 May 2016 – activities included the wormfarm, scavenger hunt, duck feeding. Inside the Education Centre the wetland tunnel with its hidden doors was a big hit with the children. Chris
Posted: 16 June 2016