Eight kindergartens in Wyndham were announced as recipients of the state government’s most recent round of bush kinder grants.
Quanin Binnah Community Centre, Busy Bees at Wyndham Vale, Woodville Child Care Centre, Amiga Montessori Tarneit, Amiga Montessori Alamanda, Amiga Montessori Wallace Ave, Grow Early Education Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing Montessori Centre will each receive a one-off grant of $6000.
According to the state government, the grants will help kindergartens buy the items and equipment they need to run bush kinder programs, educational sessions for children that take place outdoors in nature.
Among the outdoor sites kindergarteners will visit are metropolitan parks, regional parks, local bushland, local beaches and visitor sites within national and state parks.
Children’s Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said the teaching children about the great outdoors is good for their wellbeing, physical development and connection to nature.
“Kids have so much to learn from regular bush, beach and park-based kinder programs, where each visit offers new opportunities to learn about and discover our great outdoors,” she said.
The state government said bush kinder programs help children understand things like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in a hands-on way.
Point Cook MP Mathew Hilakari said support for more bush kinder would help young learners to know and love nature.
Tarneit MP Dylan Wight said, “Children can gain a wealth of knowledge from outdoor kinder programs held in the bush, at the beach, or in the parks”.
“Every visit provides fresh opportunities to explore and learn about the natural world.”
