For young children, learning does not always need to happen inside a classroom. Some of the most meaningful learning can take place outdoors, where students can explore, investigate, create and solve problems in the world around them.

At Redlands, our Kindergarten students have been taking their learning beyond the classroom through our Bush School program at Centennial Park. The program gives students opportunities to engage with the natural environment through hands-on investigations, collaborative challenges, nature play and activities that encourage them to observe, question and explore.

What is Bush School?

Bush School is an approach to outdoor learning that gives students the opportunity to learn in and through the natural environment.

Rather than simply spending time outdoors, students are encouraged to interact with their surroundings, work together and respond to challenges. They might investigate plants and animals, explore natural materials, build and create, or find ways to solve problems using the resources around them.

For Kindergarten students, these experiences can provide a different way to approach learning. The outdoor environment becomes an extension of the classroom, giving students opportunities to apply what they have learnt in new and practical contexts.

Building confidence and independence through outdoor learning

One of the most valuable aspects of Bush School is the opportunity for students to develop confidence and independence.

Outdoor environments naturally present manageable challenges. Whether navigating uneven ground, working out how to build something, exploring an unfamiliar part of the environment or collaborating with classmates, students are encouraged to make decisions and find solutions.

These experiences can help children develop resilience and problem-solving skills. They also give students the opportunity to take thoughtful risks, test their ideas and learn from what happens.

For our Kindergarten students, Bush School has supported the development of confidence, independence and resilience, while encouraging them to become more comfortable exploring the world around them.

Connecting learning with the natural environment

Spending time in nature also provides opportunities for children to develop a stronger connection with their environment.

At Centennial Park, our Kindergarten students have been able to observe the natural world firsthand, ask questions and investigate what they discover. These experiences encourage curiosity and help students understand that learning can happen through direct observation and exploration.

This connection with nature can also support a sense of belonging. Students are not simply learning about the environment from a book or screen. They are experiencing it directly and developing an understanding of the world around them.

Learning through play, exploration and collaboration

Play is an important part of how young children learn. Bush School provides a setting where play and learning can happen together.

Students work collaboratively, share ideas and take on challenges as a group. They are encouraged to create, experiment and problem-solve, often using materials and situations that are very different from those found in a traditional classroom.

These experiences can also support learning across different areas of the curriculum. Outdoor investigations can prompt questions about science and the environment, while creating, building and measuring can introduce mathematical concepts. Students can also use their experiences as inspiration for writing, drawing, discussion and reflection.

The result is learning that feels relevant and connected to the world students experience around them.

Research supports the value of nature-based learning

The benefits of outdoor learning are also being explored through research.

Recent research into Greater Sydney Parklands’ Bush School program, conducted by Western Sydney University, followed primary school students participating in regular outdoor learning at Centennial Parklands. The research found that students experienced greater joy, autonomy and connection with nature, alongside positive observations around engagement, self-regulation and relationships with peers. Some students also showed improvements in mathematics.

The research highlights the value of giving children opportunities to learn in different environments and to engage with manageable challenges outside the traditional classroom setting.

For schools, this reinforces the idea that outdoor learning is not simply a break from learning. It can be another way of helping students develop knowledge, confidence and important personal skills.

Learning that extends beyond the classroom

For our Kindergarten students, Bush School has been much more than time spent outdoors.

It has provided opportunities to explore the natural environment, work with others, solve problems and apply classroom learning in authentic settings. Just as importantly, it has encouraged students to become curious, confident and comfortable taking on new challenges.

At Redlands, we believe learning can happen in many different environments. Bush School is one example of how experiences beyond the classroom can help young students develop the skills, confidence and curiosity they need as they continue their learning journey.

By learning with and from the natural environment, our Kindergarten students are developing an understanding that learning is not confined to four walls. It can happen anywhere there is something to discover.