Welcome back to Nature Playgroup for 2021

Monday, 1 February 2021

Our Early Childhood Education and Care team welcomes you to Nature Playgroup for 2021!

Nature Playgroup sessions run on Monday mornings between 9:30am and 11:30am. It operates during the Victorian School terms, so there are no sessions during school holidays or public holidays. The first Nature Playgroup session for 2021 will be Monday 15 February. 

The aim of Nature Playgroup is for children to engage with the outdoors and nature, and to enjoy their natural world and outdoor play. Our Nature Playgroup space makes the most of the natural bush setting and open spaces beside the creek, amongst the trees, where the children can explore, imagine, create and have fun, jump in puddles, climb trees, or make mud pies. Nature Playgroup runs all year long even during the winter months and even when it rains. We are unable to conduct sessions if there is a severe weather warning or flash flood warning, as our area isn’t safe to be in if these warnings have been issued. 

We strongly suggest families come and try the Playgroup for a few sessions, before deciding to join us on a regular basis. Then if your family does decide our playgroup is a good fit, we strongly recommend you take out a membership with Playgroup Victoria for insurance purposes. Our Nature Playgroup Coordinator, Kim, will explain the process for this when you talk in person at Playgroup (there is a cost involved).

Otherwise it is a gold coin donation for the Nature Playgroup sessions you attend. Attendance is quite flexible and we don't require you to book in for sessions, terms or the year as a whole. We just allow you to join us when you can at our scheduled times. You must sign in and out of the sessions you attend whether or not you stay for the whole session or part of the session. You must stay with your children at all times as it is a playgroup and not a Registered Early Childhood Service. We do have some permission slips and enrolment paperwork we require you to fill out when you attend your first session. 

Most families bring morning tea to enjoy while they are at Nature Playgroup and something to drink. In the Playgroup area there is no running water or toilet facilities, but there are some a short walk away. There are also some props we use to create play opportunities for the children, but mostly they get the chance to enjoy the natural aspects of our space. These are things like bugs, birds, mud, the creek, and our beautiful trees. We use some tools and in the winter months operate our fire pit.  

Our Playgroup allows you to interact with your children in the outdoors and with other children of varying ages. The ages of the children that typically attend are birth to 5 years. We also have our Early Childhood Education and Care students rostered on to attend as part of their studies. 

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact the Nature Playgroup Coordinator, Kim on 02 60556731, or email your questions if that is easier, ktippett@wodongatafe.edu.au 

So whether you are a returning participant or coming along for the very first time this year, you’ll be sure to find new adventures here onsite in our Nature Playgroup setting! 

Please see attached campus map for Nature Playgroup location 

Click here to find out more about our Early Childhood Education and Care courses