Holiday Adventure Calendar

Whether you use as a count down to Christmas (if your family celebrates Christmas).. and/or as a selection of free/low cost holiday nature play ideas; NLC’s Advent(ure) Calendar may come in use over Birak…as all ideas are seasonal to the Margaret River/Augusta area.

There is a list and short description of the activities below the visual gallery that follows.

You can find additional ideas and links to further information by visiting our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nlcmargaretriver

Ideas…left to right from the top row…with three ideas per row…

1. Make reindeer antlers using sticks…or a kangaroo (yonga) pouch using an old hessian shopping bag (tied around waist with a special toy friend tucked safely inside).

2. Freeze some seasonal ‘treasures’ inside ice and have fun excavating…warm water poured over the top slowly melts ice…safety goggles should be worn if children intend to hammer to break ice, to protect eyes from possible icy shards.

3. Create some DIY binoculars. Our example use two toilet rolls with a section of a third roll cut to create the piece that sits over your nose. Head off on an adventure to see what Birak seasonal treasures you can find!

4. Give a local beach a present and pick up (and take away) any rubbish you find. Make sure you check with an adult for anything that looks sharp or you are uncertain about. Gloves are a good idea if you are really serious about picking up a lot! : )

5. Create a nature crown.

6. Make some simple land art…a star, a heart, simple mandalas are good starters…

7. Have fun with shadows!

8. Make a sand angel while at the beach….and perhaps decorate your outline using shells and other natural items found at the beach.

9. Climb a tree…relax…and perhaps think about everything you are thankful for : )

10. Decorate a DIY den.

11. Frame the sky and learn about clouds.

12. See if you can spot Nuytsia Floribunda (native Christmas Tree)..with it’s bright orange blossoms its difficult to miss ! And if you have an opportunity there are some pretty interesting facts about this tree that are worth looking up.

13. Hug a tree. So simple. So satisfying!

14. Create a seasonal mobile. The one in our picture using DIY simple pom poms (make by wrapping wool around a fork and then carefully tying and cutting)…and a small collection of shells.

15. Explore wild spaces…discover somewhere new or revisit and old favourite (every wild space changes with the seasons!)

16. Create a nest and perhaps some small clay eggs to go inside.

17. Decorate some driftwood or a rock at the beach with seaweed and shells.

18. Make a star using five sticks and wool or DIY rope using natural fibre.

19. Get out in the garden with friends and/or join a local community garden.

20. Collect and decorate pine cones.

21. Take your art outside for some Plein Air painting…

22. Create a simple sensory walk around your garden or head to an outdoor place you feel safe and comfortable and pop a blindfold on (or simply close your eyes). Have a trusted friend guide you and see what you can hear, smell and taste (if edible/safe to eat)…

23. Roll down a hill just for the fun of it!

24. Go on a nocturnal adventure. See our Facebook page/s for further links and ideas : )

A Week at NLC

We pack a lot into each week with our various regular groups, workshops and roaming adventures.

A visual diary showing some of the nature play and learning opportunities we have experienced in the past seven days follows. A Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Kambarang style…our second Olla workshop with Tania Davey in our Forest Room…an adventure to a Cowaramup creek for our roving nature play….

If you are interested in trying a group, joining our mailing list, becoming a NLC member or just finding out more please email Rae at admin@nlcmargaretriver.com.au

Collages of Kambarang - our under 5's

Enjoy the patterns and play of our Kambarang term so far…

With thanks to our wonderful NLC staff Mariluz Saenz, Liz Horsey and Lelani Emslie for providing such rich, relevant and creative learning experiences for our families with their under 5 year old children.

All photographs taken by NLC staff and collages put together by Liz Horsey.

“There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.”
―Walt Streightiff

Kambarang

October to November

Colours:  blue,  green, orange, red

Climate: Longer dry periods, the flowering season.

Known as: Wildflower season (season of birth).

The rain has started to ease and Boodja (Country) is warming, as seen from the clouds opening up and the Ngark (Sun) beginning to bring to life all the djet (flowers) of the land. We see an abundance of colours and flowers exploding all around us. The yellows of many of the acacias continue to abound, along with some of the banksias and many other smaller delicate flowering plants including the kangaroo paw and orchids.

One of the most striking displays of flowers to be seen during this season will be the mooja (Christmas Tree or Nuytsia). The bright orange and yellow flowers serve to signal the heat is on its way.

For the animals, October is also the most likely time of the year that you'll encounter a snake as the reptiles start to awaken from their hibernation and look to make the most of the warmth to assist them in getting enough energy to look for food. It is also a time that many young families of birds will be singing out for their parents to feed them. Koolbardies (magpies) will also be out protecting their nests and their babies.

During this time the Wadandi people would collect tubers and bulbs such as kara (bush carrots), borna (bush chilli) and djubak (potatoes) which were either eaten raw or roasted in the ashes.

As the bilya (rivers) are full from the previous wet season of Makuru and Djilba, the Wadandi people would wade through the water to collect marron, gilgie (freshwater crayfish), gnoonern (duck), kooljuk (swan) and boyee (turtle) as sources of meat.

The wannang (peppermint or sgonis flexuosa) flowers indicate that the tailor fish are schooling in waatu (ocean) and being caught in the bays.

The balga (grasstree) will also start to flower telling the Wadandi people that the season has changed, the warmer water creating the perfect opportunity for catching caabern (blue groper).

With thanks to Undalup Association for providing and giving permission for NLC to use this information: https://www.undalup.com/

A Missing Leg Mystery

Our marine debris art project has taken NLC families and some school children in our region on many adventures over recent months…

…and trying to keep track of 8 (or 9) legs has proved tricky! One particularly creative ‘octopus leg’ proved to be very adventurous. See if you can pick where in our region it’s been roaming…

Marine Debris Project

In collaboration with half a dozen schools in the Margaret River region, NLC has been working on a marine debris art project to be unveiled at the upcoming Agricultural Show on October 19, 2019.

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“A sea debris creature has emerged from the deep....and is transforming in time for the Margaret River Agricultural Show, Sustainability Display...collecting more sea debris along the way... and reminding us how plastic does not belong in our oceans...”

Djilba Reflections

As our Djilba term out at Rosa Brook draws to a close and we move towards Kambarang…it’s a great time to reflect on all we have enjoyed through our learning and play over recent months together…from those families with children under 3…right the way through to our Adolescent Collective…

We hope you enjoy our visual journey…and please get in touch if you are interested in getting involved : )

Mokidup - Adolescent Collective Excursion

Our curious and fun loving group of NLC adolescents recently spent the day at Ellensbrook, Mokidup learning about the area’s rich cultural history, unique geography and environment. While enjoying the coast, they kept a careful look out for any sea debris/rubbish; which was collected and then sorted and recorded to support the important work of Tangaroa Blue.

Further information about Ellensbrook, Mokidup can be found at Ellensbrook, National Trust and also Undalup Associations latest 'Caring for Country' NRM project, 'Mokidup Revitalization'. The artwork on site (shown in some of the photographs) is by Wadandi artist Sandra Hill.

Blooming wild

The forests of the south west are currently ablaze in colour; a celebration of the diversity of our beautiful area…some of it obvious and difficult to miss…and some a very worthy challenge to look carefully, slow down and enjoy the rewards of discovery…

Photographs that follow were all taken on Sunday 22nd September in a small section of Rosa Brook forest that the Natural Learning Centre families are fortunate to walk often…

"All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today."
- Indian Proverb

Collaborative sustainable art and learning

Natural Learning Centre has initiated a whole region collaborative art project to be displayed at the upcoming Margaret River and Districts Agricultural Show on October 19, 2019…with several schools in the Margaret River area taking part in collecting sea debris to fill repurposed octopus legs (made from vegetable netting)… while learning about the importance of taking care of our ocean environments in the process.

Many of the following photos were taken at a recent Margaret River Montessori School camp at Geographe Bay…with all rubbish carefully taken off the beach for sorting and recording and the many natural treasures found left on the beach.

Special thanks so Kirsty Szandtner for her donation of time and expertise in sewing our ‘octopus body parts’ and to the teachers from the Montessori School who kindly shared some of their photographs from their recent beach clean up day.

We’ll post more in the weeks ahead and look forward to sharing our completed collaborative art sculpture : )

Djilba - Cultural Workshop with Undalup Association

Monday 19th August….a beautiful, clear Djilba day….perfect to have Undalup’s Zac, Tamara and Rachelle facilitate another cultural awareness session for local families….with our classroom’s roof the sky and the forest all around. We are so fortunate to have Undalup Association with their generous shared knowledge of land, custom and associated important life lessons… for us to live sustainably and respectfully on Country… this diverse and bountiful area we are fortunate to all call home.

Monday’s session saw us identifying various plants in the forest and learning about their traditional uses… and provided opportunities to get hands on with various bush foods and medicines.

Thank you so much Zac, Tamara and Rachelle…we found your stories and shared knowledge very inspiring and so look forward to learning more from you all in the months and years ahead.

Please visit www.undalup.com for more information about the Wadandi people and Boodja (Country).

Quote: Showing respect and acknowledgement to our Aboriginal people, working together, we can learn and educate ourselves about the connection that we all have with Mother Earth - knowing its value keeps us together.

We hope you enjoy the photos from our workshop. If you are interested in attending any similar future cultural workshops please contact admin@nlcmargaretriver.com.au

Credit: painting of Noongar Seasons top row - Tamara Jarramarri and basket third row - Rachelle Cousins.

Muddy Monday

Our very first school holiday program…a beautifully sunny and muddy Monday…what fun we all had!

We hope you enjoy the following photographs and if you are interested in getting involved in our Holiday offerings into the future please contact admin@nlcmargaretriver.com.au to be added to our School Holiday Program mailing list. We plan on having a variety of options for different ages into the future…with the children themselves coming up with some ideas they would like us to facilitate for them…with possible additions…”Water Wednesday” and “Fizzy Friday”!

Embracing the season

“There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”… (quoted by several sources : )

Whatever the weather… fun and learning can be had outdoors….just dress appropriately, risk manage as necessary…and enjoy!

Our current marvellous, mudalicious , Makuru season continues…and some of the following photographs will show our NLC families embracing it! Be sure to check back for additional photos of our upcoming Muddy Monday holiday program.

Undalup Association recently included the following in their newsletter (we encourage you to subscribe!)

Do You Know Your Seasons?

The Six Seasons of our Wadandi people, traditions and culture are relied on to this day to keep Nala Boodja (Our Country) strong and healthy.

The six seasons are governed by what is happening and changing around us rather than by dates on a calendar. It helps to understand and respect plant and animal fertility cycles and preservation of the land.

Each of the six seasons coincides with a seasonal abundance of a variety of food resources which informs which foods and medicines should be consumed at that time of the year.

Makuru (June to July)

• Colours: grey black brown red

• Climate: Cold and rainy

• Known as: Fertility season

This is the cold time as the rains begin on Boodja, signaling the beginning of the fertility season. Yoongan- jarli (people) start to move away from the ocean as the sea begins to rise along with the rivers.

During this time, the Pibulmun Wadandi people believe the “koodjal norn waatu norn gep baaminj”: the saltwater snake and the freshwater snake fight one another.

As the people head inland to set up their keelip (camp) they look for an area not too far from swamp paperbark (melaleuca rhaphiophylla) so they can use the bark to thatch their mia-mias (houses). This is one of the oldest ways for weatherproofing homes.

Yonga (male kangaroo) were hunted during this time and their skins removed to create booka (clothes), much like a poncho. The woora (female kangaroo) was not hunted at this time as she is raising her joey which will provide sustainability for the future. By turning the booka inside out, the fur insulates the body while the outside can be rubbed down with emu fat creating a waterproof rain jacket, perfect for the coldness of Makuru

As the bilya (rivers) begin to fill from the rains, kooljuk boola (swans plenty) begin nesting across the Boodja. The nests are created in wetland areas so that predators such as the snake, brush tail possum and chuditch find it hard to steal the nurruk (eggs).

During this time the wannang (peppermint tree or agonis flexuosa) are full of seed, getting ready to bloom in the next season of Djilba, telling the people rains will still fall upon the Country.

Makuru

Makuru, the coldest and wettest time of the year has arrived. Traditionally, this was a good time of the year to move back inland from the coast as the winds turned to the west and south, bringing cold winds and rain.

Our first week of our Makuru season out at Rosa Brook was filled with sunshine not rain…although some puddllicious weather is now being experienced and we will add more photographs in a second blog post in the weeks ahead of our ever changing outdoor adventures…in line with the changing season and the interests of the children who attend our groups.

Creating various potions and paint, seeking out tracks and scats for Yonga (kangaroo) and other bush dwelling animals, discovering the first sundew (Drosera) and various fungi of the season and making ‘glue’ to create useful tools have been just some of our favourite themes in our first week.

The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky  - Margaret McMillan

Green hearts

On Saturday 25th May, 2019 from 9am to 12pm, Natural Learning Centre Margaret River will hold a plant stall at the Organic Garden in Margaret River to raise funds for both the Natural Learning Centre and the Organic Garden. The plant stall will run during the same time as the popular garden cafe and face painting, simple invitations to play and sustainable pot making and planting will be available. With thanks to Shirley Fisher for her generosity in donating so many beautiful plants and to the Organic Garden volunteers who continue to provide such a magical green heart in the middle of our town. The photos below provide some idea of the plants that may be for sale both at this upcoming plant stall and future stalls.

Sustainable projects

A group of 8 to 12 year olds have recently embarked on two sustainable art and literacy projects, in a bid to show their thoughtfulness and creativity… and to make a difference, have fun and learn along the way. Each Monday they meet to spend the day at Rosa Brook, exploring ideas that relate to establishing a sustainable magazine…by children, for children. They are also working on helping create sustainable show bags to be made available at the Margaret River Agriculture Show later in the year. These photos have been taken (some by the children themselves) over the past two weeks. If you’d like to get involved there are spaces available. Please email admin@nlcmargaretriver.com.au for further details.

Djeran

Our Djeran term has begun with a magical mix of sunshine and rain…

Ants, land art and progressing our collaborative garden project have all been woven into our learning and play as we re acquaint ourselves with the forest and notice the changes since our Bunuru term.

Djeran (April to May)

Colours: red, brown, grey
Climate: Cooler weather begins, first dew. Known as: Ant season (season of the adulthood)

Djeran season at last sees a break in the really hot weather. A key indicator of the change of season is the cool nights that once again bring a dewy presence for us to discover in the early mornings.

The winds have also changed, especially in their intensity, with light breezes common and generally swinging from southerly directions (i.e. south east / south west). Many flying ants can be seen cruising around in the light winds. Djeran is a time of red flowers especially from the red flowering gum (corimbia ficifolia), as well as the smaller and more petite flowers of the summer flame (beaufortia aestiva). As you travel around the South West area, you may also notice the red 'rust' and seed cones forming on the male and female sheoaks (allocasuarina fraseriana). Banksias start to display their flowers ensuring that there are nectar food sources for the many small mammals and birds that rely upon them.

Traditionally, foods at this time of year included the seeds that had been collected and stored for treatment from the zamia during the previous season along with the root bulbs of the yanget (bullrushes), fresh water fish, frogs and turtles.

As the season progresses, the nights will become cooler and damper along with some cool and rainy days which also means that traditionally mia mias (houses or shelters) were now repaired and updated to ensure they were waterproofed and facing in the right direction in readiness for the deep, wintery months to come.

Above information courtesy of Undalup Association

Multi-age life lessons

Multi-aged meaningful learning for the benefit of everyone involved is integral to Natural Learning Centre philosophy.

All children have opportunities to work and play at their own pace regardless of their age; maximising the potential to take advantage of the numerous activities, invitations to play and workshops on offer throughout each session… to follow (and ignite) their interests and be both nurturer and nurtured…teacher and student…

A nature book created by an older child might be brought across to show a younger group and guide them on a forest adventure…A STEAM challenge or DIY obstacle course created by older children might then initiate facilitating the same activity for the younger children on site…Younger children might create a mini world and invite the older children to interact together with them…or a potions lab pop-up in the Forest Room with plenty of space for children across all groups onsite to get involved and have fun…A home-made lemonade stand or drama/show might appear... for the younger children to then enjoy spending their NLC ‘money’ (gum nuts/decorated repurposed washers/leaves) and appreciate the older children’s efforts…

…Ever changing opportunities for multi aged children that weave themselves so naturally through our NLC seasons…with no limitations placed on what age children should be doing what and when…

Opportunities to cross-over with children and our multi-skilled facilitators in other groups is actively encouraged and purposely planned for, with the flexibility to also make use of spontaneous opportunities. A genuine reflection of real life, for as adults we interweave across ages, abilities and interests.

“The child is both a hope and a promise for (hu)mankind”

— Maria Montessori

The older children in our groups have opportunities to get involved in sessions that incorporate slightly more structure, without compromising the outdoor nature, environment/sustainable focus and flexible learning and play that takes place across all groups. Opportunities to get involved in creating a sustainable magazine for children by children…opportunities to be a difference maker in our community (age has no boundaries!) and celebrate diversity…to champion our environment and enjoy time within it thoughtfully…To enjoy creating sustainable art and grow gardens…to experiment and question…to discover and play…To potentially try Sounds Write outdoors if they are ready to give reading and writing a go…to be immersed in other cultures…to gain confidence and understand and employ compassion and empathy…to feel included and safe…to have their interests and dreams for the way they like to learn and live their life heard, acknowledged and incorporated into their own NLC sessions…

Regular incursions and excursions are incorporated into each of our terms/seasons with families across all groups (all ages) welcome to attend…providing additional opportunities for multi age enjoyment and learning…and fostering a real family/community feel.

Coastal Wellness - Bunuru

Today was the first of our 2019 series of seasonal visits to our adopted beach to help keep it free of harmful debris, enjoy a points of interest walk / track seasonal changes and celebrate all things coastal…to help keep our coast and ourselves well : ) Thanks so much to every one who took part, it was a lot of fun. And thanks also to Tangaroa Blue who supplied us with our beach clean up kit. The children in our over 5 groups will sort and record all the rubbish we collected, send our data back to Tangaroa Blue… and we’ll post some more photographs of findings next week.

Sensory discovery

Sensory play and learning is an everyday component of our Natural Learning Centre sessions…opportunities to get messy, explore different textures, sights, smells, tastes…opportunities for independent discovery and celebrating discoveries with friends…making learning so much more meaningful and longer lasting…

Even the clean up provides for extra sensory fun!