Celebrating Australian Pollinator Week with Kids and Native Bees

Did you know that native bees are significant in Kombumerri culture? Jabreen, the Kombumerri creator, feasted on native bee honey after shaping the lands and waters of the Gold Coast. Jabreen eventually created Jellargal (Burleigh Mountain), the place of honey and the place of bees. The Dreaming story emphasizes the sacred connection between Aboriginal culture … Continue reading Celebrating Australian Pollinator Week with Kids and Native Bees

Respectful Ways to Help Children

As parents, caregivers and mentors, our role is to provide support in a respectful manner, allowing children to tackle challenges on their own terms. For sure, it's often easier to do things ourselves, than to allow our enthusiastic, but unskilled, two-year-old to do it. But should we? When do we help, and when do we encourage persistence? What is the best way to help children? What's so bad about helping, anyway?

Reset, Recharge and Refocus: the therapeutic benefits of adventure-based programs for kids.

Written by BIRDWINGS FOREST SCHOOL "Sometimes when you try hard things, you find out you can actually do them!" This exclamation was the epiphany that came to a child while his group was scrambling up a gully. He was leaning over the steep rock-face he had just climbed up, a little surprised that he had … Continue reading Reset, Recharge and Refocus: the therapeutic benefits of adventure-based programs for kids.

Confidence flows from Connection: helping children do hard things

All learning begins with a sense of trust and security. We cannot possibly ask children to learn something new if they do not feel safe or cared for. Connection must come first and through connection we learn about each other, and what we are ready to do. At Birdwings Forest School, we work closely with … Continue reading Confidence flows from Connection: helping children do hard things

Birdwings – QORF Outdoors Queensland Award Winners 2020!

Birdwings Forest School have been named winners in the Nature Play Community award for the 2020 Queensland Outdoor Recreation Federation Outdoors Queensland Awards. This award recognises our contribution to the provision of community nature play and green spaces of the Gold Coast, including our WildPlay Adventurers playgroups, our Community Spring Fair, Nature Connection Training and the ecological projects we continually work on as an integrated part of our Bush Club and Little Birdwings Forest Kindy programs.