20
Jan

Bush Kindergarten Melbourne Directory

Many families are keen to enrol their children into a bush kindergarten before they start school but often don’t know where to start looking so we’ve done all the hard work for you! 

Current research suggests that children need to spend much more time playing in our natural world. When considering kindergarten for your child, it’s important to consider whether they run a bush kindergarten program and whether it is the right fit for you and your child. Victoria now has over 100 bush and beach kinder programs tailored to local environments and children’s needs.

Bush kindergartens have drawn inspiration from European forest preschools, bush kindergarten programs have become available in early learning centres across Australia. We have put together a directory of the current bush kindergarten and beach kindergarten programs on offer in Melbourne and rural Victoria.

NORTH

WEST

EASTERN SUBURBS

Eco Explorers – Dandenong Ranges Bush playgroups and bush kinder programs

FRANKSTON

OUTER EAST

BAYSIDE

MORNINGTON PENINSULA

GIPPSLAND

  • Tooradin Kindergarten (part of the city of Casey) run a beach kinder every fortnight in term three and four
  • Buchan ECDC Bush Kinder, Buchan

GEELONG AND SURF COAST

Surf Kids Go Bush amalgamation: Every week an average of 400, 4-year-old children from across the Surf Coast Shire (6 kindergartens) spend 3 hours a week outdoors in the bush or at the beach as part of their regular 15-hour kindergarten program. These bush kinders include:

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REGIONAL VICTORIA

Eco Explorers Australia runs bush playgroup, bush kinder and forest school programs for families across Melbourne and Regional Victoria. We also create downloadable resources and nature-based programs for educators and teachers that you can access here.