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Early Years Bush Skills Program

An outdoors early learning program, facilitating children’s growth, skill-building and holistic development.


The Program - Please note this program is temporarily paused for 2025.

The Nature School Early Years Bush Skills program is for young children aged 3-5 years and operates completely outdoors. At TNS Early Years, experienced instructors lead seasonal, skill-focused programs which cater to each child’s needs and abilities. 

The program fosters the children’s growth as confident and competent young learners by giving them the opportunity to make their own choices, take risks, cultivate their curiosity and develop independent and critical thinking. Small group sizes and low child-to-adult ratios ensure the safety of children in the bush and allow for meaningful interactions and relationships between children and instructors.

The program operates in all weather, including rain. While children can attend from 3 years of age, to be eligible, they must be able to go to the toilet independently.

Please note we are currently waitlisted for this program.

What do we do?

Some of the skills that we explore can include:
  • Shelter building
  • Knot tying and lashings
  • Tool use, including peelers, whittling knives, hand drills and saws
  • Fauna and Flora identification
  • Fire safety and skills
  • Campfire cooking
  • Orienteering and navigating in the bush
  • Bushwalking and navigating difficult terrain such as rocks, tree climbing etc.
  • Natural resource construction such as weaving, nature paints, clay construction, natural dyes etc

Key Information

When

Monday-Thursday: 9am-3pm
Friday: 9am-12pm
The programs operate in line with NSW state school terms.


Where

Sessions operate from a variety of bushland settings within 5-20 minutes of Port Macquarie. Locations will be provided once you are in touch with the team. Each weekday will remain in the same location for the duration of the term unless there is an extreme weather warning. The Nature School has permits with a variety of stakeholders such as local landowners, and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Program Fees

Full Program - $95/day

Half Day Program* - $60/day

Annual Administration Fee - $133/student

This covers the cost of administration, insurance, sunscreen and insect repellent.

*Half Day program operates Friday only


Payment Plans
We recognise that upfront payment of fees can be difficult for some families, so we do offer a fortnightly payment plan for term fees if requested. It is our hope that this will make our program more accessible for all families. For further information on fees and payment, please contact our Business Manager, Karen, at karen@tns.nsw.edu.au. ​

To learn more, please get in touch either by phone 6581 5392 or email elp@tns.nsw.edu.au

Join the adventure!

For enquiries or to enrol, please contact the office on 02 6581 5392

Early Years Waitlist Application




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The Nature School Port Macquarie

LEARN MORE

- Early Years
- Primary School
- Secondary School
- Little Explorers Playgroup

 ABOUT

- About The School
- The Team
- Policies and Reports
- FAQS
- Media

 GET INVOLVED

- Donate
- Board Members
- Careers
- Contact

CONTACT

  166 The Ruins Way, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
02 6581 5392
 admin@tns.nsw.edu.au

   

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