Once a week, Sturges Road Kindergarten tamariki head to the bush at Western Heights School, where nature becomes the classroom. These regular visits provide endless opportunities to explore Papatūānuku through tree climbing, bug hunting, mud play, treasure finding and navigating the natural terrain.

The bush sparks rich imaginative play, with tamariki creating forts, coffee shops, pretend fire pits and superhero adventures from the loose parts nature provides. A recent favourite has been rolling logs, testing ideas around cause and effect while learning to assess risk, solve problems and keep each other safe.

At the end of last term, tamariki also took part in the area’s regeneration programme, planting native kawakawa. Along the way, they discovered roots, insects and worms, inspiring plenty of curiosity and conversation. Each week, they proudly check on their plants and care for the young trees they helped establish.

We love taking our tamariki to the bush, observing their play, seeing them in a different play scape, seeing new relationships develop. We observe a tuakana-teina approach in the bush when the schoolchildren are there. A familiar place between kindy and school, fostering a strong connection for our tamariki through this experience.

Mauri tū, mauri ora – an active soul is a healthy soul