Bush Buddies
Join us this term for Bush Buddies – our pre-school education program aimed at 2-4 year olds.
Each week children will explore a different Australian animal through storytelling, music, interactive and sensory learning experiences, while exploring the park.
Kids will find out more about possums to lorikeets, as well as some of our more famous residents. You will also learn which animals to look for on a rainy day, how to identify those sounds in your garden, and which of our animals have the brightest colours and the smoothest skin.
Your little nature lover will spend 45 minutes with our fully qualified educator and while younger children are welcome to attend, please note some activities may not be suited for children under 2 years.
Available:
- Monday 11am
- Tuesday 10am
- Friday 10am
BOOK ONLINE NOW
For multiple bookings call 8339 2444 or 8130 9016
COST: $8 per session + park entry (become a Cleland member and receive unlimited entry all year round!)
Hot weather:
- Bush Buddies will still commence in the hot weather, however will be adapted to accommodate the heat. If the weather is over 370 the session will be held indoors.
- Days of catastrophic fire danger all sessions will be cancelled and park will be closed.
Rainy weather:
- Bush Buddies will still commence on rainy days, sessions will be held indoors.
If session are cancelled due to extreme weather or COVID-19 you will be emailed by the children’s program coordinator.
Terms and Conditions
- Bookings recommended and available upon arrival. Keep in mind sessions have a maximum group size of 14 children.
- Sessions are $8 per child
- Park entry is required (this is a great opportunity to become a Cleland Member and receive unlimited entry).
- Park entry for under 4 years of age are free.
- Duration 45 minutes
- Sessions will commence and conclude at the designated time.
- Suitable for 2-4 years, although younger children can attend, just note some activities may not be suited for children under 2 years.
- Refunds not available, however we can reschedule if you contact us before the booked session.
- Cancellations by Cleland Wildlife Park may occur due to extreme weather, or other conditions, outside of the park’s control. You will be notified if this is to occur and will be invited to reschedule or be refunded in full. If a Total Fire Ban day is declared, management reserves the right to cancel the tour. We will endeavour to reschedule and ensure you still maintain your booking. In the event you cannot attend the re-scheduled tour, a full refund will be granted. Management reserve the right to cancel tours, for safety reasons, at any time.
Bush Buddies Term 1
Week
|
Topic
|
|
Monday
11AM
|
Tuesday
10AM
|
Friday
10AM
|
1
|
1st February
|
2nd February
|
5th February
|
Lovely Lizards
Story: Do lizards eat ice-cream? How to beat the heat by Etta Kaner
This session has a focus on the warm weather and how some of our animals cope in the heat. This session will have focus on texture and patterns of animals such as lizards.
|
2
|
8th February
|
9th February
|
12th
February
|
Enormous Emus
Story: Where’s Stripy by Wendy Binks
This session explores emus and their unusual qualities, focusing on Emu’s feet, feathers and eggs. With a focus on sensory learning. Children will have the opportunity to have a close encounter with an emu.
|
3
|
15th February
|
16th
February
|
19th
February
|
Spiders those 8 Legged Critters
Story: The very busy spider By Eric Carle
This session will explore the characteristics of the spider group, using movement and visuals to help us along the way. We may even try to build our own web!
|
4
|
22nd February
|
23rd
February
|
26th
February
|
Kangaroos, Kangaroos
Story: What’s in your pocket? By Ruth Symons and Laura Watkins
This session focuses on kangaroos and their unique characteristics and animal care. This session ends with children meeting and feeding a resident kangaroo.
|
5
|
1st
March
|
2nd March
|
5th
March
|
Interesting Insects
Story: Heads and tails- Insects by John Canty
This session has a focus on bugs using sensory and exploration to discover these cool creatures. Kids may even meet a resident insect.
|
6
|
8th March
|
9th March
|
12th March
|
Sneaky Potoroos and Bandicoots
Story: Scoot, Scoot, Bandicoot by Karen Treanor and Mary Woodwand.
This session focuses on bandicoots and potoroos. These animals are great diggers, let’s go on a potoroo hunt and see if we can track them around the park.
|
7
|
15th March
|
16th March
|
19th March
|
Look out for Snakes
Story: Hide and Snake by Keith Baker
This session has a focus on scaly snakes and their special characteristics and snake safety, when walking in the bush.
|
8
|
22nd March
|
23rd March
|
26th march
|
Beautiful Butterflies
Story: Secret World of Butterflies by Courtney Sina Meredith and Giselle Clarkson.
This session gets kids to explore butterflies characteristics through a variety of ways, including movement and visuals.
|
9
|
29th March
|
30th March
|
N/A
Good Friday
|
Brilliant Bilbies – Easter
Story: Hunwicks Egg by Mem Fox
This session focuses on Australia’s Easter Bilby. Where they live and what they look like. Are they similar to a rabbit? This session will be Easter themed.
|
Bush Buddies Term 2
Week
|
Topic
|
|
Monday
11AM
|
Tuesday
10AM
|
Friday
10AM
|
1
|
N/A ANZAC Day
|
27th April
|
30th April
|
Turtles
Story: The Foolish Tortoise by Eric Carle
This explores turtles and tortoises and their similarities and differences, through sensory learning and movement.
|
2
|
3rd May
|
4th May
|
7th May
|
Busybird Beaks
Story: Busy Beaks by Sarah Allen
This session focuses on the different shapes of bird beaks and what they are used for. This session has a focus on big and small.
|
3
|
10th May
|
11th May
|
14th May
|
Dingos and Tasmanian Devils
Story: Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan
This session is focused on dingos and Tasmanian Devils and their special characteristics. Using their sense of sights and hearing kids will explore these wonderful animals.
|
4
|
17th May
|
18th May
|
21st May
|
What’s that noise?
Story: Kookaburras love to laugh by Laura and Philip Bunting.
What noise does a kangaroo make? What about a koala? This session focuses on the unusual sounds our Australian animals make. Bring your listening ears and let’s find out!
|
5
|
24th May
|
25th May
|
28th May
|
Fantastic Frogs
Story: Leap Frog By Jane Clarke and Britta Teckentrup
Let’s learn about frogs and their unique characteristics. We will may even get a chance to meet one of our resident frogs.
|
6
|
31st May
|
1st June
|
4th June
|
Bugs Bugs Bugs
Story: Twig by Aura Parker
This session focuses on out 6 legged critters and
|
7
|
7th June
|
8th June
|
11th June
|
Possum Magic
Story: Possum Magic by Mem Fox
This session has a focus on the possums and their wonderful characteristics, Where do they live? What do they eat? Come along and find out.
|
8
|
N/A Public Holiday
|
15th June
|
18th June
|
Who can hop?
Story: Kangaroos Hop By Ross Moriarty Balarinji
Kangaroos hop, frog’s hop, what other animals hop? Some and find out. This session has a focus on movement.
|
9
|
21st June
|
22nd June
|
25th June
|
Wonderful Water birds and their nests
Story: Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Clement
A focus on Pelicans, kids will be exploring the amazing pelican characteristics. This session will be located at the Wetlands area.
|
Bush Buddies Term 3
Week
|
Topic
|
|
Monday
11AM
|
Tuesday
10AM
|
Friday
10AM
|
1
|
19th July
|
20th July
|
23rd July
|
Reptiles are Rad!
Story: Beware of the Crocodile by Martin Jenkins
Let’s learn about scaly retiles like crocodiles, lizards and snakes. Some dinosaurs are reptiles too. Come along and find out more.
|
2
|
26th July
|
27th July
|
30th July
|
Animal Homes
Story: The Little Aussies Bush Babies by Dawn Hawthorn-Jackson
This session explores the various homes. Where does a bird sleep? Where does a Tasmanian devil live? Through visual and sensory exploring we discover the answers.
|
3
|
2nd August
|
3rd August
|
6th August
|
Geese please
Story: Boo to a Goose by Mem Fox
This session focuses on cape barren geese and magpie geese, the things they get up to and the unique features they have.
|
4
|
9th August
|
10th August
|
13th August
|
Wombats
Story: Wombat Goes to School by Jackie French
This session focuses on the unusual sounds of our wonderful animals we have here at Cleland such as emus, possums, dingos, curlew, cockatoo, rainbow lorikeet, Tasmanian devil. This session will end at the Woodland aviary, listen to the unusual birds that reside there.
|
5
|
16th August
|
17th August
|
20th August
|
Colourful Birds
Story: A Parrots Wish by Heather Freeman
This session has a focus on birds and the wonderful variety of feathers and colours they can have. Including lots of sensory activities and observing the lorikeets flying in the trees.
|
6
|
23rd August
|
24th August
|
27th August
|
Wallabies
Story: Look and See by Shane Morgan
This session looks at the similarities and differences of wallabies and kangaroos, as well as getting the chance to meet some up close.
|
7
|
30th August
|
31st August
|
3rd September
|
Who lays eggs?
Story: Have you seen my egg? Penny Olsen
Exploring the different sizes of eggs, nests and birds. This session has a focus on big and small and gets kids to match eggs and nests to birds.
|
8
|
6th September
|
7th September
|
10th September
|
Wonderful Worms
Story: Yucky Worms by Vivian French and Jessica Ahilberg
Animals come in all different colours and have different body textures. Let’s discover who has the brightest colours – while observing them in their natural habitat.
|
9
|
13th September
|
14th September
|
17th September
|
Marsupials Manners
Story: Hana and the Koala by Heather Freeman
Did you know koalas and wombats are related? Let’s discover what they both like and don’t like.
|
Bush Buddies Term 4
Week
|
Topic
|
|
Monday
11AM
|
Tuesday
10AM
|
Friday
10AM
|
1
|
11th October
|
12th October
|
15th October
|
Night time creatures
Story: Goodnight Possum by Coral Vass
Who comes out at night time? Possums, potoroos and bandicoots these little animals all around the park. Are they sleeping today? Let try and find some. This session focuses on animal care
|
2
|
18th October
|
19th October
|
22nd October
|
Rare Rock Wallabies
Story: Benny Bungarra’s Big Bush Clean – up by Sally Morgan
Who knows what a yellow-footed rock wallaby is? How do they move? Where do they live? Let’s find out through movement and interactive exploration. This session has a bit of walking and will be located down at the rock wallabies.
|
3
|
25th October
|
26th October
|
29th October
|
Scrap that Scat
Story: The Story of the Little Mole Who knew it Was None of His Business by Wolf Erlbruchand Werner Holzwarth
This session focuses on different animal tracks and the poos they leave behind. I
wonder what a wombat poos looks like.
|
4
|
1st November
|
2nd November
|
5th November
|
Ducks Rock
Story: Duck by McKinlay
This session focuses on ducks and their unusual characteristics that help them to swim and walk.
|
5
|
8th November
|
9th November
|
12th November
|
Scales-Fur-Feathers Wowee
Story: I went walking by Sue Machin
Some animals have fur, some have scales, and some even have feathers. This session focuses on different animal textures.
|
6
|
15th November
|
16th November
|
19th November
|
Curious Cycles
Story: Lyssie the Butterfly by Eva-Marie Welsh
This sessions explores butterfly cycles. From munching crawling caterpillars to flying butterflies. Using visual and movement based learning to engage children.
|
7
|
22nd November
|
23rd November
|
26th November
|
Safe snakes
Story: The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
This session focuses on reptiles and teaching kids not to approach strange animals in the wild. Snake safety and maybe even meet a resident snake.
|
8
|
29th November
|
30th November
|
3rd December
|
Echidna
Story: Puggles Problem by Aleesah Darlison
This session explores the unique characteristics of echidnas, through sensory activities and exploration of their environments.
|
9
|
6th December
|
7th December
|
10th December
|
Nothing but Nests –
Story: Bird Builds a nest by Martin Jenkins,Richard Jones
Exploring the different sizes of eggs and the nest and materials used for nests. This session has a focus on nests and how they are built, using a storytelling and construction approach.
Note: Children will make a mini Christmas wreath using their newly acquired nest building skills - Nature wreath for Christmas.
|
Terms and Conditions
- Bookings recommended and available upon arrival. Keep in mind sessions have a maximum group size of 14 children.
- Sessions are $8 per child
- Park entry is required (this is a great opportunity to become a Cleland Member and receive unlimited entry).
- Park entry for under 4 years of age are free.
- Duration 45 minutes
- Sessions will commence and conclude at the designated time.
- Suitable for 2-4 years, although younger children can attend, just note some activities may not be suited for children under 2 years.
- Refunds not available, however we can reschedule if you contact us before the booked session.
- Cancellations by Cleland Wildlife Park may occur due to extreme weather, or other conditions, outside of the park’s control. You will be notified if this is to occur and will be invited to reschedule or be refunded in full. If a Total Fire Ban day is declared, management reserves the right to cancel the tour. We will endeavour to reschedule and ensure you still maintain your booking. In the event you cannot attend the re-scheduled tour, a full refund will be granted. Management reserve the right to cancel tours, for safety reasons, at any time.
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