Imagine a preschool where nature is the classroom. There are no chairs, tables, play equipment, organised games or fences to prevent the children from wandering into nearby bush. Welcome to The Nature School Inc.; a not for profit organisation with a vision to create a world in which all children learn from and within nature. 

Why are we collecting funds?

Unfortunately, children have moved from playing primarily outdoors to being inside, with screen time replacing outside activities and experiences. A recent survey by Planet Ark found kids today spend far less time climbing trees, exploring reserves and playing in the street than their parents did when they were young. One of our aims is to improve the health and wellbeing of our community by promoting a deeper, more regular connection with nature.

We are seeking your support to lay the foundations for a socially cohesive and sustainable future by nurturing creative, independent, healthy, resilient and environmentally aware children.

What do we do?

At The Nature School Inc., children drive their own learning. Our daily outdoor nature play sessions are between 3 and 6 hours long and are hands-on, experiential, learner-led and largely unstructured. With the supervision of experienced Nature School educators who oversee rather than take charge, children are given the opportunity to learn how to manage risks, use their unending imagination and creativity, build respect for one another and for the natural environment.

While most our work focuses on children, we also reconnect adults living with a diversity of challenges to nature in partnership with SkillsLink Training. 

New Projects:

• Establishing an independent, community-run primary school in Port Macquarie, which follows a nature-based pedagogy and environmentally mindful practices
• Becoming registered as the first 100% outdoor Mobile Preschool Service in Australia
• An annual Nature Pedagogy conference in Port Macquarie
• Expansion of our exisiting preschool, school holiday and SkillsLink Training programs in the Greater Port Macquarie region
• Creating a scholarship fund with deductible gift recipient (DGR) endorsement, enabling us to be more inclusive
• To develop and implement programs that reconnect the community with Indigenous language and culture
• Continuing to build partnerships with like-minded individuals and organisations

Why are we needed?

Extensive research has shown that the benefits of nature play for children are far reaching. They include:

• Increased confidence, self-efficacy and self esteem 
• Increased social, physical, cognitive and language skills
• Increased motivation and concentration
• Positively influences family engagement and relationships between children and family members
• Less chance of being overweight
• Deeper conceptual understandings
• Respect for the natural environment
• Better learning experiences and more imaginative play
• Promotes future generations of environmental stewards
• Improves mental and physical health and wellbeing

What can YOU do?

You can help us create a world in which all children learn from and within nature. Any gift is welcome, no matter how big or small. Gift ideas include:

$10: pays for a set of binoculars

$60: pays the annual insurance and administration fee for one child

$414: pays the term fees for one child (one 3hr session per week)

$500: pays for a new set of exploration equipment

$621: pays the term fees for one child (one 6hr session per week)

$1,000: pays for a block of project management time

$1,716: pays the annual fees for one child (one 3hr session per week)

$2,544: pays the annual fees for one child (one 6hr session per week)

$5,000+: pays for the costs associated with setting up a DGR endorsed fund

$50,000+: goes towards buying the land required for our primary school

Join us at www.thenatureschool.org.au to see more about how we'll spend your gift.

If you'd like to make your donation in support of someone or something specific, please mention this in the "Special Messages" section of the next page.