BUSH LORE at scs
Nature as a classroom,
Nature as a teacher
Exploring Through
Bush Lore
Our Bush Lore programme sets us apart and makes our school truly unique. Our children are extremely privileged to be able to spend time in nature on a daily basis, and for Bush Lore to be incorporated into their curriculums across all three schools.
Our children regularly head out on guided bush walks with a dedicated Bush Lore teacher who is also a qualified field guide. These experiences bring learning to life as children explore their surroundings – learning to identify animals, habitats, insects, trees, tracks and other signs of nature. Through regular time spent outdoors, they develop a deeper understanding of their environment while building curiosity, observation skills and a genuine appreciation for the natural world.
Our Bush Lore programme is tailored to meet our children’s developmental stages and grows steadily in depth as they move through our schools. In the Preschool we nurture an early love for nature through exciting bush walks and hands-on experiences. In the Preparatory School, the focus expands to developing environmental awareness and practical knowledge. By the time our children reach the College, they engage in projects linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, deepening their understanding of the environment and their role in protecting it.
Our Bush Lore programme is tailored to meet our children’s developmental stages and grows steadily in depth as they move through our schools. In the Preschool we nurture an early love for nature through exciting bush walks and hands-on experiences. In the Preparatory School, the focus expands to developing environmental awareness and practical knowledge. By the time our children reach the College, they engage in projects linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, deepening their understanding of the environment and their role in protecting it.
Fostering Wellbeing and Wonder
Our connection with nature is an integral part of the Southern Cross experience and offers benefits that extend well beyond environmental education. Regular time outdoors gives children the opportunity to slow down, move their bodies, breathe deeply and take a break from the intensity of screens and structured academic demands. The natural environment provides a sense of space and freedom that supports emotional wellbeing, reduces stress and helps children return to their learning feeling refreshed and ready to focus.
Nature also encourages a different kind of learning. Children need to observe closely, listen carefully, notice changes and respond to what is happening around them. A bush walk requires patience while waiting for an animal to appear, concentration while following tracks and cooperation when exploring as a group. These experiences develop attention, curiosity and situational awareness.
We are proud to produce children who are present and have a genuine sense of wonder, as well as a deep respect and responsibility for the environment.
Bush Lore Highlights
