CONNECT at Girrakool
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Connect
Presented by Simply Homeschool at Girrakool National Park in conjuntion with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Homeschool Hive.
This 8-week program encourages students to forge connections with nature, each other and themselves through hands-on learning under the guidance of staff and park rangers.
Explore the bushland, forest, waterfalls and creeks of Girrakool National Park.
Read maps, make scientific observations, study the environment and write in a nature journal. Practice plant, insect and bird identification, go on a fungi hunt and make leaf rubbings. Explore Aboriginal connections and culture, listen to storytelling and learn about the indigenous seasons. Discuss what makes a good friend and how to take care of your mental and physical health.
CONNECT fosters a sense of belonging, inspires resilience and encourages gratitude. It nurtures a love of the natural world, and facilitates collaboration as students write and illustrate a Group Book to be professionally published, and create group artworks to be displayed at a local art gallery.
CONNECT will run again in Term 3 at a different location.
ConteNt and Curriculum
CONNECT is suitable for ages 5-14 and covers English, Science and Technology, Geography, PD, Health, PE, Creative Arts and Aboriginal Studies across Early Stage 1 (Kindergarten) - Stage 4 (Years 7 and 8).
Download a list of all of the Outcomes covered by CONNECT here.
See a list of activities included in CONNECT below under "Weekly Outline".
Schedule
Wednesdays 27 April - 15 June* 2022
Girrakool National Park, Central Coast, NSW
- 9:15am Arrive and Sign in
- 9:30am Connect Activities
- 10:00am 4 Rotating Group Activities (time for lunch and snacks is included in these activities)
- 1:00pm Activity 5, Reconnect, Respond and Share
- 2:30pm Finish
*Weeks that are rained out will be made up after 15 June
Registration Fees
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1st child 2nd child 3rd child 4th child + |
Registration includes:
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NOTE: Children must be from the same immediate family.
Registration fees are per child and include participation in all activities. Children aged 0-4 are free. Adults are not required to pay registration fees but are required to supervise their child/ren at all times for all activities.
Weekly OUTLINE
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CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
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Mental Health Survey Belonging Physical Fitness Heart Rate Check |
Introductory walk and observations |
Map Reading and Map skills |
Nature Journaling – Trees Writing Skills – Nouns and Verbs |
Science - Observation Skills Environmental Studies - Colour Cards Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun and Rrark Patterns Reconnect, Respond and Share |
|
CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
|
What makes a good friend? |
Plant identification Bush Tukka Types of Leaves |
Bush Creations – Design and Technology with natural materials |
Nature Journaling – Plant Descriptions Writing Skills – Adjectives |
Science – Fungi Hunt Environmental Studies Leaf Rubbings/Bark rubbings Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – leaves and stalks Reconnect, Respond and Share |
|
CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
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Developing strengths and skills – one step at a time.
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Aboriginal Connections Aboriginal Language, Art and Culture
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Indigenous Seasons Calendar Aboriginal Storytelling
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Group - Journey Maps Writing Skills – Prepositions |
Science – Types of Clouds Environmental Studies Hand blow painting Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – Group Artwork #1 background with Rrark patterns Reconnect, Respond and Share |
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CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
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Mistakes Matter – what makes a mistake good?
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Waterways Water quality study
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Insect Identification Bush Tukka
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Nature Journaling – Insect and Water Descriptions Writing Skills – Adverbs |
Science – Leaf Litter Environmental Studies - Hoop Study Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – Patterned Animals Reconnect, Respond and Share
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CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
|
Attitude of Gratitude
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Bird Identification Bird Sketching
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Tracks and Scats Reptiles and Mammals
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Nature Journaling – Bird Poetry Writing Skills – Conjunctions
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Science – Bird Count Types of beaks/feet Environmental Studies - Sneaky Sniffers Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – Detailed bird/animal Sketches Reconnect, Respond and Share |
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CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
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Resilience Skills
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Soil Types Geology
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Bush Safety Skills First Aid
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Nature Journaling – Senses and Soundmaps
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Science – Ecology and ecosystems Environmental Studies – Rock Rubbings – Stone Towers/Stacks Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – Group Artwork #2 A Mural of Faces Reconnect, Respond and Share |
One of the main goals of Connect is to build connections with others and also with nature/place.
This week is kept free of activities for people to meet together, take longer walks, have a picnic/bbq and just spend time outdoors together.
This is deliberately included in Week 7 of the program when connections have grown, but there is still 1 more week to consolidate the group and group learning/interaction. This week is part of the process of handing over the ongoing connection to participants.
|
CONNECT |
ACTIVITY 1 |
ACTIVITY 2 |
ACTIVITY 3 |
ACTIVITY 4 |
ACTIVITY 5 |
|
Belonging Mental Health Survey Physical Fitness Heart Rate Check |
Human Impact Natural Change Landcare |
Bushfires Indigenous use of Fire Bush Regeneration |
Nature Journaling – Observation of Change |
Group Ephemeral Artwork Book Box Free Play |
Art – Jack Wunuwun – Group Artwork #2 A Mural of Faces - Connections Reconnect, Respond and Share |
FAQ
In term 2, 2022 CONNECT will run at Girrakool National Park on the Central Coast, NSW. We plan on running this program in other locations at a later date.
Approximate travel times:
- Gosford: 15 minutes
- Wyong: 20 minutes
- Hornsby: 40 minutes
- The Hills Distrct: 50 minutes
- Sydney CBD: 1 hour
- Northern Beaches: 1 hour
- Newcastle: 1 hour 15 minutes
Each week, please bring:
- Pencil case with sketching pencils, coloured pencils, writing pens
- Usual bushwalking supplies (water, hat, sun cream)
- Packed lunch and snacks
- Sturdy shoes and rain jacket (gumboots if wet)
- Basic first aid kit for Week 7 (independent bush walk)
- Camp chair / picnic blanket (optional)
All other materials will be supplied.
Please leave devices at home or switch off.
- All activities
- Entry to Girrakool National Park
- Expert ranger guides with National Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers
- Qualified and experienced teachers from Simply Homeschool
- 1 x published book per family
- A5 nature journal
- Materials for activities
During CONNECT, students will be writing and illustrating a Group Book to be professionally published after the program. Each family will receive a copy of the book as part of their registration.
Students will also be creating group artworks and journey maps to be displayed at a local art gallery at the conculusion of the program.
The program will still run in light rain.
If it does need to be cancelled we will let you know via a text message and a make up class will be scheduled for Wednesday the week after 15th June.
Homeschool Hive is the new face-to-face arm of Simply Homeschool.
The Homeschool Hive vision is to facilitate community connections and provide opportunities for homeschool families to connect, learn, work, share and thrive.
Our mission is that when homeschool families connect regularly in a physical place to participate in organic and guided activities, we build relationships, a sense of belonging, and we support each other to achieve positive outcomes for our children.
