Bush School at Callan Park (2.5-5 years)

Come and join us for Bush School at Callan Park on Thursdays and experience the new sounds, sights and sensations of nature.

Book event

Date

Thursdays (see dates below)

Price

$29 for 1 child and 1 parent/carer (per program)

Time

9:30am – 11:30am

Program type

This is a stay-and-play program — carers are part of the learning journey too.

Location

Summerhouse, Callan Park
Lilyfield NSW, Australia

View in Google maps

Contact

Email us at [email protected]

Each week at Bush School, we follow the rhythms of the season—discovering what’s happening along the harbour right now!

Term 2: Thursdays from 23 April – 2 July 2026

From crunchy leaves and drifting seeds to hibernating bugs, children will explore the many changes of autumn. Throughout this term we will look and listen for Callan Park’s birdlife, watch the trees change, create leaf art and weavings, and discover decomposition and the secret life of seeds.

As autumn turns to winter, we'll ramble on the rockpools at our magical Bush School beach, build shelters to hibernate in, and brighten the days with lantern-making and some cosy campfire cooking. There’s so much to discover this season at Callan Park Bush School!

Our sessions are guided by weather, local wildlife, and children’s curiosity, allowing us to respond to what we find and what captures their imagination each day

More about Bush School

Bush School is a roaming nature play program for 2.5 - 5 year olds and their carers, set in the picturesque, harbourside bushland of Callan Park. It’s about climbing, collecting, splashing, balancing, building, and wandering — without rushing to the next thing.

Each session is child-led and open-ended. There are cubbies to build, rocks to hop, bugs to watch and plenty of dirt to dig. Kids set the pace. Educators support the play. Adults stay and get involved, learning alongside their child through nature connection and hands-on activities.

What to expect:

Nature-based free play and sensory discovery
Mud, sticks, leaves and imagination
Bushcraft and storytelling
Carer-child connection through shared outdoor experience
Practical take-home ideas for nature play

This is a stay-and-play program — carers are part of the learning journey too.

Meeting point: Our Bush School site is located on the grass beside the Summerhouse, in Callan Park.

Important Information

Things to know before you attend

Please come prepared, as this program will go ahead in all-weather unless it is unsafe to do so (for example, during high winds, thunderstorms or total fire bans).

We require a minimum of 10 participants for this booking to go ahead. We reserve the right to cancel the event in case of dangerous weather or if minimum participation numbers are not met. In these circumstances a refund will be offered. Please refer to our full terms and conditions for more information.

What to bring to the event

Ensure your child comes prepared for this session by:

Bringing a refillable drink bottle and a small snack for morning tea
Dressing for the weather with sun protection (hat, sunscreen, cool clothing) and wet weather gear (raincoat, shoes and change of clothes)
Wearing enclosed footwear

Your responsibilities if you feel unwell

I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that all attendees associated with this booking do not attend if:

We/I show any COVID-19, infectious disease or virus symptoms or feel unwell
We/I have had a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting within 12 hours or at the time of the program
We/I have been asked to self-isolate
We/I have had a positive COVID-19 test result and continue to have symptoms.
If any of the above apply to you or any attendee associated with this booking, we request that you do not attend this program. In this instance, please contact us via email on [email protected] to arrange for a refund of your ticket.