More kids are exploring outside through the expansion of the Bush Kinder Grants Program.
The Victorian government has announced that fourteen kindergartens in Northern Victoria will receive funding to enhance outdoor learning opportunities for children.
State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes announced the recipients, with the Bush Kinder grant designed to increase the amount of time children spend playing and learning in nature.
Bush Kinder is run in parks, bushland and beaches, giving children the chance to explore and develop curiosity through activities such as climbing trees, playing with natural materials and watching wildlife.
This round’s recipients include:
- Community Kids Shepparton Early Education Centre
- Save the Children Kindergarten - Mooroopna
- Pro Kidz - Benalla
- Nathalia & District Preschool
- Punt Road Kindergarten and Childcare Centre - Cobram
- Euroa Kindergarten
- Avenel Early Childhood Service
- Kyabram Community and Learning Centre
- Berrimba Child Care - Echuca
- Beechworth Community and Early Years Learning Centre
- Wangaratta West Kindergarten
- Badger Creek Preschool
- Generations Early Learning - Rural City of Mildura
- Mallee Minors Childcare Centre - Rural City of Mildura
The program provides one-off $6000 grants to help kindergartens purchase equipment for outdoor activities, with the government investing $3.6 million over four years to expand the program to up to 600 kindergartens across the state.
“Programs like bush kinder are a fantastic way to connect our youngest learners with nature,” Ms Symes said.
“These grants mean more local kindergartens in Northern Victoria can take learning outside, helping our kids grow in confidence and curiosity.”
In this round of grants, 43 regional kindergartens and 107 metropolitan kindergartens will establish the bush kinder programs.
To find out more about the program and the kindergartens selected, go to https://www.vic.gov.au/bush-kinder-grants-program