As tens of thousands of students returned to school last week, Good Shepherd Primary in Kelmscott had a special surprise in store for their kindergarten and pre-primary students – a nature playground provided by parents.
The youngest of the school’s 2013 crop of students can now spend their recreation time running, climbing, rolling and even pumping water through the enclosed playground provided entirely by the parent group – to name just a few of the activities available to children.
When The Record visited, it looked very much as if Good Shepherd’s littlies were enjoying every inch of their recreation space while the cubby house on raised legs was looking very much the place to be.
“This adds to our already established programs that include an area for bush play, vegetable gardens, animals and outdoor education,” school principal Gabrielle Doyle told The Record.
“Children in the early years are able to pump water, follow a creek bed to a pond, play on grass mounds, a log tangle, climbing frames, tree trunk steps, log bridges, swinging ropes, platforms under the historic flame trees, sandpits, as well as to experience a range of textures of natural surfaces.”
She said nature play is becoming more important in the lives of our children as a result of diminished use of public spaces and smaller backyards.
Ms Doyle said she was delighted and proud the playground was completely funded by monies raised by parents and families over the previous two years; no loans or government grants were needed to build it.