Registering for term 1, 2016.

Food forest for injured wildlife.

Great news for 2015 'Natured Kids'. The 'food forest' we helped plant at the Carrum Indigenous Nursery to help feed injured Koalas and possums is growing well. Prunings of tasty green shoots from the Carrum Indigenous Nursery have helped feed 4 'rescue' koalas and over 10 possums this summer! If you are keen to participate in similar environmental activities with your 0-6 year olds during 2016 around the Mornington Peninsula, we are taking registrations now, term 1 is filling fast! Please contact Narelle with your location via oaks@bigpond.net.au for details.

Homeschool sessions

'Natured Kids' is pleased to announce, after a decade of multiple requests, sessions especially designed for homeschooled families and their children aged 6-16 years will be held during 2016 on a private property in Mt.Martha, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.

Do your homeschooled children enjoy:

# Ponding for creek critters, crafting bugs from natural materials and constructing 'backyard' frog bogs?
# Creating creature habitats and planting indigenous food for local wildlife?
# Exploring how all living things use natural materials for survival and trying their hand at hut building?
# Learning how to enhance the world's most precious resource, soil?
# Growing and harvesting fresh herbs & vegetables to make a wood fired pizza?
# Mastering fire lighting and safety for campfire cooking?

....then 'Natured Kids' outdoor environmental sessions are for you!

Email oaks@bigpond.net.au if keen for details of the first 6 week program, starting each Thursday from February 11th.

Thank you, Narelle Debenham.

Play Outside Australia

Aussie Bush Easter Celebration

Next week concludes the 'Natured Kids' term of outdoor family adventures.  In the spirit of Nature Play week, come and join us for some Aussie Bush Easter fun.
event will be held on both the Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd, April, 2014.

Who would like to join us for a Bug hunt at the Kooweerup community garden this Saturday?
Please register if keen by calling Aileen on : 03. 59 979 681

School Holiday Program, Birds in Backyards.

Calling all Junior landcarers 
aged 2-16 years. 

Join in our 'Birds in Backyards' school holiday session. Monday 1st July, arrive anytime  between 10am-2pm. At Angus & Rose, The Briars, Nepean Highway, Mt.Martha.

Make a bird seed germinator,decorate it as a bird, fill with seeds, take them home & watch them  grow. Learn how to plant in your 
garden to attract birds into your 
own backyard.

$10 per child includes all materials for planting activity, a coloured 'Birds in Backyards' poster 
and participation in the story 'Wetland Birds' (read every 1/2 hr).

Finish off with a 15 minute self guided wetlands wander along the boardwalk to discover the many wetlands birds who are visiting or call 'The Briars' home. Watch out for Edward the emu 
along the way! May wish to BYO binoculars.

Enquiries call Narelle on 
0431791379 or rsvp 'coming' via Natured Kids Facebook page. 
No need to book, can pay on day.

Great coffee available onsite during your outdoor adventures at Angus and Rose.

Satin Bowerbird

Look what we found today on our outdoor adventures to Moonlit Sanctuary .....

http://www.pearcedale-conservation-park.com.au/

.....a male Satin Bowerbird,
Ptilonorhynchus violaceus.

We discovered that the dark glossy-blue male Satin Bowerbird attracts potential mates by building a bower of twigs and grass. He decorates the bower with blue and yellow objects - feathers, shells, glass, berries and uses them to display to females.
Female Satin Bowerbirds that are attracted by this will mate with the male, then fly off and build a separate nest in which to lay their eggs.
The male does not help in the incubation or raising of the young.

If you would like to learn more about this cheeky feathered friend,go to:

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Ptilonorhynchus-violaceus

or

http://museumvictoria.com.au/forest/animals/bowerbird.html

*Information courtesy Museum Vic
*Photograph taken by Narelle 
  Debenham www.naturedkids.com