Zippy's Bush Kindy

Big adventures for little nature lovers aged 3 to 5 years!

Join Zippy Dragonfly on an early learning adventure in Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park, Perth Hills Discovery Centre or various locations in the south-west.  Choose your location for one 60-minute session per week over an 8-week term. This interactive program will ignite your child’s curiosity and strengthen their connection to nature!

Each term provides new experiences that nurture children’s confidence to explore, question and make discoveries. The program is also designed to reflect different themes, the changing seasons, and introduce new skills through nature play activities. Watch your child bloom as they learn at their own pace and grow in confidence and knowledge, with time to play, create, share stories and care for the natural world.  

2026 Program Information
 

Term 1 - 'I am an Explorer of the World'

This term is the perfect introduction to Bush Kindy and aims to develop children’s confidence and skills while they explore our beautiful bushland here at Kings Park. Children will identify and utilise their senses to increase their awareness of self and the environment around them. 

Through a variety of nature-based activities and investigations, children will make new discoveries, ask questions, solve problems, and actively construct knowledge. Through spending time exploring the bushland with their 'Bush Kindy' community, we hope each child will develop a sense of belonging and strengthen their connection to nature. 

 In Term 1 children will: 

- Have lots of opportunity to play and explore 
- Develop a positive sense of self and attitude of ‘I can do it’ 
- Use their senses and strengthen observation skills 
- Learn ways to keep safe in the bush and enjoy the outdoors by assessing and negotiating risk 
- Observe seasonal changes in the environment 
- Develop an awareness of Noongar language 
- Grow in empathy and love of nature 
 

Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park

Due to Good Friday, the term will start on the last Friday in February (shorter 5-week term).

Fridays - 27 February to 27 March - 9.30am or 10.45am 
Tuesdays - 3 March to 31 March - 9:30am or 10.45am 
Wednesdays - 4 March to 1 April - 9.30am only 
Thursdays - 5 March to 2 April - 9.30am or 10.45am 
 

South-west (Mangrove Cove, Bunbury)

Mondays - 2 February to 30 March - 9:30am (closed Monday 2 March Public Holiday) 
 

Perth Hills Discovery Centre

No programs in Term 1.

Term 2 - ‘My Bushland Friends’ 

This 8-week term aims to develop children’s confidence and skills while they explore our beautiful bushland here at Kings Park. Children will identify and utilise their senses to increase their awareness of self and the environment around them. 

Through a variety of nature-based activities and investigations, children will make new discoveries, ask questions, solve problems, and actively construct knowledge. Through spending time exploring the bushland with their 'Bush Kindy' community, we hope each child will develop a sense of belonging and strengthen their connection to nature. 

In Term 2 we welcome both new children to Bush Kindy and also children continuing from the previous term. We will explore the bushland around us, considering seasonal changes and investigating the questions ‘Who lives here?’ and ‘What do livings things need?' New discoveries will expand children's knowledge and understanding of local animals, plants, and their interdependence. 

 In Term 2 children will: 

- Have lots of opportunity to play and explore 
- Discover some of the unique plants and animals found at Kings Park 
- Investigate the features, behaviours and needs of animals and plants 
- Explore the important relationships between animals and plants 
- Actively care for the bushland through planting with our Horticulture staff 
- Learn ways to create and care for habitat in their own backyards 
- Develop an awareness of Noongar language 
- Grow in empathy and love of nature 
 

Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park 

Tuesdays - 28 April to 16 June - 9.30am or 10.45am 
Wednesdays - 29 April to 17 June - 9.30am only 
Thursdays - 30 April to 18 June - 9.30am or 10.45am 
Fridays - 1 May to 19 June - 9.30am or 10.45am 
 

Perth Hills Discovery Centre  

Tuesdays - 28 April to 16 June - 9:30am 

South-west (Wellington Discovery Forest, Bunbury)  

Mondays - 4 May to 29 June - 9:30am (closed Monday 1 June Public Holiday)

Term 3 - 'Caring for the Land I Play On' 

 Join Zippy the Dragonfly on a journey of discovery for a one-hour session per week over an 8-week term. We welcome new Zippy’s Bush Kindy explorers together with children continuing from previous terms. 

 This term children will explore the shifting seasons in the bushland. We begin during Makuru season investigating life in the cooler, rainy months, and then move into Djilba season where the bushland blooms with colour and new growth. Children will also discover why Kings Park (Kaarta Koomba) is such a special place to the Wadjuk Noongar people and how the bushland traditionally provided for all their needs. Through play and exploration, children will learn how we can all care for the bushland together. 

 In Term 3 children will: 

- Build shelters for the cooler weather 
- Experience a session around the fire where they will prepare and cook damper 
- Explore the flowers that bloom during Djilba 
- Increase their awareness of Noongar culture and language 
- Learn how the bushland traditionally provided for Noongar people 
- Participate in traditional storytelling and learn how to care for the bush 
- Grow in confidence and their love of nature 
 

Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park 

Tuesdays - 28 July to 15 September - 9.30am or 10.45am 
Wednesdays - 29 July to 16 September - 9.30am only 
Thursdays - 30 July to 17 September - 9.30am or 10.45am 
Fridays - 31 July to 26 September - 9.30am or 10.45am 

Perth Hills Discovery Centre  

Tuesdays - 21 July to 8 September - 9.30am 

South-west (Wellington Discovery Forest, Bunbury)  

Mondays - 27 July to 14 September - 9.30am 

Term 4 - 'I am a Bushland Superhero' 

Join Zippy the Dragonfly on a journey of discovery during a 60-minute session each week over an 8-week term.  We welcome new Bush Kindy explorers together with children continuing on from previous terms. 

Who can safely cross a creek? Who can read the clouds in the sky? Who can help the plants to grow? It's … YOU! Our Bushland Superhero! 

This term is all about developing children’s bush skills to confidently play in and care for the bushland environment. This will involve experiences which promote autonomy, resilience, and problem-solving such as climbing, walking along bush trails, obstacle courses and tackling different surfaces and structures. Children will also participate in group activities to develop their teamwork skills (sharing and cheering). 

 In Term 4 children will: 

- Practice bush skills such as using simple maps, creating useful objects with natural materials, plant and animal identification and weather observation 
- Participate in physical challenges such as climbing, balancing, and navigating different surfaces to further enrich their explorations 
- Meet some special bushland superheroes (people, plants, and animals) 
- Continue to observe the seasonal changes in the environment and learn about ways to care for the bush 
- Increase their awareness of Noongar language 
- Grow in empathy and love of nature 
 

Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park  

Tuesdays - 20 October to 8 December - 9.30am or 10.45am  
Wednesdays - 21 October to 9 December - 9.30am only
Thursdays - 22 October to 10 December - 9.30am or 10.45am  
Fridays - 23 October to 11 December - 9.30am or 10.45am  
 

Perth Hills Discovery Centre  

Tuesdays - 20 October to 8 December - 9.30am 
 

Southwest (Mangrove Cove, Bunbury) 

Mondays - 19 October to 7 December - 9.30am  

Brought to you by Kings Park and Botanic Garden and proudly supported by Rio Tinto.

Brought to you by Kings Park and Botanic Garden and DBCA Parks and Wildlife. Proudly supported by Rio Tinto.