Leap into Nature @ Braeside Park

Today was Hot-to-Trot - no rain in sight!  It was a great start to the year with 22 kids and three little bubbas! We started with a stroll through the bush, listening for birds, smelling eucalyptus leaves and discovering traces of cheeky little bunnies - poo, diggings and warrens, plus a few 'Peter Rabbits' bouncing off into the bush.

We found some shade to have a sit down and a snack, then it was time to learn about snakes.... How beautiful they are and how they form an important part of nature.  To demonstrate a snakes place in the natural world we played a food chain game with grasses, insects, frogs, snakes and a hungry owl.  

We then talked about snake safety and awareness and did some role play with bandaging a patient that had been bitten by a snake!

It was then time for more exploration, we did a bug survey finding spiders by shaking trees, and we also came across a very friendly Katydid - the Common Garden Katydid! Everyone was able to have a close look and a hold as well.

Thanks to all the kids, parents and grandparents that joined in, we look forward to more nature adventures with you this year! 

Common Garden Katydid (basically a big green cricket) - it had very sticky feet and the kids were great in letting it walk up their arms! These guys are herbivorous and are very well camouflaged in their environment.