Little seeds for a better future  

Children will spend the day at the beautiful Long Bay Regional Park playing freely. The northern end of the park will be used where the stream joins the sea and provides the most amazing play space for children. There is the beach to play on, lots of huge tree branches that become space ships and dragons, overhanging trees that provide natural huts, rock pools for exploring, and the shallow stream is perfect for safe water play.

There is also the Nature trail and the walk over the cliff to Granny's Bay which provides a whole new amazing area for play. There will be lots of opportunities for swimming with close adult supervision. The park area has hundreds of trees for climbing, wide open green spaces for large group games, and lots of pockets of bush for imaginative play.

 

The foundation of our programs is free play in a natural setting with as little assistance as possible from equipment and technology. We offer a chance for children to play as they like, for as long as they like, within a framework of respect for those around them and the environment. Extension opportunities will be available but only if the children genuinely want to participate. We provide basic equipment suitable for exploring the outdoors: ropes, tarpaulins, bungees, compass, magnifying glasses, knives (to be used with supervision) and some art equipment.

 

Our programs are designed as an antidote to the fast-paced technology-filled world many children now inhabit. Any personal devices (phones, iPods, etc) must be left at home.

 

Important: Our children’s lives are so filled with structure, this program aims to give them a break from instruction and allow them to play as they like, for as long as they like, within a framework of respect for those around them and the environment. Extension opportunities will be available but only if the children genuinely want to participate. Playing in the outdoors inevitably means getting dirty, and often getting a few scrapes and bruises too. If you or your child are not happy with this concept then this is not the programme for you.

 

What you MUST pack: 

The children need to be well prepared to get the most enjoyment out of the day. Cold, wet, or hungry children can't play happily.
 

• Minimum 3 full sets of clothing including underwear and socks
  (Thermals are highly recommended during Autumn and Winter)

• sun hat

• warm hat ( Autumn and Winter )

• Sunblock

• Swimwear (rash t-shirt is compulsory during Summer and Spring)

• Towel

• Plastic bags for wet clothes

• LOTS of food. They will get far more hungry than they do sitting in a classroom all day

• Large Drink bottle

• Old shoes suitable for bushwalking

• Gum Boots

• GOOD QUALITY RAINCOAT AND WATERPROOF PANTS
  Waterproof pants are compulsory for wet days.

• They need 2 bags, 1 for clothing and a backpack for lunch and drink

The program will go ahead in all weather. Rain brings exciting opportunities for play and exploration and of course shelter building! Good quality wet weather gear is very important. We wholeheartedly believe the famous quote "there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing". Waterproof gear (jacket and pants) is compulsory for rainy days. We offer waterproof pants for sale in our online shop. In case of severe weather warning the Waiake Scout Hall has been booked. 

 

Parent Helpers - A unique part of the Conscious Kids Programme philosophy is that passionate parents make the very best supervisors. They have a vested interest in making sure the day is amazing for the children and they have the most experience caring for and managing children. If you are enthusiastic and positive about being in the outdoors in all weather conditions and genuinely enjoy being around children supporting independent play, then this could be the role for you. Please click here for more information or email info@consciouskids.co.nz.

 

 

 

* To ensure our children get the best of our free play spaces and enjoy the Conscious Kids way of play, we require at least 12 children to attend per day, so please invite yours friends for the days of pure fun during the holidays!