The Holding Space Program introduces Bush Connections

Who and What comprises Bush Connections?

Helen Fitzgerald, in collaboration with another experienced early childhood (EC) professional, began Bush Connections in October, 2024 as a way of demonstrating what a child-led, nature-based play experience can look like. They invited their EC friends and colleagues to come along and bring their families - children and grandchildren of any age. The group has slowly grown to average anywhere from 30 - 50 people of mixed ages at each gathering. Parents and guardians are responsible for their child’s health and safety at all times, and provide their own snacks and drinks.

Relevance of Bush Connections to the Holding Space Program:

At the heart of the Holding Space Program is the belief that learning predominantly occurs when the nervous system is calm and regulated.  In any learning environment, it is the presence of regulated adults that supports the co-regulation of children. Holding Space encourages early childhood providers, teachers, and educators to create ‘communities of respect, communities of regulation’ in their settings. Bush Connections provides opportunities for adults (and children) to experience what that looks like, and feels like, in practice.

Where:

The site for Bush Connections gatherings is an easily accessible site on the edge of the Nail Can Hill Reserve, managed by Albury District Aboriginal Lands Council. Permission was sought to use the space on a regular basis. The flat area offers shade all morning in summer with gaps of sunshine between the gums, in winter. There are rocky hills to climb down, open space to run, plenty of trees, and dips in the ground that hold water after rain.

When:

There's a general schedule to meet on the first Saturday of the month, unless a public holiday occurs [in which case it's the 2nd Saturday]. New participants are added to a private SMS (messaging) list and reminders are sent on the weekend prior to the next gathering. Included in the reminder is a request to respect the space as a phone free zone. 

How:

The facilitators arrive an hour before the starting time of 9am - 11am in summer and 9.30am -11.30am in winter. They set up:

• a one-off indemnity form and regular attendance sheet
• two mats, one for adults to gather on, the other for eating on
• an area separate from the adult area, to engage children as they arrive [particularly young children and first timers] containing:
  • 30 Litre water bottle
  • the dirt beneath and
  • metal implements for digging, sifting, cooking, crushing and collecting
• a crate of cubby and building materials e.g. ropes, hessian bags, calico sheets, saws and hammers
• several baskets containing scissors, string, crayons, hole punch, paint brushes
• a fire area in the colder months and fire-starting flints (if the children are successful in sparking an ember, the small fire that is created is attended to by an adult at all times – usually with a small group of children huddled around cooking marshmallows)

As families arrive, the two facilitators sit down to hold one of the two distinct spaces - adult-centred OR child-centred.

New families are given a brief overview of the approach (Click here for more information about the adults’ role in Bush Connections):

• child centred and child led
• adults to find a place to sit, near or away from their child
• ask no questions of the child's intentions [just comment or affirm]
• adults can follow child's lead if asked to assist

Time:

The session runs for a loose 2 hours and within that time families break off from play to eat and drink as children get hungry. Invariably no one is ready to leave after 2 hours, so packing up becomes a shared activity.

Cost:

There is no money exchange. Facilitators cover purchase of replacement or additional resources as required.

If you are interested and want to hear more, or would like to join us, then please email your contact details to Sheena at selwick@csu.edu.au