Professional Development
Cottonwood Learning provides personalised training, mentoring and support that is unique and tailored to the needs of your educator team and contextualised to your service program and setting. We specialise in Bush Kindy training.
Our team is dynamic, flexible and experienced to deliver support to enrich your staff's nature play and outdoor learning journey.
What we offer...
Calendar workshops held in key locations for all to attend AND customised for whole teams.
We personalise training to suit the needs of your educator team and topics include:
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Nature Pedagogy
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Inquiry based learning in nature
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Bush Kindy Leader Course
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Practical Bush Kindy Educator Skill sets (Real Tools, Fire Experiences, Tree Climbing, Water Play, Ropes, Shelters)
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Outdoor Learning within your Primary Curriculum
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Nature's Loose Parts, 'Risky Play', Environmental Education and more.
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We support:
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Early Childhood settings
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OSHC settings
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Primary settings
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Playgroup
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Homeschool educators and groups
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Nature Play and Bush Kindy private businesses
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Community Organisations
All about our team
The Cottonwood Learning team have extensive knowledge and practical skills in nature pedagogy and “Bush Kindy”. They have been living and breathing this for most of their careers. Our team currently work in the industry in Bush Kindy programs and are well versed at navigating the legislative requirements, quality improvements systems and implementing best practice in education and care settings.
We are familiar faces – Bec, Anya, Alex and Rita and have been delivering training at Nature Play QLD, supporting educators to enrich their knowledge and skills to enrich children’s learning and wellbeing. We alongside other amazing outdoor educators will facilitate professional development and support your team.
delivered to your staff team
Customised Workshops -
Make a booking query...
Every team is unique, as is the training we can provide you, so the best way we can provide a cost is tell us a little about what you want by completing this enquiry form.
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The Cottonwood Learning team is busy, often in the field at Bush Kindy Sessions or training and mentoring, so this form will help us collect some important information and will be the best way we can design training that suits your team. We will be in contact with you very soon to give you more information and a quote if required.
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We look forward to being able to meet your Professional Development needs and enrich your teams understanding of nature play and learning.
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Or call us on 0473021887
At a place and time convenient to you, face to face or online
Training will be tailored to the needs of your team and delivered at your centre or school. Experienced, qualified trainers will share their knowledge, expertise and hands on field experience in nature pedagogy, outdoor learning, loose parts, ‘risky play’ and they also specialise in Bush Kindy consulting and training.
Customised Workshops
Mentor Sessions
Bush Kindy Leader Course
1 day Experience
GOLD COAST - visiting 5 Early Childhood Bush Kindy programs
March 2024, TBC - new date released soon
The Gold Coast Bush Kindy Bus Tour will take you on a journey of inspiration as you explore and discover Bush Kindy sites to learn more about nature pedagogy and nature immersion programs delivered by early childhood settings. Includes resources and meals for the day. Network with like-minded educators and be inspired!
Gold Coast Bush Kindy Bus Tour
1/2 day Workshop
TWEED COAST - Fingal School & Headland
TERM 4 DATES TBC
With Guest Uncle Franc, the session will enrich educators with valuable understanding of local Aboriginal history in Tweed, their connections to land and water and consider ways to incorporate this knowledge into our educator practices.
Connecting to Country - Tweed
2 hour Workshop
GOLD COAST - Elanora Community Centre
Thursday 30th November 2024 8:30am - 10:30am
This workshop will empower you with knowledge so that you feel more confident exploring nature sites across our Gold Coast Community and beyond. It includes snake identification and first aid, with guest Speaker Max Walker.
Snake Awareness Workshop
Taking Curriculum Outdoors Workshop
1 day Experience
BRISBANE - visiting Primary Schools showcasing outdoor learning
Date TBC
Open and honest Q&A sessions with Principals about their journeys. Includes on-bus workshops, digital resources and meals for the day. Network with like-minded teachers and be inspired!
Outdoor Learning at Schools Bus Tour
Learning in and With Nature
Calendar Workshops - open to all
We honour our First Nations people, their wisdom, their stories, history and culture.
We wish to acknowledge the custodians of the land on which we meet, play and learn, the people of the Yugambeh region of South East Queensland. We pay respects to the Elders of the community, past and present and the emerging leaders in our youth today.
Cottonwood Learning is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.