Programs

Garden and outdoor learning

A native and herb garden the children plant, water and pick from, plus outdoor time every day the weather allows.

The garden bed in the last shot of the first film is the real one and the children planted it. Native grasses and shrubs down one side, a herb and vegetable bed down the other, and a watering roster the kindergarten room owns. Whatever comes out of it goes to Wendy in the kitchen, so the basil in the lunch is traceable to a child with a watering can. Outdoor time runs every day the UV, heat and rain allow, under shade sails, in hats, with sunscreen applied before the door opens. In the wet we move to the covered verandah rather than switching on a screen.

What is included

Native and edible garden beds worked by the children
Produce goes to the centre kitchen and comes back at lunch
Shade sails over every outdoor learning area
SunSmart practice with hats, sunscreen and a daily UV check
Covered verandah program for wet season days

The native and herb garden beds at Sunbird in late afternoon light — The garden bed the kindergarten room planted, at the end of an ordinary afternoon.

At a glance

Included in the daily fee

Daily, weather permitting

Included in the daily fee. There is no materials, incursion or resource levy at Sunbird.

Walk the garden on a tour

The water channel and wheel under a shade sail in the courtyard — The channel and the wheel, shaded, filtered mains water, emptied and cleaned daily.

The herb and vegetable garden bed in late afternoon light, with tomatoes, basil and rosemary — The bed the kindergarten room waters. Whatever it grows goes to Wendy in the kitchen.

How it works

The process, in order.

Daily UV and weather check before the yard opens
Sunscreen applied and hats on at the door
Garden jobs rostered by room
Harvest handed to the kitchen
Wet weather plan moves the same activity under cover

Questions about this room

What families ask about garden and outdoor learning

What happens in the wet season?

The covered verandah takes the same program, including water play and gross motor. We do not park children in front of a screen because it is raining, and we say so in the wet weather plan you get at enrolment.

How do you manage sun in Cairns?

Marnie checks the UV each morning, hats are on before the door opens, sunscreen goes on inside, and outdoor time is moved to the shaded areas or brought forward when the index is high. Every learning area outside is under a sail.

Do children actually eat what they grow?

The herbs, yes, constantly. The vegetables are hit and miss, but a child who planted a bean is far more likely to try one, which is most of the reason the bed exists.