Casey Grammar has introduced a new initiative, Nature Navigators, designed to foster curiosity, creativity and wellbeing among its youngest students through immersive, nature-based learning experiences.
Developed by the school’s head of Early Years, Vanessa Hodgkiss, Nature Navigators is a Foundation to Year 2 program that takes students beyond the classroom and into the outdoors.
It responds directly to growing research highlighting the developmental and emotional benefits of time spent in nature, as well as recent national data indicating a rise in childhood anxiety, behavioural challenges and screen dependency.
Ms Hodgkiss said the motivation behind the program was clear.
“Nature Navigators is about giving our students the time, space and encouragement to explore, imagine, and engage meaningfully with the natural world,” she said.
“It’s a return to the kind of childhood experiences that support resilience, wellbeing and social connection through nature-based play.”
Through regular interactions with a range of natural environments, from forests, wetlands, gardens and reserves, students participate in mindful and sensory activities, build shelters and bridges, and engage in nature-inspired storytelling, scientific explorations and creative, unstructured play.
The program also encourages stewardship and appreciation of the environment through activities including connecting with the country, indigenous plant and animal investigations and learning about sustainable practices.
According to the school, Nature Navigators is not a one-off excursion but a consistent, regular, engaging experience where students become familiar with a space and are able to confidently explore, learn and play, building confidence, independence and enriching their thinking and learning.
Casey Grammar principal Fiona Williams said the school is proud to lead the way in reimagining early years education.
“Our aim is to support the whole child, academically, socially and emotionally,” she said.
“With Nature Navigators, we’re offering young learners the opportunity to grow and thrive in settings that encourage curiosity, play and connection to the world around them.”
The program aligns with Casey Grammar’s broader commitment to student wellbeing and educational excellence and further strengthens their relationship with local, natural facilities in the wider community.
“Education isn’t just about what happens inside the classroom,” Mrs Williams added.
“It’s about creating meaningful experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning and an appreciation for the world students live in.”
