YOUR FAMILY’S GUIDE TO EXPLORING OUR NATIONAL PARKS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Featuring 79 walks ideal for children Contents A BUSH ADVENTURE A bush adventure with children . 1 Planning tips . 2 WITH CHILDREN As you walk . 4 Sometimes wonderful … As you stop and play . 6 look what can we As you rest, eat and contemplate . 8 This is I found! come again? Great walks for family outings in Tropical North Queensland . 10 awesome! Sometimes more of a challenge … I'm tired/ i need are we hungry/bored the toilet nearly there? Whether the idea of taking your children out into nature fills you with a sense of excited anticipation or nervous dread, one thing is certain – today, more than ever, we are well aware of the benefits of childhood contact with nature: 1. Positive mental health outcomes; 2. Physical health benefits; 3. Enhanced intellectual development; and 4. A stronger sense of concern and care for the environment in later life. Planet Ark – Planting Trees: Just What the Doctor Ordered Above all, it can be fun! But let’s remember … Please don’t let your expectations of what should “If getting our kids out happen as you embark on a bush adventure into nature is a search for prevent you from truly experiencing and perfection, or is one more enjoying what does happen. Simply setting chore, then the belief in the intention to connect your children to a Produced & published by the National Parks Association of Queensland Inc. perfection and the chore natural place and discover it alongside Original content developed by the Pullenvale Environment Education Centre defeats the joy.” them is enough. We invite you to enjoy Copyright © 2017 National Parks Association of Queensland Inc, Education Queensland & respective photographers Richard Louv – Last Child in the each moment of your experience however it Woods: Saving our Children from unfolds, and hope the following tips, ideas and Nature-Deficit Disorder Proudly supported by the Clem Jones Foundation activities help you along the way. 1 PLANNING TIPS 1. Be prepared! 2. Lead by example! 3. Get smart with your Involve your children in planning – Be genuinely engaged and enthusiastic, smart phone! this is a shared adventure. it’s contagious! On your walk try to: Be clear with your ‘Bush Explorers’ We recommend that you… Discover with fresh eyes; that on this adventure your phone Choose your walk wisely may be used as an Explorer’s tool Invite curiosity through your words to: Check the last pages of this booklet and actions; for locations, lengths and highlights Navigate – you could use your GPS Share your knowledge if it’s or download a compass app; of walks suitable for children. Match requested; and descriptions and distances with your Capture memories – through children’s needs and interests. It’s Remember, on this adventure you are photographs, video or audio important they have a clear idea of not a tour guide or a teacher, but a recordings. Be prepared to allow where and why you are going and how fellow explorer! your ‘Bush Explorers’ to use your long your walk might take. Also visit phone (or camera) responsibly if www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks for up-to- they wish. date park alerts and more information Phones and cameras help us to take on the various tracks. Remember to stay only memories from our beautiful on marked tracks. natural environments. Leave our Pack a backpack national parks just as you found Children are born passionately them so that others can best enjoy Include water bottles, sunscreen, insect eager to make as much sense them after you. We recommend you use the repellent, a basic first aid kit, snacks as they can of things around ideas and activities on the and any materials essential for genuine You can also make the choice to them. If we attempt to control, following pages as needed. ‘Bush Explorers’ e.g. a map, magnifying pack the phone away and enjoy a manipulate, or divert this glass, compass, pen and paper or other nature day without technology! Some days you may need many process... the independent of them, other days you may art materials. scientist in the child disappears. Of course, your phone is also an need none. Dress appropriately John Holt, author important safety device. In an emergency situation, dial 000. Choose protective clothing that can get dirty including long pants, closed-in walking shoes and hats. 2 3 AS YOU WALK 1. Vary your pace is to take imaginary photos. Use your even be able to photograph through ‘Faraway Tree’ or spot a home for hands to frame the perfect shot of your magnifying glass. Be prepared to a Hobbit! There will be times when you all want each beautiful or interesting discovery. crouch, bend, lie down and peer into. to walk quickly, particularly when you Use your fingers, or a notepad, to It’s all part of seeing the bush with 8. Be a genuine begin your bush adventure. However, count and then recall each of your new eyes. ‘Bush Explorer’ help your Bush Explorers slow down finds. Have fun creatively naming You can provide an example to sometimes, engage all their senses your snapshots (e.g. Grandpa Ironbark, 5. Move silently your children of exploring using and really pay attention to what is Slippery Slope, Termite Town). At the Bush exploring can be very noisy, but your senses, your mind and your happening around them. end of your walk or back at home switch off your voices and you will imagination: 2. Select a walking stick create an original map of your journey find your senses become ‘hyper-alert’ to include these landmarks. You might like those of a bush creature. Agree on I wonder We have noticed children love carrying even add real photos! a length of time or set distance and why... sticks in the bush, so let’s go with it… then try a ‘silent walk’ during which carefully! Sticks can be wonderful you may only communicate without what if... walking aids for tired legs. Assist your did you using words. Imagine the new things child to carefully choose the stick that is hear... you might discover! right for them and listen as they explain what do you their choice. It is important that even 6. Find a bush seat think about... sticks with super powers are used wisely I love the – ensure your Bush Explorer knows their It’s fun to find good sitting spots as way... you walk and it can provide a much I feel... stick cannot be used for whacking the look at bush or harming anyone. needed moment of rest. Stop to try out each bush seat and don’t forget to that... 3. Gather ‘handy’ imaginary take a photograph! this snapshots looks like... this reminds 7. Find your favourite me of... One way of tuning in to the bush and 4. Take extraordinary stories encouraging children to keep walking i like it real photographs Engage the imaginations of your Bush when... Ban boring photographs and get Explorers and spur them on by linking creative with composition! Try their experiences to their favourite photographing up the trunk of a stories or movies. Find a leaf that And if you just can’t resist sharing tree or through a hole in a leaf, and reminds you of Nemo and swim him your knowledge, stop to ask first ‘Do experiment with close-ups. You may through the forest, locate the perfect you want to know about this?’ 4 5 AS YOU STOP AND PLAY 1. Take a moment 6. Listen with your fingers Remember, this is about the journey Encourage your Bush Explorers to really and not the destination. Follow your tune their ears into the sounds of the child’s lead and take the time to stop forest by holding a listening challenge. and explore each new spot as your Stand together and count on your walk unfolds. fingers how many sounds, both near and far away, you hear in one minute. 2. See yourself in a tree 7. Discover natural treasures Just like people, each tree is unique. Can you find a tree that reminds you of Begin by deciding what qualifies as yourself? Play ‘See that tree? It’s a bit a treasure and agreeing to leave all like me!’ with your Bush Explorers and treasures where they are found, then… ask them to explain their choices. find natural objects to match each colour of the rainbow or each letter of That tree looks like it’s reaching up to its the alphabet, spot a brightly coloured parents for a hug. web after that branch fell down and 5. Scrunch and sniff object such as a leaf and search for That tree is old and wrinkly, but it’s still crashed through it.” What might these other natural objects of a similar standing strong and wears a smile. Can you find the one smell that would colour, play ‘I Spy’ with colours, shapes insects say about the humans exploring immediately bring this bush track to their forest? or textures, or challenge your Bush 3. Switch on your mind? Experiment with crushing and Explorers to find five new discoveries in ‘Super Eyes’ 4. Splash, sink, soak rolling fallen leaves in your hands, and five minutes. then smelling your ‘forest perfume’. See the bush through the eyes of If your adventure leads you to water, Decide which perfume you each 8. Leave your treasures its smallest inhabitants. Challenge stop to throw a small object in, listen like best. As your Bush Explorers play they will everyone to find a safe insect they can to it ‘plop’ and watch the circular find natural treasures they can’t bear zoom in on and watch quietly for a ripples.