The Geelong Botanic Gardens will come alive with the sound of children playing when it hosts the feature event to mark the 10th anniversary of Nature Play Week.
The free family event, to be held between 10:00am and 1:00pm on Tuesday18 April 2023, will feature several activity stations along with performances that will focus on nature play and the environment.
The event is a part of the broader Nature Play Week, running from 17 to 30 April, which in turn is a collaboration with Premier's Active April.
Nature play is a term used to describe the creation of simple play opportunities in the natural environment and encourages children and parents to see the natural environment as a place to enjoy, play, imagine, relax and explore.
Families are encouraged to have a picnic and enjoy a morning exploring the gardens and immersing themselves in nature-based activities.
The event is ideal for preschoolers and families, with experiences including sensory play, reptiles, nature crafts, scavenger hunt, storytelling, and performances, throughout the day.
Entertainment will also be provided by children's performers Born in a Taxi.
First aid and toilets are available.
Geelong Botanic Gardens are located at the corner of Eastern Park Circuit and Podbury Drive East Geelong.
Mayor Trent Sullivan
As much as we enjoy the opportunities that come with increased technology, it's vitally important that we support our children in retaining a connection with the environment.
In recent years we have seen children move indoors and screen spaces replace green places.
The fact that we are able to host the feature event of an initiative of this kind - encouraging play and a connection with the environment - is something that we should be really proud of.
Deputy Mayor Anthony Aitken
Nature play provides many benefits to a child's development.
It's well known that play improves the cognitive, physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and young people.
Through play children learn about the world and themselves, so an event of this kind is vitally important, particularly as it will encourage our community members to get outside and enjoy an environment like our own Botanic Gardens.
