Our Bushland Activity Program

Our Bushland School Holiday Program

Hunter Region Landcare Network are pleased to announce a program of events and initiatives aimed to support kids and their families on their birdwatching journey, while also showcasing some of the spectacular bushland sites in the Cessnock Region.

Our Bushland Poster Competition (Entries open now until Sun 21 May)

The Our Bushland Poster Competition is open to students who are attending primary school in the Cessnock region, aged 5 – 12. Schools and families who wish to support students entering the competition have access to a range of educational resources and activities to provide guidance in learning more about the competition topic.

All schools with participating students will go in the draw to win one of 3 ‘Our Bushland’ classroom prize packs, including educational materials and tools valued at over $1000. The winning student entry within each age group category will win their own Our Bushland prize pack including binoculars, books and other fun items. A selection of artworks will also be displayed in a public exhibition.

For more information on the competition, see full details and resources on our website here.

OOSH Vacation Care ‘Woodland Wander’ Excursions

Friday 14 April: Nulkaba OOSH, Dudley Street OOSH

Tuesday 18th April: Bellbird OOSH

Children enrolled in OOSH Vacation Care will be treated to an excursion to Poppet Head Park for a morning spent learning about their precious local bushland and the birds that live there. Enquiries about enrollment in the April school holidays OOSH vacation care program can be made directly through Cessnock Multipurpose Children’s Centre – website here.

Bushland Birding for Beginners (Stanford Merthyr)

Sunday 16 April

Bird-curious children and their families are invited to join our friendly experts for a birding for beginners session and guided bird walk through Stanford Merthyr Crown Reserve (Site #5 on the Hunter Bird Observers Club’s ‘Birding Guide to the Cessnock Woodlands’).

Bookings are essential, and can be made online here.

Our Bushland ‘Birding Backpacks’ Launch Events at Cessnock Libraries

Monday 17 April: Kurri Kurri Library

Wednesday 19th April: Cessnock Library

Our Bushland Birding Backpacks include binoculars, bird ID guides, activity sheets and other information for families to begin their birding journey in the Cessnock region, and will be available for loan from Cessnock libraries.

To celebrate their launch, young children and their families are invited for a reading of the wonderful new picture book “The Forgotten Song: Saving the Regent Honeyeater”, followed by some birding craft activities.

Bookings are essential and can be made through Cessnock Library’s Eventbrite page here.

For more information please contact Meg Bruce via email hunterlandcaremeg@gmail.com

And stay tuned for more Our Bushland birding activities coming up in May!