15 years of Bush School

Our final Bush School for 2026 brought another wonderful season of learning in the bush to a close.

For Moerlina children, Bush School has its own familiar rhythm. We arrive, walk the boundaries, notice what has changed since our last visit and consider any new risks. Then the possibilities open up. Children explore, build shelters and dens, create, collaborate, solve problems and follow ideas of their own. They carry their own gear, navigate the space, take responsible risks and learn to care for the environment – and each other.

While nature-based education has become increasingly popular, it is not a new idea at Moerlina. Learning beyond the classroom has been part of our approach since the school began in 1974. Our Bush School practice was further strengthened through Maria’s specialist Forest School training in 2011 and Maria and Perette’s subsequent AISWA study tours to England and Scotland in 2012 and 2013, exploring leading approaches to outdoor learning and nature play.

These experiences helped shape something distinctly Moerlina. Bush School isn’t an excursion or a token afternoon outdoors. It is sustained, immersive learning in a wild space, where children develop independence, creativity, resilience, practical skills, environmental awareness and the confidence to make decisions for themselves.

This is learning that is difficult to replicate inside four walls – and an experience of childhood we believe matters.