Early Childhood Education

Overview

Practical Earth Education Early Childhood Program

  • Choose one or more activities to put together a program from 1 hour to half or full day experiences.You can choose from 1, and up to 4 activities per day.
  • Activities are held on site in the inspiring permaculture designed Yarra Valley ECOSS Community Environment Park. 
  • Each session is fully facilitated by a specialist educator in their field and takes approximately 1 hour. 
  • Activities offer unique, practical, creative and hands on sessions where participants are engaged and inspired while learning
  • You are welcome to choose any of the activities below to put together a program of your choosing
  • Activities can be run individually or as multiple bookings. 
  • Prices are listed with each activity but can be dependent on the number of participants ie. Some activities are best suited to less than 10 students; others can accommodate up to 25 students.

Please contact us for further information: eartheducation@ecoss.org.au

ECOSS Discovery Tour

Walk the inspiring permaculture designed site of ECOSS Community Environment Hub while learning about sustainable living solutions and seeing examples of innovative environmental practices in action.

Discover the riches of ECOSS including the Natural Building displays, Community Garden, Heritage Apple Orchard, Food Forest, Chook pen, Fragrant Herb Garden, Cultural Homes of the World, Indigenous Reconciliation Conversation Pit, Earth Goddess, Tiny Houses, Silvertyne Biodynamic farm, The Pottery Studio and more.

Cost of Education Bookings: $170, 

1 hour, up to 25 students



Sustainable Gardening

  • These practical education settings give students the opportunity to get their hands dirty in the community garden and nursery at ECOSS.These practical education settings give students the opportunity to get their hands dirty in the community garden and nursery at ECOSS.
  • Learn the skills to grow your own food.
  • Seasonal activities include seed collection and propagation, planting, composting, harvesting, weeding and watering.
  • Learn about how to care for your own garden.
    Understand the importance of soils and soil health

Cost of Education Bookings: $170, 45 minutes, up to 25 students

Bees & Honey

  • Learn about communal insects
  • Discover the major role that Bees play in our ecosystems  
  • Observe the live observation hive at ECOSS, along with our trained beekeeper, to see right inside the secret world of the hive
  • Learn all about why honey bees are important to our food production and our environment. 
  • Enjoy eating fresh honeycomb out of the hive
  • Facilitated by Yarra Valley Bee Group

Cost education bookings: $170, 1 hour session, up to 25 students



Tall Trees – Our giant Mountain Ash Forests

Learning goals, themes, stories and games will be adapted to be age appropriate. 

  • 1 hour facilitated group interactive session 
  • Learn about the tallest flowering trees on the planet, here in our local forests, around Warburton. Through deep ecology systems games (and stories for younger children), experience the interconnectedness of the forest ecosystem, where endangered species such as the Fairy Possum (Leadbeater’s Possum) require hollows for habitat and live in the same towering Mountain Ash as their predators. 
  • How do we decrease our footprint on the earth? Receive insights into the role ageing forests play in storing carbon, water, making soil and providing habitat.
  • Learn about Melbourne’s water catchments and our relationship and dependence on the ecosystem services nature provides. 
  • Remember we are part of the natural world and become inspired to make nature positive changes.
  • Finish the session with a greater sense of hope, with a deeper insight into how natural systems collaborate to create the life- we depend on for our own survival. 
  • Facilitated by experienced educators of Warburton Environment

Cost: Education bookings onsite at ECOSS $170, 45 minutes.

Compost and Worm Spaghetti

We have worm spaghetti to share. What magic do worms perform in your garden? Learn all about improving soil, the importance of soil health and how to make your own compost. Understand the components of healthy compost.

Also available as an incursion

Cost Education Bookings: $170, 45 minutes. Up to 20 students.

Propagation Station

While propagating your own organic seasonal vegetable seedling to take home, learn about how food grows, the life cycle of plants and how to make your garden thrive.

Cost Education Bookings: $170. Up to 25 students.

45 minutes

Also available as an incursion

Upcycling & Nature Art

Make your own creation from up-cycled materials and natural seasonal objects. From sewing to weaving, chop and knot t-shirt bags, dream catchers to the Art of Mending, everyone can create something beautiful to take home.

Cost Education Bookings: $170. Up to 25 students.

45 minutes

Wood fired Pizza Cooking

Make your own delicious pizza from fresh, raw ingredients. Begin with freshly picking your own choice of seasonal produce in the garden. whip up your dough and learn how to bake in our wood-fired mud brick oven.

Cost Education Bookings: $440 Up to 25 students. Includes ingredients and pizza for each student

1 + hours

Guided Bush Revegetation (seasonal)

Come and learn about the vital role of indigenous plants while participating in a very hands on way to regenerating the local bush and helping to restore local habitats

Cost Education Bookings: $170. Up to 25 students.



Hands on Clay Pottery

Enjoy making your own creation under the guidance of the artists at Community Pottery Studio Yarra Valley.

  • Includes all materials, clay and access to a fully equipped studio
  • Firing is possible for an additional cost or take home un-fired
  • Includes instruction and creative guidance

Cost: Education Rate: Up to 20 students: 1 hr session: $470, 2 hr session: $615

Corporate Rate: $580 up to 10 people





Indigenous Workshop

The indigenous workshop offers a tailored curriculum which includes indigenous song and dance, Didgeridoo performances and workshops on aspects of indigenous culture including art, bushfood and storytelling. The emphasis is on student involvement, which cultivates a sense of community. ECOSS has a Reconciliation Fire Circle conversation space and we work closely with local Indigenous elders. We are proud that ECOSS has been signed in the local Woiwurrung language.

Facilitated by Didgeridoo Australia, Ganga Giri didgeridoo virtuoso and descendant of the 

Palawa people of Tasmania

1 hour

Cost: Education bookings: $515 per  1 hour session, for 2 sessions: $880 

Corporate bookings: $775 1 hour

Mental Health and Well-Being, Team Building Workshops

Challenging groups in a fun and comedic environment to work together. Learning unique new skills to problem solve physical challenges, to directly affect participants abilities to manage challenges in social and work environments. 

With a background of personal development coaching and team building for Optus and Epworth Hospitals, teacher and student PD’s at schools such as Methodist Ladies College and Melbourne Montessori School, these presenters are artists in making the fun meaningful. They create a safe space for each participant to step out of their comfort zone and expand their possibilities. 

We will develop a program appropriate for the abilities and interests of your team. 

With a range of Sports challenges, Public speaking, Dance, and Circus Skills such as Juggling, Plate spinning, Hula hooping, Aerial Yoga, Stilt Walking and Acro balance. 

Research shows juggling improves productivity, develops plasticity, releases endorphins and lowers stress levels. When used in the workplace it can give a reboot of energy and focus. 

Try something unique! All sessions held in the Dreaming Space Dome.

We can accomodate for 10- 40 participants in each workshop and can have multiple presenters rotating for multiple groups to suit your participant number needs. 

Half day workshops and Full day workshops are available on request.Cost: $470 Education Rate: 1 hour session for 25 participants

African Drumming Workshop

Kofi Kunkpe is an Ewe master drummer & multi-instrumentalist from the Volta Region of Ghana. A multi-skilled, celebrated performer and teacher, creating custom made programs or performances to suit your needs.

With extensive background teaching people of all ages and abilities, Kofi offers drum, dance, singing and African Culture workshops for large or small groups.

These one hour sessions are facilitated by Kofi and participants have the opportunity to learn and play in a practical and dynamic environment.

Cost of African Drumming: Education bookings: $440 up to 25 participants