Surrounded by bushland, young primary school students count native flowers, while others look out for a critically endangered bird.
They are on an "adventure day" at The Nature School Primary, an independent school that offers a different approach to mainstream education by including the element of outdoor learning.
Principal Catherine Oehlman is a driving force behind the Port Macquarie school on the New South Wales mid-North Coast.
“I have always been in mainstream, large schools,” she said.
"So, for me, being head of The Nature School Primary is pretty much my dream job.
“I was willing to move towns and come with my family to take on this position and I have never done anything so challenging, or rewarding, in my life.”
And Ms Oehlman's passion and dedication has been recognised.
She is a finalist — an Excellence Awardee — for Primary Principal of the Year for non-government schools in the 2021 Australian Education Awards, which will be announced later this year.
"That schools like The Nature School are making a difference, not just in our own community, in Port Macquarie, but on a national stage."
Nature School in demand
The Nature School Primary is in high demand.
“We are really punching above our weight … we opened with 22 students in 2018, just kindergarten to Year 2,” Ms Oehlman said.
“We will have around 100 students from K-6 next year, a full primary for the first time."
Ms Oehlman said it was hoped the school would keep expanding.
“There’s discussion about whether there will ever be a secondary school [attached] to The Nature School, so watch this space," she said.
Ms Oehlman said parents were increasingly looking for education alternatives for their children.
“I believe that, in NSW, the independent school sector has the fastest growth in enrolments currently … 40 per cent, I think, of the independent sector are little schools, they have less than 200 students.
Taking classrooms outdoors
Ms Oehlman said The Nature School followed the NSW curriculum, but approached learning differently, often integrating subject areas.
"So, really taking classroom from textbooks and interactive whiteboards, out into the world."
Ms Oehlman said the school had regular classrooms, but on set "adventure days" students travelled off-site, to the bush, the beach, or town, to learn.
When they are on the school site, instead of an automated bell, Ms Oehlman plays a drum, which, she said, allowed for a more fluid structure to the day.
“I think we still need a bit of flexibility when we are working with children and be responsive to what’s happening with our learnings,” she said.
Always exploring something new
During a day spent at the school, it's evident the teachers and students have embraced this different approach to learning.
Year 3 student Lana Doughty said she loved exploring in nature.
Fellow student Zach McKenna agreed.
"It’s so nice and quiet and peaceful and I can hear lots of nature and bird calls," he said.
Teacher Meridith Ebbs joined the school 18 months ago, also transitioning from mainstream teaching.
“I really feel, with the small classes, you can really cater to the individual needs in their learning, whether it is social, emotional or academic.
“I find, when the kids are outside, they are calmer, they have learned how to be outside”
How technology looks outside
Ms Ebbs said technology was still a big part of the school.
“In a previous job, I was a technology specialist where I taught teachers how to use technology," she said.
"So, coming into this space, I am now exploring how does technology look outside,” she said.
Ms Ebbs said students were already using microbots and she was searching for other technology that could work well outdoors.
“So, we use a little tool called a microbot and we use them as counters, and we’ve used them for surveying animals,” she said.
“I’m really enjoying the way we can connect teaching and learning to nature and the world."
