Why One or Two Days a Week?
One day a week sounds small. In practice, it changes everything.
Children who come to The Bush Base on Mondays, Wednesdays, or both have something to look forward to. A day where nobody tells them what to think, where to sit, or what to make. A day in the bush with friends, where their ideas are the curriculum.
For homeschooling whānau, it provides a consistent rhythm — dedicated days with kaiako and community so parents can work, study, or simply breathe. For families with children in school, it gives their tamariki a completely different kind of day, once or twice a week.
One day or two. Real impact.
What a Day Looks Like
No two days are identical — that's the point. Our programme follows an emergent curriculum, meaning the day unfolds around what the children are curious about, not a pre-written lesson plan.
A typical day might include:
- Morning gathering — catching up, sharing ideas, setting intentions
- Free exploration in the bush — climbing, discovering, building
- Optional creative activities — art, music, cooking, construction
- Shared kai together — we eat as a community
- Afternoon projects or reflection — following where the day led us
- Pack up at 3pm — tired, happy, full of stories
Our kaiako are present, warm, and attentive — scaffolding rather than directing.