Centennial Parklands Spring School Holiday Programs
- Mon Sep 26 - Fri Oct 07 2022
- Preschoolers
Kids - From: $18.00
Green Time vs Screen Time!
Centennial Park’s education rangers have created a range of half and full day programs that will get your kids outside and having fun! Learn about incredible insects and even make an insect hotel, create nature art, get immersed in Aboriginal culture, and find out about the fascinating worlds of Centennial Park’s ponds, forests, and creatures.
Head to Centennial Park these school holidays to experience their fun-filled programs for 5-12 year olds or come see Australia's beloved characters Snugglepot and Cuddlepie come to life in an outdoor production, sure to delight your little ones!
Spring Programs
Park Science - Incredible Insects
Why are some insects brightly coloured, while others are dull and brown? How do bees see? What makes invertebrates incredible? How do flowers attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators? How do some insects walk on water?
So many questions and critters to explore!
Children will investigate the incredible invertebrates below our feet, above our heads and in front of our faces on this fascinating look into insects. What makes a bug a bug and not a beetle? Can you tell the difference between a centipede, millipede or worm? Is a spider an insect?
Children will enjoy 2 hours of hands-on investigation and problem solving, including an outdoor bug hunt or dip net, an exploration walk looking at the role of insects in the environment, play fun role-playing games and making their own insect-inspired art to take home.
Inspire your curiosity with us this Spring!
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre
When: Monday 26 September & Tuesday 4 October 2022; 10am - 12pm
Cost: $35
Ages: 5 - 12 years (Drop off. No parents.)
Special Notes:
We will supervise your children during the lunch hour if you book in for Park Science - Make an Insect Home in the afternoon. Please BYO Lunch if your child is staying the whole day.
This program will go ahead in all-weather except high winds, so please come prepared with wet weather gear. Children must wear enclosed shoes.
Park Science - Make an Insect Hotel
Are you insect-fully inspired?
Children will build on their knowledge and interest of insects in this program. Found below our feet, above our heads and in front of our faces - Insects are found everywhere in the world. But where is "home"?
Children will enjoy 2 hours of hands-on investigation and problem solving, taking a closer look at where insects call home, what attracts insects to different environments and the important role of insects for our survival. Children will make their own bug hotel from loose parts to invite insects into their own garden and make insect inspired art to take home.
Bring your curiosity with you this Spring!
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre
When: Monday 26 September & Tuesday 4 October 2022; 1pm - 3pm
Cost: $35
Ages: 5 - 12 years (Drop off. No parents.)
Special Notes:
Centennial Parklands educators will supervise your children during the lunch hour if you book in for Park Science - Incredible Insects in the morning. Please BYO Lunch if your child is staying the whole day.
This program will go ahead in all-weather except high winds, so please come prepared with wet weather gear. Children must wear enclosed shoes.
Bush Tucker Bash
Bush Foods that heal you and feed you at Centennial Park!
Take a guided bush tucker tour with Shared Knowledge around the wetlands of Centennial Park. Learn to identify seasonal native bush foods, and their medicinal and cultural uses.
During this one-hour tour you will appreciate the importance of traditional bush foods to Australia’s First Nations people here on Gadigal and Bidjigal Country at Centennial Park.
Learn about the traditional seasons and how they influence what is hunted and gathered.
Make your experience a whole-day adventure and visit our amazing Ian Potter Children’s WILDPLAY Garden before or after your program. Your kids can roam wildly around and test their climbing skills in the tree house and their speed in the slide – water play, tunnels, bamboo mazes guarantee a great experience for them (and there is a coffee cart for you!)
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre
When: Tuesday 27 September & Friday 7 October 2022; 9.30am - 2.30pm
Cost: $18 for Adults and Children
Ages: 5 - 12 years. Parents or carers must remain with their child during the program.
Bushrangers - Tracks, Trails and Treasure Hunts
The greatest alternative to screen time!
Led by our experienced team of Bush Rangers, children will enjoy a day of wildlife, bushcraft, outdoor challenges, games and free play, all in the great outdoors of Centennial Parklands. Activities are designed to allow children to play outside and to take part in problem solving and cooperative challenges.
In the spring months, we will be exploring tracks, trails and treasure hunts. Children will go in search of bugs, beetles and insects, create and go on a treasure hunt. And also visit the bat colony and baby bat pups at Lachlan Swamp.
Your children could participate in some of the following activities:
- Learn stalking and tracking techniques to find out where animals are and what they do when you’re not looking!
- Get up close to bats, birds and bugs in our swamps and ponds.
- Use your tracking skills to hunt for hidden treasure
- Learn games to build your wild skills: watching listening, sneaking, chasing and hiding!
This program is a firm holiday favourite and places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
Special notes: This program will go ahead in all-weather except high winds, so please come prepared with wet weather gear. Children must wear enclosed shoes. Please bring morning tea and lunch and a refillable drink bottle. We also recommend packing a change of clothes.
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre
When: Wednesday 28 September & Wednesday 5 October 2022; 9am - 4pm
Cost: $95
Ages: 5 - 12 years (Drop off. No parents.)
Nature & Art - Spring Eco Art for Kids
Let your children join two hours outdoors in the park for an afternoon of creativity from natural materials.
If your kids have a love of nature, plants and animals and want to explore their creative side, then this art workshop is for them! We will play some nature-based art games working with a range of art mediums and natural materials to make a series of works to either leave in situ (on site) or take home.
Please note that this program is child-led and we are guided by the children's creativity, artwork therefore may change on the day.
Where: The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre
When: Thursday 29 September & Thursday 6 October 2022; 1pm - 3pm
Cost: $35
Ages: 5 - 12 years (Drop off. No parents.)
Special notes: This program will go ahead in all-weather except high winds, so please come prepared with wet weather gear. Children must wear enclosed shoes.
Centennial Parklands educators will supervise your children during the lunch hour if you book in for Kids Vs Wild - Tracks, Trails and Treasure Hunts in the morning. If you are staying for the whole day, please BYO Lunch.
The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie - Theatre fun for Everyone
In this new outdoor adaptation, the iconic May Gibbs' Austrailan classic, Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie come to life for contemporary audiences.
The Gumnut Babies are on a mission to see a human – but only from a distance! On their journey to the big city they meet friends and foes including Mrs Kookaburra, Mrs Fantail, Mr Lizard, Mr Frog, Mrs Snake, and, of course, Little Ragged Blossom.
Can Snugglepot lead the way? Can Cuddlepie hold his nerve? Can they avoid falling victim to the Big Bad Banksia Man?
These beloved characters come to life in Centennial Parklands in an outdoor production of this funny and enchanting performance that introduces today’s children to the wonderful world of May Gibbs.
Where: Musgrave Picnic Site, Musgrave Avenue
When: Saturday 24 - Tuesday 27, Thursday 29 & Friday 30 September; 10.30am-2pm
Cost: $22 ($80 for a family of 4)
Ages: Families
Bush Tucker Tour - Guriwal Trail
Take a one-hour guided bush tucker tour with Shared Knowledge along the Guriwal trail, learn to identify seasonal native bush foods and medicines and their cultural uses for First Nations people..
Discover the importance of traditional bush foods to First Nations people, and sample some of the bush tucker found in Centennial Park.
Learn about the traditional seasons and how they influence what is hunted and gathered.
What to bring:
- Enclosed & comfortable shoes
- Warm jumper & waterproof jacket
- Sunglasses and sunhat
- Water bottle
- Camera
- Personal medication
- A sense of adventure
Where: Guriwal Trail
When: Sunday 18 September, 23 October, 13 November
Cost: $5
Ages: Families
Taste of Bush School - Spring
Find out what Bush School is all about and go along to the special Nature Play session. Join the Centennial Parklands rangers for a morning of fun exploring the little forest, testing balance skills and listening to stories.
Centennial Parklands Bush School rangers have prepared a range of outdoor games and activities that leave no hands clean!
Parents will also have the opportunity to receive training and advice on how to nurture and mentor their own nature child.
Bush School is an outdoor program and will take place in all-weather except for high winds and electrical storms. Participants (adults and children) are expected to dress for the outdoors, including bringing wet weather gear, a hat, sturdy enclosed shoes and waterproof footwear when required.
Where: Fearnley Grounds, off Grand Drive
When: Friday 30 September & 7 October; 9.30-11.30am
Cost: $35 (1 child & 1 adult)
Ages: 2.5 - 5yrs
Special notes: Please note children must be accompanied by an adult. There will also be a dedicated snack break during each session, so please bring food for your child.
Spotlight Prowl for Families
Try to spot the nocturna animals at dusk in Centennial Parklands. The Park is home to a variety of nocturnal creatures, from brushtail possums, microbats, and tawny frogmouths to one of Sydney’s largest colonies of grey-headed flying-foxes.
Join the Centennial Parklands' experienced Rangers for a fascinating and surprising spotlight walk to see how the Park transforms when the sun goes down.
What to bring:
- Enclosed & comfortable shoes
- Warm clothing - it gets cold after dark!
- Torch
- Camera (no flash)
- Waterproof clothing in case of wet conditions, the walks run rain or shine
- A sense of adventure
Where: Meet at Robertson Road Gates
When: Friday 2, 30 September (5.30-6.30pm), 7 October (6.45-7.45pm), 4 November (7.15-8.15pm) & 2 December (7.30-8.30pm)
Cost: $23
Ages: Families
PLEASE NOTE: This is a program for families. Children aged 5+ are welcome, but must be supervised by an adult. All program attendees require a ticket.
Cancellation policy: Once tickets are purchased no refunds, exchange or credits will be given, unless the event is cancelled by the Parklands due to dangerous conditions.
For more information and to book visit Centennial Parklands.
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