VEYLDF Alignment
Item uses these practice principles: Reflective practice, High expectations for every child, Integrated teaching and learning approaches, Partnerships with professionals.
Item responds to these sub-outcomes: Children become strong in their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, Children take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing.
Description
The ECO Learning Network Training Package provides support to establish place-based outdoor learning programs in Victoria. There are three options for educators to access this support.
Option 1: Training package
Over three sessions, participants are given strategies to develop their own place-based outdoor learning program. The program aims to give services the tools they need to:
create a program in any type of environment (i.e., the bush, the beach, a park, etc.)
meet obligations under any regulations
develop relationships with land managers
develop documentation or the program
develop awareness of foreground First Peoples perspectives in outdoor programs
Dates for this option are set by the network - please get in direct contact to enquire.
Overall, the training package provides pedagogical knowledge and practical information about the regulatory requirements for setting up a nature program. The cost to attend this program is $600 per person for three sessions. This includes a site visit to a nature kindergarten program.
Option 2: Individual service training package
This includes all aspects of option 1 but is delivered at a single service and personalized for a team of educators. This training package can be run over two days without site visits or three days with site visits. Training can be delivered in any region in Victoria.
Option 3: Community training package
This includes all aspects of option 1 but delivered within your local area with other local services over two consecutive days.
Option 4: On-site support
This includes professional support to select a nature site and/or work with a teaching team as they establish the nature program. Site selection and mentoring for program development occurs in the first month.
Option 5: Practice improvement for existing nature programs
This includes working with educators who have already started to develop their nature program and are interested in further support through critical reflective practice.
Option 6: Whole-community engagement
This includes presentations to families, teaching teams, local councils and/or land-managers that support the development of nature programs in a local area, outlining the benefits for children and communities.
Option 7: ECOLN annual conference
This includes participation in the annual conference held in March/April. The ECOLN conference draws together local and international speakers that supports educator's interest in nature programs and embed First Peoples perspectives.
Get in direct contact with ECOLN to enquire about these options for your service.
Detailed Costs
Option 1: $600 per person
Option 2: Total cost $6000
Option 3: Cost $600 per person, with a minimum attendance requirement of 10 people
Optin 4: Cost $ $150 per hour, plus travel (see travel costs outlined below)
Option 5: Cost $150 per hour, plus travel (see travel costs outlined below)
Option 6: Cost $750 per hour, plus travel (see travel costs outlined below)
Option 7: $250 for two days
ECOLN charges travel and accommodation costs as follows:
Within a 250km radius of Melbourne - 70 cents per km, plus a $40 fee per presenter to cover any additional costs incurred
For services outside if the 250km radius there may be additional costs if an extra night's stay is required or if presenters are required to fly to the site
Accommodation is charged at $400 for two nights for two presenters
Services should also consider backfill costs
Implementation Considerations
Target population: early childhood education and care services.
Program / practice descriptions and details: the training information is delivered over three days:
Day one: introduction
Day two: site visit
Day three: planning
Staffing: services should consider the cost of backfill when determining the cost of accessing this program.
Training requirements: early years services representatives are given strategies to develop their own place-based outdoor learning program over three sessions.