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From Our Friends Down Under

Last year we heard from our colleagues in Australia that the Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park would like to use some of our educational materials from our website. We wanted to share information with you about this unique naturalized park. Check out their web site where you can see photos of many of their naturalized play events.

Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park (RTNKP) is a new environmental discovery and learning facility aimed at connecting children with nature. It is the first of its kind in Western Australia. The six hectare arboretum site exists largely in a bush landscape state where children and their families are able to explore, investigate, imagine, create and explore the wonders of the Western Australian environment.

Some of the key features of the site are described below:

• An entry area featuring a chrysalis
• Building zone with natural materials
• Boomerang bridge
• A wetland
• The Prickly Thicket, an area for children to climb into a nest like structure
• The Tangle, a series of “upside down trees” connected by a web of climbing ropes
• The Education Zone includes a number of “outdoor classrooms” under shady trees that can be used by school group. It also includes a campfire and places for storytelling.

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