It is not every day that class takes place in the great outdoors, but one initiative is pushing the limits of what learning can look like.
The Greater Sydney Parklands's Bush School program takes young children in urban areas out with education rangers to help foster a love for the natural world.
Researchers, led by PhD candidate Alexandra Harper, followed a year 1 class from Middle Harbour Public School on Sydney's lower north shore in 2024.
The team observed the students as they spent two hours a week playing in the heart of Centennial Parklands.
Now, evidence from a study has suggested nature play can help boost education, wellbeing and development.
At Bush School, 25 children participated in immersive activities to learn about native animals and how to preserve the natural environment.
"It's learning in, through, and about the environment in a natural setting," Tonia Gray from Western Sydney University's School of Education said.
Over 10 weeks, the students explored their surroundings, crafting stick cubbies, painting with ochre, and writing poems dedicated to the trees.
A recent research paper reflecting on the time found students experienced more joy, autonomy and a deeper connection to nature; helping them flourish.
Some even showed "significant improvement" in maths after taking part.
"It doesn't take away from time-compressed teaching, it actually adds to the learning environment ... it's like a catalyst for growth," Professor Gray said.
From reserved, to 'at home' in nature
Reflecting back on Bush School, the cohort fondly remembered climbing trees, bush walking, and encountering items like seed pods.
"We saw lots of native wildlife including a water spider and a tawny frogmouth," participant Nate said, now in year 3.
"I got way more confident in things like balancing ... and right now I'm feeling more confident rock parkouring."
The students still bring up what they learnt in their outdoor adventures, even recreating games in the playground to share with their peers.
Middle Harbour Public School assistant principal Jenni Osborn said the children came to see the outdoors as an "extension of their own classroom".
"We were able to watch the kids go from being really reserved at first to ... becoming really at home in the environment," she said.
Teachers reported at the time that the Bush School students were more "engaged" in their explicit lessons, Ms Osborn said.
They also noted that despite being taken out of class, there was "no negative impact" on their curriculum learning, despite initial concerns from some parents.
Ms Osborn said students applied what they learnt to real-world scenarios.
The students would journal after each session, recount stories in literacy classes, and discuss challenges like how they got a DIY seesaw to balance in their maths lessons.
"We need teachers to embrace it but we need teacher training institutions to upskill those educators to feel confident and capable to conduct outdoor lessons."
'Enjoying school a lot more'
The impacts have also been noticed at home.
School parent Andrew said the experience was "invaluable" to his son, Archie, and that he observed a "stark difference" in his behaviour afterwards.
"We could see he really started to expand not just his knowledge of the environment, but also his writing, his drawing, because he was interested in what was going on," Andrew said.
"He was more involved, he was really enjoying school a lot more."
Rachel said Bush School gave her daughter Evie more confidence and helped her appreciate nature more.
"After each session they would bring it back to the classroom and talked to the other students about what they learnt and what they explored," she said.
Sej told the ABC that while jumping in mud may not be an activity "you'd associate with school", her son Hamish had "come into his own" in the couple of years since.
"He's got a real mind for science, nature, and history. So I have seen that grow and develop," she said.
"Every school in New South Wales should have this as part and parcel of the experience for every child."
