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As i walked through Coburg Lake i was taken by the sounds of the water, constantly in motion and sustaining life like the chirping birds around the lake. The movement of the water captivated my senses and evoked a sense of wonder. I drifted along the walking path captivated to the cascades over the rocks, swirls around the bends. Mesmerised by the symphony of motion and carrying nutrients. The flow of the water putting the beauty on show and the power of nature, reminding us of the endless ability to shape and sustain the world.

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This swan sits peacefully on the tranquil surface of the lake, its black  and white feathers shine in the soft light. Swans are interesting birds who have elegant nature to them. This swan gazes into the distance, creating a sense of mystery and beauty amidst the serene waters.

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Surrounded by the sounds of nature and the faint traffic in the background, i find myself drifting away into inner peace. Forgetting the chaos of my week and becoming at peace with nature. As the gentle breeze stirs the leaves of the trees, the serene environment of the lake comes to life. The harmonious birds are chirping, ducks are quaking and swans gliding. Creating a scene of peaceful harmony between nature and enjoyment, the wind creates a calming atmosphere. Which allows me to connect with the earth and deepen my internal thoughts, creating an escape from the noisey everyday life.

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As i stood by the lake the sun was bright and i noticed my long shadow stretched out before me, mirroring my every movement. I felt a sense of peace as if my shadow in the ground whispering secrets of the lake, reminding me of the beauty that lies in light and darkness.   

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I was inspired by the book Brown, bear brown bear, what can you see? This book is very special to me as it was my children’s favourite book and I have taken this book with me as an educator into the classroom. I use it a lot with the children to plan different activities, it helps in learning about their colours and animals. It also helps children with speech difficulties as it is a repetitive book that has repetitive words, allowing for the children to listen to the words over and over.

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The greenery of the trees with the sound of the water flowing put my mind at ease and allowed me to be in present in the moment. Stopping and pausing allows us to “explore our world through sensory play, it actively builds nerve connections in the brains pathways” (Gano & Krull 2020).  This country visit at Coburg Lake really woke up my connection to nature. At first it was difficult to stop and be present in the moment, thoughts of the day kept passing through my mind. As the cool breeze hit my face and my thoughts began to wonder, looking at my surroundings people having their picnic, what is their story? What led them here today? Growing up Coburg lake was a place we gathered as families. My parents brought us here to play and make memories with our cousins, we would roll down hills, go on walks and play tag for hours. This made me think how in the article Wilson argues the lack of time children spend outdoors (Wilson, 2007). The new generation of children do not go out and explore as much as the older generation used to which can be detrimental to their health and wellbeing (Wilson, 2007). No matter what language a child speaks when they go out to nature we all speak the same language. A Tree may have a different word in different languages but it all means the same thing, a tree. Everyone hears the same sound of the water flowing. Being in the moment allows one to use their inner, deep listening and still awareness skills which is known as Dadirri, it allows us to be made whole again (Ungunmerr-Baumann, 2002). The sound of the water is like music to a child’s ears, the movement of the birds are dances which they can try imitate and add emphasis to the different actions to act out a drama show to their families. The early years of a child are very important to their growth in terms of their cognitive, socioemotional and moral development (Wilson, 2007). It is the perfect time to foster a child’s love for nature and appreciation for the environment around them.

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Gano, D & Krull, S. (2020, July). “Natural Sensory Learning”: Community Playthings. https://www.communityplaythings.com/resources/articles/natural-sensory-learning#:~:text=The%20natural%20world%2C%20with%20its,is%20crucial%20to%20brain%20development.

Martin Jr, B & Carle, E. (1967).  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?. Henry Holt and Company.

Ungunmerr-Baumann, M.-R. (2002). Dadirri: Inner deep listening and quiet still awareness (pp. 1–4). Emmaus Productions.

Wilson, R. (2007). Nature and young children: Encouraging creative play and learning in natural environments. Routledge.