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As I walked along the winding path, I noticed all the different bird calls and frog ribbits. I noticed the clouds moving with the wind and how the sun was glistening on the water. I watched the weeds sway, and I swayed with them. I saw the ducks sleeping and swimming, and I wondered if I was to jump in, how deep was the water? I remembered the legend that crocodiles live in the wetlands from when I was younger. I know it’s not true, but it’s not impossible. Connecting with Country is something I wish I did more often, especially when the weather is nice.

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There were lots of ducks hiding and sleeping in their nest, which I thought was something I'd like to be doing, and then I felt bad for making noise and disturbing them.

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The Path was clunky and heavy-sounding, and I became very mindful of where I stepped because it was fun to make the sound, but it was probably annoying for the animals.

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So, my game is called Don’t Wake the Snake, which is inspired by the animals that live in my local wetlands. In this imaginary game, you have to be as quiet as possible not to wake the local animals, especially not a sleeping snake. So, must walk on the creaky path, but try not to make a sound; if you do, that means the snake is coming, and you have to return to the start to be safe.

You can also play this as a group, and where everyone is a bird or a frog except for one who will be a secret snake, so you don’t know who it is, so you have to be very quiet, and if a bird or frog wakes up you’re safe, but if the snake ups up you have to not get caught.

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It was such a calming environment, and I often forget that this path exists and so as I walked along and I stayed quiet, and I listened to the world. I thought of ‘Dadirri’ (Ungunmerr, 1988, p.1) and I let the wind, and the animals tell me what to do and fell, and it was very peaceful.

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-Oliveros, P. [TEDx Talks]. (2015, November 13). The difference between hearing and listening | Pauline Oliveros | TEDxIndianapolis. [video]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QHfOuRrJB8&ab_channel=TEDxTalks

- Ungunmerr, M.R. (1988). Dadirri, Inner Deep Listening & Quiet Still Awareness, https://vucollaborate.vu.edu.au/content/enforced/1816406-ECE2008-1-2023-HWB-151670/Dadirri_Handout%20(1)%20(1).pdf?ou=2253526

- Wilson, R. (2007). Children, creative play, and the natural environment, in R. Wilson (edn) Nature and Young Children : Encouraging Creative Play and Learning in Natural Environments, Routledge. Ch 1, pp 1-18. https://vucollaborate.vu.edu.au/content/enforced/1816406-ECE2008-1-2023-HWB-151670/Nature_and_Young_Children_Encouraging_Creative_Pla..._----_(Chpater_1_Children_creative_play_and_the_natural_environment)2.pdf?ou=2253526

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The game incorporates dramatic arts because you really step into a world of the wetland and almost become one of the animals yourself, which helps to see different ways to problem solve and is a fun way to explore your environment. (Wilson, 2007). The game incorporate sound when listening out for the wildlife and trying your best to not disturb, you could also use the natural sounds to mask your own, within the game. You must also understand how much movement you can make that will create the, lest amount of sound. I saw rainbow lorikeet in the trees and heard them chirping so loudly it was almost screaming. I could hear frogs’ croak. When playing I could smell the muddy surroundings with a hind of grass. The natural elements had the loudest volume, so they drowned out the cars and a people at the nearby park.

I felt the warmth of the sun which I hadn’t for a while, and I was happy because I felt spring is actually here. I closed my eyes and listened to what the world was saying, I imagined was hearing all the hidden creates I couldn’t see. (Oliveros, 2015).

Seeing all the ducks and other birds nesting made me think soon there will be new babies and how exciting it will be to see. I left like today was the start of spring and hopefully the weather is only going to get warmer. I remembered all times when I used to come when I was little with my dad and we would ride our bikes down. I thought about the time a swan came and attacked us for getting too close to her babies. Playing and thinking about different ideas for games made me a little sad, because it remined me of when I actually played as a child with my cousins and how that time of my life has passed. I saw lots of families come past and, I wished I could play more, especially with my family because we are all so busy now so I hardly spend time with them.