A Kids’ Activity Trail booklet written and designed by Bundaberg Regional Council staff is designed to get kids exploring and investigating the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens Kids Activity Trail is a self-guided activity trail featuring 20 stops around the top lake near Café 1928.
Each stop will be identified with a numbered sign indicating where to complete the activity.
The booklet includes opportunities for drawing, matching activities, measuring, sketching, word find and decoding words
Activities range from identifying a plant and making a sound map to animal spotting and measuring a tree
The Bundaberg Botanic Gardens Curator, Cody Johnson, and Co-ordinator Communication and Engagement Roana O’Neill saw an opportunity to provide an activity trail around the top lake which is a popular area for visitors and close to amenities.
“The Botanic Gardens are founded on scientific research, conservation and display and education, so it’s important that we communicate the importance of Botanic Gardens to all members of the community,” Cody said.
Author of the book is Roana O’Neill, Council’s Coordinator Communication and Engagement for Parks, Sport and Natural areas.
“I wrote this booklet for children to engage with the Botanic Gardens and learn more about the plants and animals here in a fun way,” Roana said
“It’s been written for ages approximately 8 to 13 years, and it’s ideal for families to do together.
“Kids can do the trail in any order, at their own pace and at any time of the year, and you don’t have to do the activity in one go you can come to the Gardens multiple times to complete the booklet.”
Council’s Parks and Gardens portfolio spokesperson, Cr Wayne Honor, said the booklet was a great initiative.
“The Kids Activity Trail is very innovative, particularly in these times of social distancing,” Cr Honor said.
“It’s an opportunity for not only children, but their families, to learn about the natural environment in the Botanic Gardens.
“It promotes young people to think about how they can play a part in appreciating and playing a part in the great outdoors.
The Kids Activity Trail showcases some of the diverse plants and animals in the Botanic Gardens including the Brazilian Silk floss tree, the King fern, the largest fern in the world, through to the Australian brush turkey and eastern water dragons.
The free booklets, designed by Council’s Dana Maggacis and printed on recycled paper, are available from Hinkler Hall of Aviation, Café 1928 and the Bundaberg and District Historical Museum.
