Welcome children aged 2-3 (36 month-old or below) and parents to explore the marvellous world of nature with us!

This nature-based pre-school playgroup is a pilot programme designed to provide essential physical and emotional development opportunities for young children through nature play. It encourages them to actively explore the environment, develop both large and small motor skills, enhance creativity, build emotional resilience and establish a deep connection with the natural world, fostering appreciation and respect for nature.

Activities will take place in the lower and upper farm areas of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, covering eight nature themes including ‘Seeds and Birds’, ‘Flowers and Bees’, ’Trees and Insects’ and ‘Water and Amphibians’. These themes will guide children in discovering different aspects of nature. Instructors engage with children through games, stories and songs and the creation of small art crafts, inspiring them to use their senses to explore the natural world. This free exploration learning model allows children to feel safe exploring and boldly trying new things in a sensory-rich environment, enhancing their creativity, confidence and curiosity.

One of the main programme’s features is providing children with opportunities to interact with the KFBG experts such as plant specialists, animal caretakers and farmers. By animal encounters and participating in community work, children can gain a deeper understanding of natural ecology. We also value parental involvement, encouraging parents to take on the role of supporters during activities, experiencing and growing together with their children, and creating unforgettable nature education experiences.

This innovative nature education programme is not just a series of outdoor activities; it opens new windows for children to understand the world, allowing them to cultivate empathy, build confidence and develop multiple intelligences in the most natural environment, laying a crucial foundation for future learning.

Content

• Thematic Learning Activities: Activities based on themes, including songs, stories, food preparation, arts and crafts, and parent-child games.
• Five Senses Nature Walk and Discovery Activity: Explore the forests of the lower and upper farm areas of KFBG, using the five innate senses to recognise and connect with nature.
  KFBG Community Experience: Hands-on learning experiences with community experts, featuring animal encounters and opportunities to help out around the farm and botanic gardens.
• Outdoor Sensory Play Stations: Engaging sensory stations with natural materials that encourage exploration and creativity through outdoor play.
• Parent-Child Together Time: An interactive format that includes songs, stories and small games to summarise learning and share feelings.

About the Facilitators

Betsy Bai Betsy hails from Shanghai and completed her master’s degree in Education at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. With over 10 years of experience in teaching children six months to six years old, she advocates for learning through play. Betsy guides age-appropriate learning through hands-on activities and fosters critical thinking by asking open-ended questions. She excels at helping children acquire essential life skills while fostering their independence and confidence through engaging play activities. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, she views the environment as a ‘third teacher’ and utilises it to offer rich and stimulating sensory experiences. Betsy believes that every child is a ‘little seed’ that with the right support can grow into a unique ‘towering tree’.

Rafaella Tung Born and raised in Hong Kong and educated in Australia and the United States, Rafaella is a passionate Reggio Emilia-inspired educator with over 20 years of experience in the early years sector. Believing that children are capable and competent, she guides their learning through a lens of wonder and curiosity. With a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from San Jose State University, she uplifts learners by embracing neurodiversity and recognising the unique strengths each child brings to the learning environment. Rafaella values each voice, trusting she is as much a learner as a teacher, and is dedicated to working collaboratively with educators and parents to inspire discovery and growth through scholarly writing, teaching and workshops.

Dates

Time
10am - 1pm

Venue
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden

Language
Mandarin (Supplemented by English)  

Target Audience 
Children aged 2-3 (36 month-old or below) and parents 
*Every child must be accompanied by a parent

Capacity
8 pairs
*1 child and 1 parent per pair

Total Fee
Class A (3 sessions): HK$1050
Class B (2 sessions): HK$700
Class C (3 sessions): HK$1050
*Including tutor fee, programme fee, admission fee, pick up and drop off shuttle bus service at Tai Po Market Station. 

Transportation

• We encourage visitors to use public transportation to reduce carbon footprint. Click HERE for details.
• Parking spaces are extremely limited at our venue. Participants must reserve parking spaces online in advance.

Notes
Payment is not refundable after acceptance, unless the programme is cancelled due to inclement weather or under-enrolment.

Application
Please CLICK HERE to submit your online application on or before 31 March 2025. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enquiry
Contact Ms Joanna Li at 2483 7112 during office hours or email joanna.li@kfbg.org.

Related Links

• Kadoorie Earth Programme (KEP) is an initiative co-created by KFBG and its network of collaborators and volunteers. By integrating the various strands of KFBG’s nature conservation, sustainable living and holistic education programmes, it provides life-transforming learning experiences that reconnect people with themselves, each other and the rest of nature and enable them to cultivate resilience in the face of global challenges.

• Nature Art Programmes: Immerse yourself in silent contemplation of nature. Deepen your awareness of beauty and connect with nature through art. KFBG organises a variety of art workshops including Zentangle drawing, sketching and wood art, and exhibitions to guide participants, with or without artistic background, to create nature art.

• Nature Education Programmes: Become animal detectives and explore the mysteries of wild animals. Use different senses to discover the beauty of plants. Learn about the significance of forest, trees and even soils through field visits, experiments and woodwork, to reconnect with nature.

• Group Guided Tours: Led by trained environmental interpreters, the content includes experiential and hands-on activities. We encourage a passion for nature, conservation and ecology by nurturing an appreciation of the natural world.
  
  
• Corporate Programmes: Our Holistic Education Department staff can design either half-day or full-day nature education and art programmes for corporate staff or their family members based on specific needs. Leveraging the unique natural landscape and cultural ambiance of Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, our activities may include guided tours, farm-to-table experiences, nature-based workshops, talks and art activities, aiming to promote understanding and practice of sustainable living for organisations.