Nearer to Nature: activities for the community

Nearer to Nature schools and community programs provide opportunities for schools, families, community groups and overseas and interstate visitors to take part in fun, hands-on activities in the natural environment. 

Join us to learn about the nature of Western Australia and ensure it is protected and conserved for its intrinsic values and to enrich people’s lives. We offer programs from diverse locations in the Perth metro area and in the south-west which cover a variety of ecosystems.

Nearer to Nature programs are guided by the Know Your Patch principles:

1. Connect the community with the local environment.  
2. Inspire the community to care for their local environment.  
3. Foster partnerships with local stakeholders to share knowledge and experiences. 
4. Empower the community to take conservation actions. 
5. Nurture a long-term commitment to protect and conserve biodiversity. 

Getting children and adults out and about exploring nature has never been easier! Our school holiday and community programs provide fun, nature-based activities to encourage a connection to and care for our local environment.

You can now book your school holiday and community activities online. 

For the Perth metro area, check out the Autumn school holiday calendar.

In addition to the popular school holiday activities, we can design programs with you to accommodate your needs. We welcome all groups wishing to host wellbeing activities, walks, camps, conferences, seminars and corporate events.

Zippy's Bush Kindy is coming to the Perth Hills Discovery Centre starting in April 2024!

Join Zippy Dragonfly on an early learning adventure at the Perth Hills Discovery Centre. With one 45-minute session per week over an 8-week term, this interactive program will ignite your child’s curiosity and strengthen their connection to nature.  

Each term provides new experiences that nurture children’s confidence to explore, question and make discoveries. The program is also designed to reflect different themes, the changing seasons, and introduce new skills through nature play activities. Watch your child bloom as they learn at their own pace and grow in confidence and knowledge, with time to play, create, share stories and care for the natural world.  

For more information visit Zippy's Bush Kindy.

Nearer to Nature supports the department’s initiative of connecting people with our parks.

To find out more about the school and community programs on offer contact N2N@dbca.wa.gov.au or check out Nearer to Nature.