Nature Play ANZAC Day competition

Tell us about your Nature Play Anzac Day Adventures and WIN GREAT PRIZES!

We are looking for entries that show you’ve had fun and engaged with the nature play idea – that unstructured play outdoors is the best part of childhood.
The 3 best entries as judged by Nature Play WA will win an Anaconda Voucher worth $300 each!

What do we need to do?

All you have to do is tell us about your Nature Play ANZAC Day experience.  We want to hear about your favourite part of the event and why you think unstructured play outdoors is so much fun.

How to enter:

You can enter 3 ways.

By email: send your pictures and story to natureplaywa@dsr.wa.gov.au
On Facebook: find us on Facebook and post your photo or video entry with your story on our wall
On Nature Play Australia Connect: enter it as a blog on our Nature Play Australia Connect site. Click 'Sign Up' on the top right-hand corner, then log in, click on the Blogs page and add your blog.

Find out more

You and your parents can find our Facebook page by typing Nature Play WA into the Facebook search field. Or to use the Nature Play Australia Connect go to our website (www.natureplaywa.org.au) and click on the ANZAC Day Competition link for instructions.

Terms and Conditions

1. One entry per person.
2. Judges decision is final.
3. Entries must be in by close of business (5pm), 2 May 2011.
4. Winners announced on www.natureplaywa.org.au on 11 May 2011.
5. By entering you agree to have your entry displayed on our website.
6. Entries must be of your family/children only.
7. You must have been registered and attended the Nature Play ANZAC Day event 2011.

Here are some of the entries we have received so far to inspire you:

Memories of R-O-T-T-N-E-S-T by Daniel (9 years old) and Brooke (7) Nolan

R – Rock climbing at the Basin. Our very first activity of unstructured play. Exploring the caves, taking in the beautiful views out to sea and back to the coast of Perth.  
 
O – Outdoors and enjoying walking in the sunshine, swimming and climbing trees (even sitting in a tree eating my lunch!). 
 
T – Train ride to Oliver Hill to see the gun that still stands.Taking time to absorb the meaning of today and how lucky we are to have tomorrow to come.

T – T-shirts. We got lots of comments from people saying they were great and slowing us down so they could read them (hence the uncompleted missions!).  Mum washed ours that night and Daniel wore it proudly to the Fremantle street festival the next day.
 
N – Never ending fun in the sun.  
 
 E –  Exploring nature – taking time to pat the quokkas. How we loved these little creatures that we had never seen before. We must have taken a thousand photos and never stopped getting excited when we saw one. Apart from our favourite (the quokkas), we also say a lizard, peacock, pelican and lots of fish. The inland lakes were so unexpected and magical.
 
 S – Swimming in the glorious bays. Spotting the crabs on the rocks and the schools of little fish.
  
T – Taking the ferry to an island we have, for many, many years, looked at from afar but never had the opportunity to visit before.  It was Dad's, Brooke's and Daniel's first time to Rottnest and we are now official Rottnest Island fans. We can't wait to go back again.

Poem from Sophie (6) and Tessa Boswell (4) and family

We got muddy and grubby, then wet and sandy

The spare clothes Mum packed came in very handy!

We had a ball, we had a blast

We wished the day could last and last

Now we know, that WE CAN! WE CAN!

We can have fun without a plan.

Let us out into the great outdoors

We’ll play and play and play some more.

Quote from Heath Sturgess (7)

“In science at school, I learnt about Rottnest – about what's built there and what nature's there like caves and bushland. So I wanted to go to Rottnest. My favourite experience of the Nature Play ANZAC day at Rottnest was riding my new bike around the island, going up and down the huge hills and seeing and stroking the quokkas. I liked looking at the trees and lakes. I wanted to go up the lighthouse but it was locked. I also enjoyed playing and splashing in the water and travelling on the ferry. I also liked finding my own treasure of pine cones, cuttle fish, nut, triangle rock and shell with orange lines across it.”

Letter from Tim Wilson and family

First of all a big thank you for all involved in organising such a great day out. It was wonderful on so many levels. The chance to spend quality time as a family on a great Island and also to be able to attend the ANZAC service. 

It was an early start leaving home at 3am to get to North Port Fremantle to join all the other families boarding the Rottnest Express ferry to make it to the island in time for the ANZAC Day dawn service. After meeting a couple of the local quokkas as the sun was just about to rise above the Perth hills we were able to pay our respects to the ANZACs. The sound of the last post being played out to a silent crowd brought shivers to our spines. It was a great start to a busy fun filled day. 

After a quick breakfast served up by the local fire brigade we headed out to explore the island. Being on Rotto we were almost able to let the kids run free. First we were able to find a jungle gym tucked away among the holiday accommodation while we waited for the first train of the day, which was a high priority for our kids once they saw that it was one of the missions that were presented to us. A front row seat on the train up to the old gun placement high on the hill with views across this magical island. After a brief time at the top we headed back down to sea level and a play on the beach and a couple of the old fig trees that were screaming out to be climbed. 

All this fun made us super hungry, we made our way to the big grass area in the center of the settlement for some lunch alongside the local quokkas. Another jungle gym was well used after our lunch. This gave us (Mum and Dad) a chance for nice rest on the grass. We then decided to visit the island museum which showed us a few interesting facts about Rottnest and its past. 

Time had come to get some use from our bikes. Rottnest has to be the ideal place for learner riders. The undulating paths and wide roads were great to buzz around. All this adventuring and fun outside combined with the early start to the day was taking its toll and a cold drink at the local watering hole was in order before re boarding the Ferry back to the mainland. 

Once again thanks you to all that made this day possible. Big thanks to the Nature Play crew and the Department of Sport and Recreation. Also thank you to FESA who offered this to their volunteers. We would love to hear about any future events that we could get involved with, we will keep an regular eye on the Nature Play website as well for ideas for activities to do with our kids.