Pascale Miller

I am Pascale Miller and my aim is to launch NurtureNature Education. Connecting children to nature is my passion, and my new small business aims to reach as many children as possible in inner city Melbourne and its suburbs through nature-based educational programs and personal events. 

What is NurtureNature Education offering?

My business offers the following services:

• Educational incursions/excursions for kindergartens, day-care and primary schools
• Teacher PD training in how to use their school gardens for inquiry teaching
• Garden designs and makeovers for families, primary schools, kinders, day-care centres and community organisations
• Nature-based children's party entertainment

My mission is to facilitate a connection with the natural environment for children in urban Melbourne in order to:

• improve physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing; 
• promote deeper learning and inquiry; 
• promote environmental sustainability with grassroots action; 
• foster a sense of community;
• be a part of reconciliation with the Kulin nation original custodians of Melbourne, and ensure the preservation of their indigenous knowledge, language and culture.

How will I deliver these services?

I will offer themed experiences for children's parties, workshops and educational incursions. Clients can choose an experience that suits their interests (e.g. nature craft, lifecycles of insects, composting etc.). Each theme is structured as a package that has been carefully planned, to offer a consistent product that is well costed and meets the clients expectations.

I also offer tailor-made experiences for school incursions/excursions, teacher PD training, and garden design. Tailor-made experiences are less predictable, being dependant on weather conditions, the physical environment, and personalities of those present. To maximise the benefit to the client, tailor-made experiences will include an initial meeting with the client to communicate ideas, and evaluate the natural environment.

Educational incursions/excursions

Excursions

I will accompany classes on excursions to promote ecosystem awareness and learning. Such excursions will be tailored to the relevant academic level. Younger children are naturally inquisitive and learn using the five senses. Therefore, excursions for younger classes will centre on touch, sight, smell, sound, taste, and investigations of plant and animal diversity. 

Excursions for primary school children will include cultural and scientific aspects to nature awareness. This includes studies of biodiversity, anthropogenic impacts to environments and significance of the environment to indigenous Australians. Such excursions are well-suited to the IB curriculum and can be adapted for particular units of inquiry.

Incursions and Workshops

I will also offer a selection of incursion workshop packages where I teach children particular skills and experiences according to given themes:

• nature craft (weaving and nest making, dream catchers, stone decorating), 
• gardening skills (bonsai and terrarium making, propagation, seed collecting, establishing good compost and worm farm practices), 
• environmental science (seed dispersal, soil analysis, habitat making). 

All of these will involve hands on practical learning, stories and games and activities to reinforce learning. Incursions and workshop packages will serve the added bonus of networking, and once initial contact is made, it is likely that further excursions, garden-design and children’s party packages will follow through word-of-mouth advertising.

Teacher PD training

I offer workshops to educators in schools and kindergartens in metropolitan Melbourne to demonstrate how their immediate outdoor environment can be an additiontal resource for learning. I believe the classroom can be extended outdoors to extend all areas of learning.

I will offer tailor-made workshops that involve tours of the schools outdoor areas to show real and practical examples of how to use the existing spaces and features available for their curriculum. Many mainstream schools now follow inquiry learning based on the PYP (Primary Years Programme) model of the International Baccalaureate. One of the greatest strengths I bring to this endeavour is my experience and training in the PYP inquiry programme and I am passionate about continuing to facilitate learning through the natural environment for primary aged children.

Garden design and consultations

I am a professionally trained and qualified horticulturalist (Grad.Dip. Hort. Burnley, 2007) and have considerable experience in garden design and consultation through my previous role as Landscape Maintenance Coordinator at Kew Nursery.

I provide private consultations to rejuvenate existing gardens and design gardens that are especially suited to the clients' needs, likes and environmental conditions. I begin with a site analysis (aspect, soil type and health, slope, existing plants and structures, etc.) and liaise with the client to ascertain interests, likes, dislikes, habits, etc. 

I can also draw concept plans and provide a quote for installation of gardens. I offer advice, plant and material lists, and perform soft landscaping (irrigation, mulching, planting, etc.). If desired, I can also source plants from reputable growers and place them in the garden for optimal growth and impact.

Nature-based children's party entertainment

I will offer themed party entertainment packages for children aged 3-12 at people's homes or local parks. Each party will involve 2 hours of hands-on craft and garden activities, story-telling and games for up to 10 children (additional children will incur extra costs). Themed packages will include:

Fairy magic - fairy dancing, fairy stories, and children make and take home:	rainmaker stick or ribbon wand fairy garlands or wooden peg doll fairy fairy garden wildflower seed pack mushroom growing kit
Jungle explorer - treasure hunts, games and explorer story, and children make and take home:	clay 'fossils' or 'tracks' (pressed clay designs) terrariums decorated rain stick survival seed pack (of veggies originating in South America)
Birds and bugs - bug hunting with magnifying glasses, games, bug sounds stories, and children will make and take home:	hand decorated pet rock bird feeder or potpourri pouch dreamcatchers wildflower seed pack
Green thumbs - learn about worms & compost; how seeds disperse; why leaves are differ; proper watering and planting techniques. After lots of games and practical activities, little gardeners will make and take home:	jiffy pot seedling planter leaf rubbing drawings and leaf ID kit terrarium hand decorated assorted flower/vegie seed pack
Bushcraft - dance to Aboriginal music, read traditional Kulin stories of country, make nature craft. Children will take home:	decorated rain sticks handmade grass weavings or  bush material sculptures pressed clay 'fossils'/'tracks' or aboriginal story symbols indigenous wildflower seed pack

Why  NurtureNature?

All too often children living in urban environments lack a connection to nature through gardens and parks. Further, many modern inner-city gardens and parks are un-inviting and not suitable for exploration and investigation by children. As a result, children grow up isolated from nature, with a scepticism and fear of dirt, animals, homegrown produce and bush-tucker. 

Current research, e.g. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep28551 , http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/3/4/390, shows us that regular experiences with nature leads to physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. In a world of depression, stress, and worry about the future we need to connect to nature more than ever! The great outdoors offers learning possibilities and experiences that the indoor classroom just cannot. When a young mind makes a connection to the natural environment, it fosters a sense of responsibility, compassion and empathy that is vital in understanding their role to the community and world at large. Deep learning happens when connections to neighbourhood parks or past experiences are shared. Connecting with nature through nature activities involves elements of maths and numeracy, biology, geology, geography, chemistry, physics, literacy and second language. Mindfulness and sensory stimulation can occur without the interference of background distractions such as fluorescent lights and electrical devices or chatter in other classrooms. In addition, the outdoors offers physical health benefits such as exposure to fresh air, soil and microorganisms, developing hand-eye coordination, and eating freshly harvested organic foods. Lastly, but certainly not least, I want to make it fun for children to learn how to make sustainable choices and respect their environment!

Reconciliation and indigenous culture preservation
I am learning about the importance of connecting to the land I live and work on; reconciling with the Kulin nations who have been disconnected from their land, cultural heritage and language in Melbourne. We have so much to learn from our predecessors who lived so closely with the environment, who knew its cycles, spirit and learnt first-hand the consequences of not living sustainably (creation story of Nairm Port Philip Bay for the Bunurong people, and the creation of the great Moorool floodplains for the Woiwurrung are two important stories which every child in Melbourne should learn).

I believe the way to protect cultural heritage, regenerate habitats and ecosystems, reinvigorate the endangered languages and cultures of the Kulin Nation, and have a real contribution to reconciliation, is to reconnect our generation and future generations with the land and its heritage. We are all now responsible custodians of the land, and we should learn to be its caretakers and guardians. We can raise environmentalists empowered to make their world a better place for generations to come!

Target demographic
NurtureNature is not restricted to children and their needs; families, community groups, the physically and mentally disadvantaged and the elderly in their own homes or aged care facilities can all benefit by connecting to nature. I have a goal of sharing my skills and passion across all education sectors in Melbourne - early childhood, primary schools, day-care centres, aged care facilities, councils and community groups. I see it as an obligation to share my passion, knowledge and my experiences with the general community.

Do I have the knowledge and experience to pull this off?

Educational background

Qualifications

• Grad. Dip. Horticulture (Burnley, University of Melbourne, 2007)
• MPhil. Linguistics (Australian National University, 2002)

Training & Accreditation

• Sustainable Gardening Australia Accreditation (BAAG, 2008)
• Therapeutic Gardening (Holmesglen TAFE, 2008)
• Current Working with Children's Check
• Child Protection Training (DEET 2015)
• Inquiry learning & induction into PYP (Primary Years Program) of IB schooling system (2014-16)
• First Aid level 2, CPR and Anaphylaxis training (2016)
• Fire equipment training (2016)

Career experience

Horticulture
Ever curious, after years of successful academic research, my focus shifted to nature and the environment and I completed a GradDip. in Horticulture at Burnley (2007). I immersed myself in the positive energy that growing plants and being a small part of the natural cycle of life and renewal offers. I worked in the industry as a gardener, in nursery retail (Botanical Creations and Kew Nursery in Melbourne) and garden design and consultancy (Kew Nursery Garden Maintenance); learning all about plants and their requirements, sustainable gardening practices, and sharing the therapeutic benefits of gardening.

Teaching children
In 2015 I had the fantastic opportunity to teach gardening to K-3 students as the Community Garden Facilitator at a prestigious Jewish IB school in my neighbourhood (Mount Scopus Memorial College). It was a joy to share my passion for nature and gardening with young children - by this stage I was also a mother of a young child starting primary school, and had been encouraging her to experience nature and gardening.

I believe this is my calling – my natural passion, ability to engage young children and connect them to their surroundings, inspiring in them a sense of curiosity and wonder for nature.

Linguistics and endangered language research
I am a world traveller, first travelling to Germany as an exchange student when I had just turned 16. Always studying languages, I began my career as a linguist and endangered language field researcher eventually completing a MPhil in linguistics by describing the endangered Mon-Khmer language Jru' in Laos (ANU, 2002). Travelling to remote places gave me an amazing opportunity to live and work with different cultures in Laos, Papua New Guinea, and work on endangered Aboriginal languages of Australia. I documented endangered languages such as Nyaheun, Jru’, Sapuar and Oi (Mon-Khmer languages of southern Laos), Jawoyn (Katherine NT) language materials, and travelled to the highlands of Papua New Guinea to spend time with the Benabena tribe. I immersed myself in learning languages, cultural practices, beliefs and everday experiences with the land and environment. I realised how interwoven language, culture and the environment are in the human world, and saw firsthand how the loss of any of these has detrimental effects on our health and wellbeing, and the environment also suffers.

Learning traditional stripping of pandanus leaves by 'The Oi' villagers in Laos

Jru' coffee plantation Boloven plateau Laos

Learning about traditional Nyaheun dry rice growing Boloven Plateau Laos

Why the name NurtureNature Education?

In deciding on a name for my business, my savvy nephew Jono threw up the name NurtureNature and I loved it, as it seemed to encapsulate both the environment focus (nature) and the care and education of young children (nurture) so succinctly, not to mention the memorable alliteration! 

But it goes deeper than that: To nurture nature, one must actively respect and care for the natural outdoor environment - action is important if we want to ensure our precious Australian environment is healthy and here for our children's children. This is my way of acting for change and a better world.

Nature can also nurture humans - our minds, bodies and social and spiritual sides of our being all benefit from exposure to the natural world (at least 30 minutes a day!).

The name also points to the familiar Nurture versus Nature aspect in human psychology and biology. Both our DNA and our environment are responsible for our behaviour and personalities. We can change who we are by connecting with nature: becoming more mindful, slowing down, being healthier, being more responsible for our actions and knowing their consequences, feeling a part of this world and our community not just 'in our own bubble' connecting through the Internet and technology.

The Education element is to distinguish this business from other similar sounding names, and to make it clear I am not just some hippy who loves mucking about in the wilderness, I am about helping make the future world a better place by helping children learn how to respect and look after it, and discovering how they are an integral part of nature too - everything on this planet is interconnected.

Funds $6260

This fund raising campaign is to set up the business using $6260 seed funding as I have no capital (endangered language research and horticulture aren't exactly moneymaking industries!) . The breakdown of the costs are as follows:

$2760 = business set up

$200 Business name registration and ABN setup

$300 website design & development

$200 broadband set up

$100 logo and business card design (discounted price from an experienced friend!

$200 trademarking of logo

$300 quality business card printing x 400

$200 creation of a logo stamp for use on brochures and product packaging (e.g. Birthday party bags and seed packs etc.)

$600 Public Liability Insurance of $5M and Professional Indemnity insurance of $1M

$660 Australian Institute of Horticulture membership incl. Registered Horticulturalist accreditation

$1500 = Resources

$500 specialised children's gardening equipment (15 X gloves and aprons, magnifying glasses and gumboots, trowels, wheel barrow, spray bottles, watering cans)

$500 general gardening materials (potting mix, seed raising mix, charcoal, spaghnum moss, worm kits, compost, mushroom kits, seeds, some small seedlings and succulent tubes, indigenous seeds, sand, stones, jiffy pots)

$500 craft materials (glue, paints, posca pens, jars, bottles, feathers, buttons, bells, wool, twine, cane hoops, scissors, flower press, air drying clay, wooden pegs, skewers, wire, rolling pin, storage containers)

$500 = Storage

I live in a small apartment and need to store all the materials and resources securely in weather-proof conditions. Either a secure small shed could be built or the annual hire of a storage facility nearby would be ideal.

$1500 = Advertising

Advertising in school newsletters, and online is rather cheap, and I already have connections to several schools and kindergartens in my area through my teaching practices and involvement in GlenEira Sustainability Educator Network. More expensive options are to advertise through my local council, Leader newspapers and Jewish News. However, I believe this is worthwhile as I have made many contacts in my community and my reputation and name is well known. Once up and running, I will extend my advertising to other councils and regions of Melbourne.

My extensive experience in the areas of horticulture, landscaping and working with children have provided me with confidence that I can not only succeed, but excel in my new business endeavour. I have taken the time to carefully evaluate all possibilities in this business and to prepare contingency plans when weather and unforeseen challenges are thrown my way during activities.  I don't envisage any major challenges to the success of this project and business. My established connections through schools, community groups and likeminded professionals will be useful stepping-stones to get NurtureNature off to a flying start. Through these groups and communities, positive experiences with NurtureNature will benefit word-of-mouth advertising and in-turn this will lead to a flourishing (pun intended!) business.