Canterbury - Cashmere/Halswell
Spring school holidays - September & October - OPEN FOR REGISTRATIONS
All registrations are completed through https://elements.aimyplus.com or email elementsprogrammes@gmail.com for more info
Our standard programmes are - 9am-3pm for children aged 5yrs-13 yrs (unless otherwise stated), at $75/day including afternoon tea
Or when booking a full multi-day programme (ie 3 or 5 day) a 10% discount is applied by admin.
All registrations are completed through https://elements.aimyplus.com
Bookings are then confirmed by Elements and an invoice generated.
Admin applies discounts for attending 3+ days of a programme if applicable and for multiple sibling discounts
A reminder/ info email with what to bring and where to park comes out 10 days prior to each programme.
Note: Please sure you do not tick ‘unsubscribe to communication’ as it means you will not receive information about the programme ie leader contacts, meeting point or any changes. We only send out this email, then nightly summary with photos and then an invitation to join the following holidays. There isn’t additional regular ‘spam’ type emails.
Term 3, 2025 - currently full with small waitlist operating:
AKO ELEMENTS - (ie ‘1 day nature school - independent session)
This programme is 9am-3pm for children aged 5yrs-12 yrs at $75/day, Email elementsprogrammes@gmail.com to request a prospectus.
*Thursdays - Ako Elements South at 600 Cashmere Road, Westmorland farm
There is a small waitlist for places on this programme. If you think it may be of interest to your child, get in touch to organise a visit - visiting dates are 14 August, 23 October, 20 November, 18 December.
Term 4 2025 - OPEN FOR WAITLIST:
AKO ELEMENTS - (ie ‘1 day nature school - independent session)
This programme is 9am-3pm for children aged 5yrs-12 yrs at $75/day, Email elementsprogrammes@gmail.com to request a prospectus.
*Thursdays - Ako Elements South at 600 Cashmere Road, Westmorland farm
There is a small waitlist for places on this programme. If you think it may be of interest to your child, get in touch to organise a visit visiting dates are 14 August, 23 October, 20 November, 18 December.
SPRING HOLIDAYS
WEEK 1: MONDAY 22 Sept - FRIDAY 26 Sept
Monday 22nd Sept - 26th Sept- Wild Wonders: Earth, Air, Fire & Water!, 5yrs - 12yrs, 9.00am-3.00pm, Bushland Park Farm
Let your child’s imagination and curiosity run wild with our signature spring programme: Wild Wonders – five unforgettable days immersed in nature, exploring the elements that shape our world. Each day brings a new focus, blending outdoor play, hands-on learning, and real-life skills in a magical farm setting:
🪨 Monday – Earth
Dig, sculpt, and get gloriously muddy! From clay creations to soil exploration and worm hunts, we’ll connect with the ground beneath our feet.🌬️ Tuesday – Air
Feel the breeze in your hair as we explore wind and movement through kite-making, flying leaf spirals, and wind-inspired games.🔥 Wednesday – Fire
A favourite with many! Learn to safely build and tend a campfire, then cook something delicious while learning about fire safety and storytelling around the flames.💧 Thursday – Water
Splash, pour, pump and experiment! Water play takes centre stage today as we create nature-based water inventions and explore the flow and magic of this vital element.🌲 Friday – Adventure Day
We take everything we’ve learned and head out on an epic adventure across the farm and into the neighbouring wetlands reserve — map-making, trail finding, and storytelling our way through a full day of exploration and wonder.Whether they join us for one day or the full week, your child will come home energised, confident, and connected — to themselves, their peers, and the natural world around them.
· 5-13yrs, 9am-3pm, Bushland Park Farm, 600 Cashmere Rd, $75 incl. afternoon tea, 3rd whanau member 50% discount (sibling or cousin)
WEEK 2: MONDAY 29 Sept - FRIDAY 3 Oct
Monday 29th - Wednesday 1st Oct - Spring Has Sprung, 5yrs - 13yrs, 9.00am-3.00pm, Bushland Park F
Celebrate the season of new life and fresh beginnings with three joyful days of nature-based play on the farm! As the world wakes up from winter, children will be invited to explore the wonders of springtime through play — think grassy paddocks, muddy puddles, baby animals nearby, and the promise of splashy water play if the weather allows.
With plenty of space to roam, this programme is all about freedom, curiosity, and connection. From climbing hay bales to building nature dens, creating flower crowns to simply lying in the grass watching clouds, children will have time to follow their own play instincts in a safe, supportive outdoor setting. We’ll also have gentle guided moments, seasonal crafts, and chances to notice and celebrate the magic of spring — blooming buds, birdsong, and maybe even frogspawn!
Come for one day or all three — each day brings something new, just like spring itself.
· 5-13yrs, 9am-3pm, Bushland Park Farm, 600 Cashmere Rd, $75 incl. afternoon tea, 3rd whanau member 50% discount (sibling or cousin)
Thursday Oct 2nd - Friday 3rd Oct - Snakes & Ladders, 5yrs - 13yrs, 9.00am-3.00pm, Bushland Park Farm
Get ready for a wriggly, giggly adventure where art & imagination meets outdoor skills. Children will dive into the playful world of Snakes and Ladders, starting with crafting their own colourful, slithering snakes using a variety of natural and recycled materials. We'll read snake-themed stories, enjoy cleverly themed snacks, and let imaginations run wild!
Then, it’s time to climb to new heights — quite literally! With guidance and support, children will learn how to tie knots, safely use tools, and take on the challenge of constructing their own ladder from sticks and rope. This hands-on, confidence-building day blends creativity with real-life skills, leaving children feeling empowered, inspired, and full of stories to share.
· ‘Snakes & Ladders’ : 5-13yrs, 9am-3pm, Bushland Park Farm, 600 Cashmere Rd, $75 incl. afternoon tea, 3rd whanau member 50% discount (sibling or cousin)
All registrations are completed through https://elements.aimyplus.com
Bookings are then confirmed by Elements and an invoice generated.
Admin applies discounts for attending 3+ days of a programme if applicable and for multiple sibling discounts
A reminder/ info email with what to bring and where to park comes out 2 weeks prior to each programme.
Note: Please sure you do not tick ‘unsubscribe to communication’ as it means you will not receive information about the programme ie leader contacts, meeting point or any changes. We only send out this email, then nightly summary with photos and then an invitation to join the following holidays. There isn’t additional regular ‘spam’ type emails.
Christchurch
Elements has had a presence around southern Christchurch since February 2017. In fact our launch week in Cracroft was the same week as the fires! We have used a variety of locations around Cashmere, Waltham, South Brighton, and Halswell.
We have largely settled into our home base of a Westmorland farm. This is an amazing space with grassed farm paddocks , treed areas including native trees. Especially enjoyed is the creek and an artesian spring which creates a special mini lake for us to use.
In conjunction with the Christchurch City Council, Elements has identified and using a fantastic reserve in Marshlands. This is easily accessible from both Marshlands Road and the motorway. This site has numerous walkways, streams and lakes. It has a great hill for rolling down and 3 glorious old barns for shelter. Other spaces we use include Brighton beach & estuary and Pines Beach by Kaiapoi.
Ashburton
In Ashburton we are fortunate to host Elements on the site of an aged care facility. Here we have a diverse range of areas - from scraggley old ‘river trees’, to beautifully maintained grass, garden areas and mature trees. What is also special about this site was the foresight of a previous owner planting native trees 40years ago - a fantastic area for hut building. The staff and residents of the facility are keen to develop some intergenerational learning across both of our groups.
Selwyn & Rolleston
Elements and Selwyn have a history of collaboration. We have been fortunate to be invited to participate in many Selwyn events including ‘Project Wild One’ and even the Teddy Bears Picnic. Selwyn has such a range of spaces that Elements would love to use. Recently we have been offering programmes based at Weedons Domain and opposite Jimmy Adams Tce in Lincoln.
