A few weeks ago the whole family was invited to the Tree House at Boschendal. An exciting new edu-play centre offering children a chance to enjoy an authentic farm experience. The new Playground next to The Tree House is the brand new addition and available for all young visitors to the farm.

Short-listed for the We Are Africa 2019 Design Award, the Tree House at Boschendal is an exciting new activity centre that offers children aged 4 to 14 years a chance to connect with a truly authentic farm and forest experience while also learning about the importance of sustainability.  In March of this year The Playground next to The Tree House was completed and is now open for all young visitors to the farm aged 4 to 14 years.  The supervised programmes at The Tree House activity centre are complimentary for all guests staying in Boschendal accommodation or dining at The Werf Restaurant, while the Playground area is complimentary to all young visitors but is unsupervised so parents should accompany children. 

Free Range Kids

All of the woodwork for The Tree House and Playground was fully crafted on the farm, and the model farm was designed at the same time showcasing the benefits of cycle grazing. The model farm is three and a half hectares of land that has been divided into 7 blocks where animals including Black Angus cattle, hens and Duroc forest pics are rotated to regenerate soil quality.  Children can harvest their own eggs as well as learn the importance of understanding where their food comes from, sustainability, and what it means to have healthy soil.

A daily programme runs 7 days a week at The Tree House and parents can leave their children fully supervised and busy with an outstanding team of trained and seasoned Tree House leaders.  The Tree House team compiles a weekly calendar, and the various activities during the day might include farm foraging, gardening, natural arts, baking, nature walks and exploration, upcycling, outdoor fire cooking, painting – and horse-riding/mountain biking for an additional charge.  There is also a natural science library and a movie room with natural history films called the Hide Out.  The natural arts activities teach children about climate change.  Children design their own hanging planters, bird feeders and alternative toys using single-use plastics.  They also visit the recycle centre and brainstorm about what can be made from rubbish.  “I believe we can make a much-needed change in our world by re-connecting kids to the magic of nature.  At The Tree House we spark questions like – where does my food come from?  How can I turn this trash into something beautiful and functional?  We’re enhancing young creative minds through environmental awareness.  We also want them to have fun and give parents a little break too!” says Tracey van Wijk, The Tree House Manager and conceptual thinker behind the centre.

Bookings should be made for The Tree House at least 24 hours in advance and the schedule for Daily Activities can be downloaded HERE.

Holiday Programmes

During the June and July holidays The Tree House offers a special holiday programme.  Parents can book their children for a 5-day programme where they will learn about the farm and gain life skills for young adventurers.  Accommodation is not included but available at a 25% discount on advertised rates.

Counting down to the school holidays!