Wednesday, 11 January 2012 00:00
YMCA St Paul's OSHC and YMCA Strathpine OSHC teamed up for a wonderful excursion to the Bellingham maze on Wednesday 11th Jan 2012. While the days leading up to the excursion had been extremely hot everyone has glad that on the day the weather was kind. The children enjoyed mini golf, puzzles, a bird aviary and the huge hedge maze to complete. Most groups got lost with their staff member being very little help. In the end we had to conceed and go through the give up gate to get back out! After a great day out both groups returned to their services after watching a movie on the bus. Big thanks go to the bus driver Shane!
Children attending YMCA Upper Mt Gravatt OSHC recently had the opportunity to further reinforce respect for their environment by having a worthwhile educational experience handling unique Australian marine animals. Marine Mammals brought a number of touch tanks to the service so children could really get up close and personal. 
To celebrate Steve Irwin Day and the death of this wonderful Aussie Icon, the children of YMCA St Paul’s OSHC had some special visitors for the afternoon which were scaly, slimy and slithering. Justin from Scales, Jaws & Claws came out to the service with his reptile family of skinks, dragons, pythons and baby crocodiles, and also introduced us to some green tree frogs and scorpions for the children to hold and to learn about. We learnt some interesting and amazing facts, and the children had some wonderful questions for Justin to answer BUT the exciting part was when the children got to hold all of Justin’s unusual family. Who would have thought holding a baby crocodile wasn’t scary and that Australia has the 7 most deadliest snakes in the world … With the celebration of Steve Irwin Day, the children worked hard over the week creating a sensory display for our room of the Australian outback and all the wonderful animals we have in this great country of ours. We even included Steve on top of Uluru doing what he does best, wrestling a crocodile!
YMCA Camira OSHC hosted a Melbourne Cup brunch for the teachers and school staff. A great morning was had by all and some teachers even asked if the event could be conducted annually. 
YMCA St Paul's OSHC recently held their first YMCA/Teachers afternoon tea. Everyone was pleased that both Principals, Mr Browning and Mrs Connolly, could attend as well as an entourage of junior school teachers including a pre-service teacher. The staff and children plan to organise an afternoon tea with the teachers once a term. Talk has already begun about the next event, with requests of music and dance competitions.
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