Rainsticks

A 'rainstick' is a long, hollow percussion instrument that can be used to make a variety of sounds, from a gentle rain shower to a thunderstorm. They were originally used by the Aztec people of Central America - and possibly other Indigenous groups around the world - as part of ceremonies to bring about changes in the weather. They're now popularly used in all kinds of music, from rock to classical orchestra.

Rainsticks were traditionally made out of cactus, which is naturally hollow.  Once the plant had been dried in the sun, the spines were removed and nailed back inside in a spiral pattern.  The hollow was then filled with small stones or dried beans and sealed at both ends.

I've always loved the sound of rainsticks, so we decided to design and make our own instrument out of discarded materials.  The first stop was the Reverse Garbage warehouse in Woolloongabba, Brisbane, to find the materials we needed.  This place is an absolute treasure trove, packed with interesting and useful things, including fabrics and textiles, glass and ceramics, paper and card, plastics,  timber, rubber and foam. The people who work there are always happy to show you around and offer advice on how to overcome the difficulties of your particular project.

We made our rainstick using a cardboard Postpak mailing tube, with caps at both ends.  This was filled with small, hard objects - a combination of rice and small rubber discs made the best sound.  To slow down the flow of objects inside the tube, we inserted a bendable plastic strip with holes punched through (available from Reverse Garbage as 'black holey strips'). We decorated our rainstick with fabric, vinyl, feathers and wool but it could just as easily have been painted or covered with collage paper.

The rainstick can be played in different ways to make a variety of wonderful sounds.  When it's held vertically and flipped over, it makes the sound of falling water, as the objects inside gradually make their way to the bottom.  If held horizontally and tilted from side to side, it makes a gentle whooshing sound, like the rolling of the ocean.  A harsher, more urgent sound, can be made when the instrument is shaken. It can also be tapped with a stick to make a satisfying 'thwock' or a more gentle 'pitter patter'.  The rainstick can be played by anyone and makes a fantastic accompaniment to the guitar.

James Taylor's song 'Fire and Rain', we made a couple of last minute embellishments to our rainstick and included sandpaper and baking paper to mimic the roaring and crackling sounds of fire;  so it's a 'fire and rainstick' really...

Short Walks in the Rainforest with Kids

Brisbane must be one of the few cities in the world where you can take a day trip to the rainforest... and it's one of the reasons we feel so privileged to live in this region.  There's a striking diversity of environments literally on our doorstep, from the remnants of coastal rainforest at Burleigh Heads and Noosa to the stunning World Heritage listed Springbrook and Lamington National Parks.

Walking amongst the trees, listening to the sounds of the birds, and perhaps spotting a pademelon in the understorey, is a wonderful way to spend family time together.  It introduces children to our most important and fragile natural environment... and gives us the perfect opportunity to teach them how to respect and take care of it for the next generation.

Research shows that contact with nature and time spent playing in natural environments has many benefits for children, including:

• improving flexibility, balance and co-ordination;
• reducing stress levels;
• developing self-esteem and resilience; and 
• enhancing creativity and imagination.

Perhaps most importantly, it has been found that children who participate in 'wild nature activities', such as bushwalking and camping, are more likely to develop responsible attitudes and behaviours towards the environment:

'Time spent in natural environments encourages children to recognise themselves as part of nature and to develop a sense of ecological self.  The stronger this self-perception as being part of nature, the more likely a child is to protect it." (Source:  Planet Ark's 2013 report: Missing Trees: The Inside Story of an Outdoor Nation)

Before setting out on a rainforest walk, remember:

Kids love an adventure - so involve them in the preparations by asking them to plan an 'outdoor survival kit' with all the things they may need.  This could include a map, compass, camera, binoculars, small plastic jar and magnifying glass for examining interesting finds, notebook, pencil, small first aid kit (with salt, for removing leeches) and anything else they think might be useful.

Think about activities for the trail - that are fun and appropriate to the ages and interests of the children.  Our younger son never tires of pretending that he can see mythical creatures in the trees and rocks:  "I love imagining that the trees are dragons and that we have to tiptoe quietly past them so we don't wake them up!"  Sam (age 6).  Another of his favourite activities is finding a stick and using it to 'fish' for leaves in the creeks and rock pools along the way.

Older children might enjoy keeping a nature journal of their visits to the rainforest.  This could include stories, poems, riddles, photos or sketches of birds, bugs, leaves and any number of other treasures.

Be prepared - dress appropriately for the terrain and weather conditions, with boots or trainers, long pants and a hat.  Take along warm, waterproof jackets if there's any chance of a weather change.  Make sure the children eat before you leave and pack enough water and snacks for the trip... and a plastic bag to take home any rubbish.

These are some of our family's favourite places within a two hour drive from Brisbane, all with short walking trails suitable for young children:

1. Springbrook National Park - spectacular waterfalls, ancient trees, impressive views, exceptional biodiversity and outstanding natural beauty make this Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area a brilliant place to visit.  There are four sections to the park and several walking tracks, which vary from easy to strenuous. We particularly recommend:
   
   
   
   
   
   Best of All Lookout Track - which takes visitors on a 300m trail through the cloud forest, past some of the world's last remaining ancient Antarctic Beech trees, to a viewing platform at the edge of the Springbrook plateau.  On clear days, you can see how the whole area was once part of a massive shield volcano, over 100km in diameter and almost twice the height of Mount Warning today.
   
   
   If you're looking for a longer walk, take the 4km Twin Falls Circuit from Tallabana Picnic Area or Canyon Lookout.  This track takes you along a ridge (with fantastic views of the Gold Coast and hinterland), through different types of forest and behind two waterfalls.  Some parts of the track are adjacent to steep cliff edges, so children must be closely supervised. 
   
   
   Before leaving Springbrook National Park, don't forget to stop off at Purlingbrook Falls Lookout, just 100m from Gwongorella Picnic Area.  The waterfall is particularly impressive after periods of heavy rain.
   
   
2. D'Aguilar National Park - the southern section was formerly known as Brisbane Forest Park and is the closest and most accessible area of rainforest to the city centre.  An essential first stop for children is Walk-About Creek Wildlife Centre, located in the QPWS Visitor Centre on Mt Nebo Road at The Gap.  This provides a great opportunity to learn about native animals, including the elusive platypus, wombat, wallabies, snakes, nocturnal wildlife in a night-house and many types of birds in a walk-through aviary. The centre is open from 9am to 4.15pm every day and has an excellent program of ranger led events for children at weekends and during school holidays.
   
   
   
   
   
   Our favourite walking tracks include the short  Maiala Rainforest Circuit and the 1.1km Pitta Circuit at Boombana, which takes you through open eucalypt forest and then into subtropical rainforest, where you can walk around a huge strangler fig.  There are information boards along the way, explaining how rainforests are formed, the plants and animals that live there and the importance of rainforests for the health of our environment.
   
   
3. Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve - this remnant of pristine subtropical rainforest near Maleny in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland is an outstanding place to visit with children.  It's always cool and provides a welcome place of retreat on the hottest summer days.  There's lots of birdlife here and, even if you don't manage to spot them in the dense vegetation, you can often hear the distinctive calls of the Whipbird (similar to the cracking of a whip) and the Green Catbird (a wailing sound, almost like a baby's cry).  There's also a thriving population of pademelons, which the children are always delighted to spot.
   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   The reserve has a small education centre with rainforest and animal displays, 2km of wheelchair accessible walking tracks, a grassy area for picnics and ball games, small playground and a cafe with stunning views of the Glasshouse Mountains.

   
   

   
   
4. Tamborine National Park - the Witches Falls section was the first place in Queensland to be declared a national park.  It includes areas of subtropical rainforest with piccabeen palm groves, wet eucalypt forest, open forest and woodland.  The park is home to 85% of all animal species found on the Gold Coast, including the rare Albert's Lyrebird, one of which we saw on the 3km Witches Falls Circuit during our last visit.
   
   
   
   
   
   There are several other short walking trails suitable for young children, including Macdonald Rainforest Circuit and Palm Grove Rainforest Circuit.
   
   
5. Noosa Heads National Park - is one of the few places where, if you look hard enough, you're almost guaranteed to spot a koala.  They can usually be seen dozing high in the trees alongside the walking track along the shoreline.  There are several lovely walks to choose from, including the 1km Palm Grove Circuit, through rainforest with hoop pines and piccabeen palms.  The Coastal Track provides access to some delightful secluded beaches, which are great for picnics and exploring the rockpools.

We hope this has inspired you to take a day trip to the rainforest soon!  And if you have any favourite wild places, we'd love to hear about them.