About the Crossing Land

Mission: Developing Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design

Core Values: Community Contribution, Responsibility and Active Conservation

Facilities at The Crossing are unique and truly sustainable. The Crossing is a one class (up to 28 students + teachers), permaculture designed, truly sustainable camp

Students experience true sustainable design, learn about koala habitat survey, and contribute to our Landcare project.

Students harvest from the organic gardens and live a farm-to-table experience.

Journeys can include arrival to or departure from the Crossing via canoe, overnight bushwalking and camping, and mountain biking.

 Location: The Crossing is situated near Bermagui, on a riverfront bush setting on the Wilderness Coast of Southern NSW.  Biamanga National Park adjoins the camp and The Crossing has the support of the Park’s Aboriginal owners for camping and research. The site is a traditional crossing place on the Bermagui River. 

Young people make a Crossing into adulthood here; learning ways to contribute to the environment & community.

Numbers: We can accommodate student group sizes up to 28 with 4 additional staff rooms for accompanying teachers.

Food and catering: Provided, with whole foods and local organic produce where possible.

The Crossing’s Community Hall with developing permaculture garden overlooking the Bermagui River.
Below: Our converted 1930’s Red Rattler train carriage bunkhouse.

Facilities include:

  • off grid solar electrical system
  • solar hot water supported by wood heating
  • organic kitchen garden and orchards, plus chooks and sheep
  • commercial kitchen
  • community hall with attached covered outdoor classroom
  • fire circle for evening gatherings
  • train carriage bunkhouse with wide verandahs
  • separate teacher/supervisor rooms
  • canoe, bushwalking, & mountain bike journey available with instructors

Disabilities: The “journey” component of programs may prove inaccessible for a small selection of disabilities. Please contact us to discuss your needs further.

Our Story…

‘We imagined a sustainable camp for young people with a unique journey from sea to snow.’ 

 

– Dean and Annette Turner, founders

Project Timeline:

1998 Dean and Annette arrive in September in ‘Gus the Bus’ to start The Crossing

1999 Volunteer Board established

2003 Voluntary Conservation Agreement with National Parks and Wildlife signed onto the land title, protecting the land in perpetuity

2005 Awarded Best Conservation Project in Australia’ by International Student Volunteers, the Crossing’s first international partner organisation.

2006 Environmental Education Trust established as a ‘Registered Australian Environmental Organisation’ with tax deductible status Dean and Annette gifted the land of The Crossing to the newly formed Trust.

2010 Recognised as a Landcare group for the Far South Coast Landcare Association and became a member of South East Producers

2013 Second trainee Sam Hodder receives ’NSW School-based Trainee of the Year′  for Conservation Land Management

2014 Project Director, Dean Turner becomes conservation representative to the Board of the adjacent Biamanga National Park, owned by Aboriginal people. The Crossing begins an international partnership with Pacific Discovery.

2016 Third trainee Luka Hodder receives ‘South Coast Region School-based Trainee of the Year

2018 Commencement of Airbnb hosting on weekends and school holidays for families

2019 ‘Serversaurus’ becomes our first ‘1percentfortheplanet’ corporate sponsor.  Superhost status achieved with Airbnb.

The Board of the Trust includes members with land management and conservation experience, outdoor leadership, education, counselling, business management, and marketing experience.

Dean and Annette are pictured here gifting The Crossing Land to the Trust with probono support from Andrew Warren

Team Experience

The Crossing’s Project Director, Dean Turner is a qualified teacher, agricultural scientist, permaculturalist, outdoor leader, and conservation land manager.

Our Program Manager, Josh Heins, is a qualified and experience outdoor educator and permaculturalist, and is currently studying toward a degree in social work.

Our camp Host, Alexa Peggie, is a qualified permaulturalist and outdoor educator.

The Crossing also employs casual staff and takes on capable volunteers to support our work with young people. All staff have Wilderness First Aid, current Working with Children’s checks, and relevant experience and qualifications.

Annette Turner is a member of the Board and Trustee Director.  Annette developed student tourism Leadership for The Australian Tourism Council and has an infectious passion for wholefoods and sustainability.  She is also a qualified permaculturalist.

Our Staff

Alexa Peggie: B. Creative Arts and Media and Communication; Cert III Outdoor Leadership; Permaculture Design Certificate.

Alexa is our camp host at The Crossing. Alexa enjoys spending time outdoors rock climbing, hiking, surfing, and gardening. She has experience in horticulture, conservation and education and is passionate about systems thinking, sustainability and all forms of play. She has a permaculture design certificate and a Certificate III in outdoor leadership.

Josh Heins: Cert 4 Outdoor Recreation; Permaculture Design Certificate

Josh is our Program Manager at The Crossing. In his spare time he loves to grow vegetables, explore the bush, and do all kinds of crafts.  Josh was an acting Director and staff member of Wollangarra Outdoor Education Centre before coming to the Crossing. He is currently working towards a degree in social work. 

Dean (B. Agr Sci; B. Ed, PDC Dip, Cert 3 Outdoor Rec, Cert 4 Carbon Management) & Annette Turner (B. Arts Tourism PDC)

In their spare time Dean and Annette cross-country ski, surf, help with Cobargo folk festival, and help manage a family farm in Victoria.

 

The Crossing also employs casual staff and takes on capable volunteers to support our work with young people. All staff have Wilderness First Aid, current Working with Children’s checks, and relevant experience and qualifications. If you’re interested in joining our team as a staff member or volunteer, please email your resume and a short description of your experience to josh@thecrossingland.org.au

Our Landcare and Conservation Projects

Landcare and conservation

Young people at The Crossing have planted over 20 000 trees for Landcare since 2011.  These plantings link the coastal National Parks of Gulaga and Biamanga while improving the river quality for oyster growers downstream.

The Crossing is a member of the Far South Coast Landcare Association. Our Landcare and conservation work is supported by Local Land Services, Bega Valley Shire Council, the Australian Government, and the Weiland family who own the “Woodville” property opposite The Crossing.

The founders of the Crossing, Dean and Annette Turner, have received a Far South Coast Landcare Association Award for their Landcare and conservation work with young people.  Their Golden Wombat award is in recognition of outstanding leadership and commitment to educating young people and the community.

 

Ongoing Conservation Work

Connecting and surveying habitat to protect threatened species such as the koala are key aims of The Trust. Through engaging young people in this process we advance environmental education for young people. 

The Crossing property is permanently protected by a Conservation Agreement with National Parks and Wildlife.  The agreement was established in 2006 and applies to over 90 percent of the property.  All threatened species listed for the region have been sighted or heard on the Crossing.

Environmental Contribution

The Crossing is a registered ‘Australian Environmental Organisation’ and tax deductible gifts to The Trust help us to achieve our landcare and education aims.

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The Crossing Land Education Camp with Biamanga National Park behind 2018

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