Mission: Developing Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design

Core Values: Community Contribution, Responsibility and Active Conservation

Camp facilities at The Crossing are unique.  The Crossing is a one class, permaculture designed sustainable camp

Student’s experience sustainable design, habitat survey and Landcare.

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

Student journeys can include canoe arrival or departure, bushwalking and mountain biking.

Location: The Crossing is situated near Bermagui, Australia, 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 camp 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 group sizes up to 30 with separate staff rooms.  Larger groups are possible for regional gatherings with tent camping.

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

‘We imagined a sustainable camp for young people with a unique journey from sea to snow.’ – Dean and Annette Turner

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 people with land management and conservation experience, outdoor leadership, education, counseling, business management and marketing experience.

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

Volunteer and Casual Positions

The Crossing employs casual outdoor education staff with leadership experience and qualifications.  A high quality volunteer is also sought each year for a 5 month Spring/Summer live-in ‘Site Host’ role which includes some paid allowances.  Those who assist with youth programs have relevant Working with Children’s checks and skills qualifications.

Dean Turner is the current Project Director and a qualified teacher, agricultural scientist, permaculturalist, outdoor leader, and conservation land manager.

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.

The 2019/20 Team

Landcare and conservation

Young people at The Crossing have planted 19,000 trees for Landcare since 2011.  These plantings link the coastal National Parks of Gulaga and Biamanga.  The tree plantings also improve river quality for oyster growers downstream.

The Crossing is a member of the  Far South Coast Landcare Association.  Crossing 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‘.

Conservation

Connecting and surveying habitat to protect threatened species are key aims of The Trust.  Sustainability education is also important.

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.

Environment

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