Developing Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design
Thank you so much for your continued support of The Crossing’s mission to Develop Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design. Simply reading this newsletter supports our work. After almost three disrupted years, we’ve had a great start to 2022. We’ve welcomed dozens of new and old supporters to The Crossing through our Making Gullies More Fire Retardant workshops, and we want to say a huge thank you to Merryn Carey and her team at South Coast Flora for their contribution to these workshops.
Thanks to the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLERF), we’ve been building and making changes to make The Crossing more Fire-Retardant. We have a new concrete water tank, and bunkroom, with even more exciting projects underway.
Thanks especially to St Vinnies for their support for providing the roof and plumbing for the Shipping Container Gear Store and four Adventure camps for fire affected students. The BLERF funding provided the second hand shipping containers and builder support to construct the new gear store and tool shed/workshop space which has also provided trailer parking for fire fighting equipment.
It’s been wonderful for us to support the work of the Campfire Co-op and their Gather ‘Round Community Leadership Project for four bushfire affected local government areas. It’s been a joy to host these emerging community leaders at our permaculture site.
We’re into the swing of running programs for young people, with school groups from near and far joining us to hike through beautiful Biamanga National Park, contribute to Landcare, and learn about sustainability through activities at the Crossing.
Finally, a warm welcome to Alexa, who is joining The Crossing team full-time in 2022. Alexa has moved onsite with her tiny home and brings with her a wealth of experience in education and conservation, and a passion for working with young people.
Please enjoy this newsletter, and if you have any questions about the programs or workshops we’re running this year, please contact us on (02) 6493 3400 or email stay@thecrossingland.org.au
Did you know that all workshops, events, and programs for young people at The Crossing are free for fire affected families living in temporary accommodation? If you know someone living in temporary accommodation and think they may benefit from our workshops, events, or programs for young people, please forward this newsletter to them.
Simply email josh@thecrossingland.org.au and tell us which relief/recovery centre you accessed, and we’ll send you a coupon code you can apply when booking.
Free Community Workshops*
Jun 25-26, Sep 3-4: Jul 3, Aug 21:
Oct 16, Nov 5:
Preparedness and Permaculture – Design for Fire Fire-Retardant Design and Cool Burn Preparation Fire-Retardant Shelterbelts and Refuges
Other Community Workshops
Aug 18: Heritage and Heirloom Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop
Camps for Young People
Jul 5-7: Oct 28-30: Dec 2-4:
Land Leaders (yr 10-early tertiary) Landcare Wild (yr 8-9)
Landcare Adventure (yr 6-7)
*More detail about these workshops if you scroll down
Further information about programs and events can be found on our website here, or email Josh@thecrossingland.org.au with any questions
Community Workshops at the Crossing Land
The Crossing will run a series of free community workshops to assist the Triangle Region with fire recovery. Workshops will continue running throughout 2022. More information on Eventbrite. Bookings essential.
Thinking About a Tax Time Donation?
The Crossing is a non-profit organisation that develops Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design. We are on the Australian Register of Environmental Organisations, and donations greater than $2 are tax deductible.
Please make donations to: The Crossing Land Education Trust Fund BSB: 641800
Account no: 200415194
**Please put your name in the notes field**
Thank you for supporting our work and contributing to a more sustainable future for young people in the Bega Valley.
Weekend Adventure Camps
For young people interested in contributing to Landcare, having an adventure, and making new friends. Evening campfires are a feature of the journey.
Landcare Wild (yr8-9): 5pm October 28 – 1:30pm October 30 Landcare Adventure (yr6-7): 5pm December 2 – 1:30pm December 4
Stay up to date with The Crossing on Facebook and Instagram, or through our website
LAND LEADERS
A free fire-recovery and Leadership journey for year10 – early tertiary students in the Bega Valley.
10am Tuesday July 5th – 1:30pm Thursday July 7th.
All food and accommodation included.
This is a special opportunity for young people to share experiences of fire, look at how the bush is recovering, and learn how The Crossing is preparing and designing for the future. A chance to learn from each other and identify how to make a difference in your own community.
This leadership program is free of charge and is supported by the Cobargo Community Bushfire Recovery Fund. Limited places, book now through the Crossing website. Pilot development of this program was supported by the Bega Valley Shire.
Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund Update
In 2021, The Crossing had confirmation of funding support from the State and Commonwealth Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. Funds allocated to The Crossing will develop community-led recovery and help us become a regeneration education hub for Southeast NSW.
Since then, we have built three new covered orchards to protect our fruit trees and to act as an ember shield in the event of bushfire; put in a new concrete water tank to secure our water supply in future fire events; installed evacuated tube solar hot water and double glazed windows in the community hall; and built a new bunkroom – with even more exciting changes to come.
BLERF is also supporting The Crossing to hire three young local Aboriginal people who will work with the Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation on cultural burn preparation, undertake koala habitat survey work on Country, and assist the Crossing on our programs for young people.
The Crossing will continue to use these funds to adapt our built landscape to become more fire-retardant over time.
This local Economic Recovery project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Upcoming Workshops and Community Events @thecrossingland
Heritage and Heirloom Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop @thecrossingland
11am-3pm Thursday 18th August, book online here
Learn how to graft fruit trees and develop your knowledge about the value of heritage and heirloom varieties. There will be rootstock ($10) and scion ($5) to purchase and graft on the day and to take home to graft onto your existing trees. If you have never grafted before, then this is a great opportunity to learn.
The workshop commences at 11am and concludes at 3pm. BYO lunch. Includes a free rootstock and grafted scion of your choice, as well as a cuppa.
Free for fire affected families (email josh@thecrossingland.org.au and tell us which relief or recovery centre you accessed) and all funds raised go to The Crossing to support our mission of developing youth leadership for sustainable design.
Fire Retardant Shelterbelts and Refuges
This local Economic Recovery project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
10:30am-3pm Sunday 16th October 10:30am-3pm Saturday 5th November FREE, Bookings essential via Eventbrite
These workshops will focus on plant succession in gully refuge areas to make them moister over time and to begin a transition to a temperate rainforest environment in suitable gullies. Develop your knowledge of temperate rainforest pioneer species and suitable fire-retardant tree species to help the environment recover and put more moisture back into the environment. We will plant some trees into gully environments at The Crossing during the workshop.
The workshop will also demonstrate the use of swales to create moister gully-like environments closer to your home.
You will need a moderate level of fitness for this workshop as we will be walking through the bush and on uneven ground.
Everyone will go home with 10 fire-retardant tubestock and guards to plant in their own refuge. Lunch provided.
Permaculture Design and Fire Preparedness
This local Economic Recovery project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
10am-3pm Saturday 25th June to Sunday 26th June 10am-3pm Saturday 3rd September to Sunday 4th September FREE, Bookings essential via Eventbrite
This workshop will teach you how to apply the principles of Permaculture design to fire preparation to help you make your property safer.
This is a weekend workshop for property owners in fire-affected communities. This workshop will help you develop skills and knowledge to apply the principles of Permaculture to fire preparation and fire-retardant landscape design. The Crossing and Brogo Permaculture Gardens will focus on practical and real-life skills you can take back to your property or community to make changes to help us all live safer with fire.
The workshop is held at Brogo Permaculture Gardens on Saturday, and at The Crossing on Sunday.
Fire-Retardant Design and Cool Burn Preparation
This local Economic Recovery project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
10:30am-3:00pm 3rd July 10:30am-3:00pm 21st August
Free, bookings required via Eventbrite here
Fire-Retardant Design and Cool Burn Preparation is a one-day workshop for property owners in fire-affected communities. This workshop will help you develop basic skills and knowledge of fire-retardant landscape design, as well as how to prepare for a cool burn on your property. If the weather permits and conditions are safe, The Crossing
may demonstrate a cool burn on our site in the afternoon/early evening.
Workshops at The Crossing focus on practical and real-life skills you can take back to your property or community to make changes to help us all live safer with fire. Lunch is provided.
Permaculture Design Courses
Run by John Champagne and hosted at The Crossing Land
A chance to see the world with different eyes and become a sustainable designer. An opportunity to develop design knowledge in a relevant climate and landscape over two weeks. This is a unique course with seven expert teachers and three days of site visits
learning about some of the best designs in the region.
Spaces fill quick! Book in today via the Brogo Permaculture Gardens Website
The Crossing Land on AirBnB
We are open to bookings by family groups when we don’t have school camps or other events. We can host extended family groups up to 20 people. Enjoy summer on the Wilderness Coast @thecrossingland with family and friends.
