School Camp, University Camp
Permaculture Camp, Sustainable Camp
A sustainable camp with a permaculture design
Welcome to The Crossing Land, a sustainable camp with a permaculture design including landcare and conservation projects.
The Crossing Land hosts outdoor and environmental education experiences for international and domestic students including Duke of Edinburgh journeys and explorations.
Our school camp hosts a single class of 14 to 28 students. Student accommodation is rustic, comfortable and heated in four 1930’s train carriage bunk rooms.
There are separate heated twin share bedrooms for teaching staff.
An additional twin share room is kept in reserve in case a quieter space is needed.
One bedroom is occupied by a Crossing staff member who is on call for night-time assistance.
The camp is available for family groups of 6 or more in the January and April school holidays.
Curriculum links
As a camp with a permaculture design the core ethics of Earth Care, People Care, and Fair Share have been embedded in our programs for 25 years.
These ethics have been recently identified in the Australian Curriculum as crucial for sustainable development. The ethics also enhance wellbeing, inclusion, personal growth and development of caring leadership.
Sustainability is an Australian cross-curriculum priority.
Systems thinking at The Crossing incorporates ecological and social networks of connection.
Students learn about different worldviews and ways of living, the “dependence of living things on healthy ecosystems, and how to value diversity and social justice… essential for achieving sustainability” (Australian Curriculum, Sustainability v.8.4).
In addition, students learn about transformative actions at local, community, and international levels, underpinned by core values, that can improve social, environmental, and economic outcomes.
Students studying agriculture, geography, earth and environment science, food technology, PDHPE, HSIE, outdoor education and tourism will all benefit from hands on learning at The Crossing.
What does a program at The Crossing actually look like?
Programs at The Crossing are built around a combination of the following and are often 5 days although some schools stay with us for 10 day programs.
Permaculture day: based around our organic gardens, food forests, and kitchen, students learn how to reuse materials, work and live on a rural property, utilise our sustainable systems and apply the ethics and principles of permaculture to enhance wellbeing, inclusion, personal growth and caring leadership.
Wilderness Coast Walk: The Crossing is fortunate to be close to some of NSW’s most stunning coastline. We include a wild coast day walk or a coast and camp overnight walk for students to experience wild coastal nature.
Fire-wise landscape design: this is a unique feature of Crossing programs. Our fire-wise landscape design education has been in process since 2014 and has developed further in the wake of the Black Summer Bushfires. Students learn about the ecological impacts of fire, the importance of appropriate fire management, and design strategies to prevent disaster.
Landcare and canoeing: our Woodville Landcare project is mostly across the other side of the Bermagui River! Our Landcare includes canoeing to different parts of the habitat connection project. Students compare the natural forest on one side of the river to the regeneration project and help restore a habitat link between two coastal national parks (the project reached 28000 trees planted by young people at the end of 2024).
Canoe journey to Bermagui: Bermagui is 6km from The Crossing by river. It’s a fantastic nature immersion journey down a beautiful estuary. We recommend this for students from within the Canberra to Wollongong range who can leave The Crossing by canoe on the final morning (approx. 9am) then depart Bermagui by coach (approx. 1pm) to return to school before 5pm.
Adventurous journey: adventurous journeys at The Crossing are usually one, two or three nights of remote camping. This can also be supported by our camping trailer and 4WD. Our qualified and experienced staff facilitate high quality educational experiences. We walk through eucalypt forest, beautiful rainforest gullies, and coastal wilderness as well as visiting the edge of the Black Summer fires to enhance student learning and understanding of climate change. Students learn navigation and develop leadership and teamwork skills (walks are often one quarter to one third off-track but can be largely tracked if desired.)
Sustainability presentations: practical sustainability education is reinforced by a series of age-appropriate presentations on topics such as: climate change, firewise landscape design, permaculture & sustainable design, and habitat regeneration and preservation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book in?
Please contact Dean via our Contact Us page
Do you arrange transport to and from The Crossing?
Transport to and from The Crossing is normally organised by you.
However, we do have 14 seats on our camp minibus and can incorporate a pick up/drop off from public transport into our invoice fee.
V-Line and Premier Motor Service buses from Melbourne and Sydney, come to Bermagui. Buses to Canberra come to Narooma or Bega.
How much do programs cost at The Crossing?
Program cost varies depending on arrival and departure times, pick up point, number of days, meals and other factors. All meals instruction and equipment is $176/day GST inclusive in 2025, this is updated annually.
Please contact Dean via our contact page for a quote
How many teachers need to accompany a group?
Project Director Dean Turner is a qualified teacher and we have qualified and experienced staff to meet appropriate ratios. Most schools send at least one teacher as a school representative to ensure student behavioural standards. Teachers are always half our standard fee.
Is the teacher required to participate?
Crossing staff lead activities to support teachers so they can have time to develop greater insight into their students. We work closely with teachers and appreciate teacher advice about their students. We do things as a community at The Crossing.
We ask that teachers participate where possible, but we also know that everyone needs rest times.
Journeys, campfire stories, L
Unique abilities come to the surface in enjoyable, rewarding and purposeful enterprise at The Crossing Land where all activities and journeys are purposeful and connected through our Landcare and Conservation aims.
Are the The Crossing staff sufficiently trained and experienced?
Yes they are. Crossing staff members meet relevant ratios with appropriate training and experience for the activities, we have qualified teachers, scientists, outdoor recreation certificate holders, permaculturalists, landcarers and remote and wilderness first aid trained staff. Learn more about our staff team here.
How is The Crossing prepared for bushfire and extreme or catastrophic days?
The Crossing Risk Management Plan covers a wide range of scenarios, including
The Crossing has specific procedures to manage bushfire. These procedures have been developed sourcing reference information from the Department of Education and other outdoor education providers.
Extreme and catastrophic fire days are declared by 5 pm on the previous day by the Rural Fire Service (RFS). The school will be informed of
On catastrophic days no students will be at The Crossing or on a journey – they will leave prior to the day and remain off the property for that day – in a safe zone in Bermagui. Young people on a journey will also be taken off that journey before extreme days and returned to the Crossing. Prior to catastrophic
Extreme days will be assessed and a coastal program may be implemented depending on wind directions and timings.
The Crossing has a fire trailer and rooftop sprinklers.
What are the rooms and other spaces like?
teacher and student room pics here from our webpage current camp pics
The Crossing has unique train carraige bunkrooms for students.
- 3 rooms have 4 double bunks ie 8 student beds
- 1 room has 2 double bunks ie 4 student beds
Also there are adjacent rooms for adults and occasionally two students may occupy one room
- 2 adult twin share rooms available for teachers
- 1 twin share for any students that require a quieter space, if needed.
- 1 room has a double bed and is often used by a Crossing staff person who is available in the night should any assistance be required.
There is a nearby community hall with commercial kitchen and covered outdoor learning area. Two bathrooms with two showers in each bathroom are attached to the community hall and available for students
A separate bathroom is available to teachers located under a verandah beside the staff bus house (so use of the bathroom does not affect staff). This is a separate dwelling just below the community hall garden.
There is also a seperate workshop and extensive garden and orchard area with chookhouse.
The Crossing is also available to book for family groups 14+ in school holidays and this includes the staff bus house, see our contact page
