Camp History
Mission: Developing Youth Leadership in Sustainable Design
Core Values: Community Contribution, Responsibility and Active Conservation
‘We imagined a sustainable camp for young people.’
– Dean and Annette Turner, founders
Short History with pics below:
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
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.
2020 Black Summer Fires ‘Fire Edge Road Gatherings’ held at The Crossing leading to Fire Retardant Landscape Design and Cool Burning Preparation Workshops for fire affected people and a Facebook Group ‘The Badja Fire Edge Roads’ to share fire preparation experiences and tips
2021-23 Bushfire Local Economic Recovery design work to improve The Crossing’s fire readiness and provide Fire Recovery workshops, local leadership development and a young adult Aboriginal On-Country training program
