Arbury Park Leadership Camp 2023
In mid-April, Green Adelaide Education ran the annual Youth Environment Council of SA (YEC) Leadership Camp at Arbury Park Outdoor School (APOS) in the Adelaide Hills. APOS provided the perfect backdrop for YEC mentors and students to increase their skills in leadership, team building and project planning. The surrounding environments, including interconnected wetlands and native woodland, enabled the YEC students to participate in hands-on experiences and connect with nature.
Forty-three students were involved in both outdoor and indoor activities with the aims of building their skills as young changemakers, linking explicit learning to real world practice, and developing and planning the environmental projects they’ll carry out as part of their involvement in the YEC. Student projects are based around sustainability issues they’re passionate about in their school, local community or more widely. Among the wide range of topics they hope to tackle with their projects are revegetating to increase biodiversity; educating others about climate change; waste recovery at school; establishing a native food garden; creating a community garden; and protecting local wildlife.
Staff from Green Adelaide Education and APOS collaborated to deliver a program that actively encouraged the students to connect with nature, challenge themselves and think deeply about their goals. A highlight was a presentation around the campfire from First Nations storyteller and educator Trent Hill. YEC members learnt about Aboriginal culture and connection to Country; were shown various tools and discovered their uses; and were treated to a traditional story and animal sounds played on the Yidaki (didgeridoo).
Other camp highlights included orienteering; a night frog walk; Landcare along Cox Creek; hearing from others about their experiences volunteering, bushwalks and building new friendships. The YEC will continue to meet and connect online, while working on their environmental projects, ready to share at our end of year event in November.
Forty-three students were involved in both outdoor and indoor activities with the aims of building their skills as young changemakers, linking explicit learning to real world practice, and developing and planning the environmental projects they’ll carry out as part of their involvement in the YEC. Student projects are based around sustainability issues they’re passionate about in their school, local community or more widely. Among the wide range of topics they hope to tackle with their projects are revegetating to increase biodiversity; educating others about climate change; waste recovery at school; establishing a native food garden; creating a community garden; and protecting local wildlife.
Staff from Green Adelaide Education and APOS collaborated to deliver a program that actively encouraged the students to connect with nature, challenge themselves and think deeply about their goals. A highlight was a presentation around the campfire from First Nations storyteller and educator Trent Hill. YEC members learnt about Aboriginal culture and connection to Country; were shown various tools and discovered their uses; and were treated to a traditional story and animal sounds played on the Yidaki (didgeridoo).
Other camp highlights included orienteering; a night frog walk; Landcare along Cox Creek; hearing from others about their experiences volunteering, bushwalks and building new friendships. The YEC will continue to meet and connect online, while working on their environmental projects, ready to share at our end of year event in November.
