Western Landcare NSW Inc.

Camps for Community Connection and Learning

Community Conservation Conversation Camp pilot project

Self sustenance - LEP23-021-04

The issue

Western Landcare NSW (WLNSW) covers 40% of the state.

With a team of nine Local Landcare Coordinators (LLC), a Regional Administrator Support Officer (RASO) and a Regional Landcare Coordinator (RLC), our team and landcaring stakeholders regularly spend several hours on the road to attend offline meetings or field trips across this vast outback region.

‘Engagement fatigue’ is being named across sectors as the main reason for attendance rates dropping at the many workshops now available to our most remote residents, so we decided to trial an ancient information delivery platform - camping.

The solution

Engaging a range of government, not-for-profit, and private sector services to explore common ground for collaborating on events relevant to Landcare, with leftover funding from the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) Private Land Conservation Matters (PLCM) project, we requested approval to run a pilot project – Community Conversation Camp – Conservation & Biodiversity: What’s happening around the Far West?

Reaching out to National Parks and Wildlife Service, Barkindji elders, Western LLS, the Pastoralists’ Association of West Darling and other landcaring stakeholders, we organised and facilitated a two-day camp to bring everyone together around a campfire at Kinchega National Park near Menindee.

The impact

With a range of diverse presenters coming together around a campfire to discuss conservation, from generational landholders, conservation consultants, rural fire fighters, pest management professionals, to AI technicians from the city, the feedback received has been overwhelmingly positive.

Staring into a campfire while listening to people share created a very relaxed meeting environment, even when controversial topics arose. Some expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to talk about natural resource management while in nature with like-minded people from near and far. 

Learnings

In winter, the campfire becomes the central attraction and gathering place for warmth and connection with community. Diverse presenters offered different learning opportunities for different people. Bush Tucker catering with a tour of the sourced site contributed to conversations about the #1 reason we all continue to care for land: Food. 

Open invitation to partner on Community Conversation Camps

https://www.westernlandcarensw.com.au/ccc25/

Western Landcare NSW is planning a series of Community Conversation Camps at different locations across our vast Western Region.

Camps can focus on any theme you like - Carp Catching, Rehydrating Rangelands, Muster Dog Training, or Caring for Landholders... just choose your topic and get in touch with our team!

Family-friendly camps for landholders, land managers and landcarers intend to:

  • Bring remote residents together for fun, informative activities and meetings in nature.
  • Invite local businesses and organisations to co-design and co-host a range of outback adventures for all ages.
  • Provide professional facilitation for attendees to ask questions and share diverse perspectives.
  • Create offline community engagement opportunities that help family members to re-connect and meet other families.
  • Explore the latest science on the health benefits of taking time in nature with others.
  • Provide guided tours around our best National Parks and areas of conservation.
  • Present traditional stories from the land and the stars!
  • Support local entertainers – live music, bush poetry and more…
  • Support local caterers – including bush tucker (where available).

Author: Melanie Gates

Key facts

  • Camping allows time and space for people to ‘unplug’ from screens
  • A campfire serves as the ‘screen’ to stare into as people share information about nature
  • Camping brings people back-to-basics with a greater appreciation for food, water and shelter
  • Spending time in nature helps to build understanding and connection with flora and fauna
  • ‘Nature prescriptions’ are now mainstream – time in nature can improve holistic health

Project Partners