The heroic efforts by The Crossing Land Education Trust to inspire youth and develop their leadership skills have been recognised.
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The IMB Bank Community Foundation recently celebrated its 20-year anniversary, and during its celebrations presented the Bermagui not-for-profit environmental education camp with a Community Hero Award.
In the announcement for the awards IMB stated the recognition was for "people whose tireless efforts to support others and persistence to deliver meaningful project outcomes have made a profound difference".
Annette Turner travelled to Canberra for the presentation of the award and said 21 years ago, she and her co-founder of The Crossing Dean Turner arrived at the block outside Bermagui with an idea.
The idea was to create a place where young people could experience a sustainable way of life that was transferable to their everyday that included inspiring journeys in beautiful natural places and meaningful practical conservation work.
"Young people can see a positive way to contribute to their community and to the challenges of climate change by experiencing a sustainable design approach at The Crossing," Ms Turner said.
"With rising anxiety and depression about the state of the planet young people need the chance to experience positive sustainable solutions and learn why it is vital to design them."
She said The Crossing was set up as a not-for-profit trust, gifting the land back in 2006 with the intention that the project would continue long after them.
"With the helping hands of thousands of volunteers and students over many years The Crossing is now a one-class, sustainable camp that develops youth leadership in sustainable design," she said.
"Our sustainable systems make The Crossing a unique camp in Australia."
They have surveyed hundreds of hectares of bush to learn more about the South East koalas and have surprised scientists with some new discoveries.
The participants have planted over 18,000 trees to create a river habitat corridor between two coastal national parks and protected the quality of the Bermagui River at the same time.
They have physically built a great deal of The Crossing camp, particularly its extensive gardens and water treatment systems.
And they have travelled on some amazing journeys experiencing different landscapes and land management practices, such as on the Sea to Snow Trek.
READ MORE: Sea to Snow trekkers set off from Bermagui
