Engaging Young People with the Mountains

September 2022 update

by Kay Weltz, Director Wollangarra

It has been a wonderfully busy winter at Wollangarra this year, as we have run every community event and program on our Calendar. What a welcome change to the last few years!

Around the homestead flats many projects have reached completion, including the building of a new tractor trailer, mug shelf and a re-do of the garden. Two new lambs Havre joined our heard of dorper sheep as well as some new chickens. Having eggs from our chickens, vegetables/greens growing in the garden and lambs from the property for our legendary programs Thursday night ‘lamb stew’ is allowing us to showcase to young people visiting what it is like to live in a sustainable way off the land.

Our community events, including Wood chop and garden Party were well attended and it was wonderful to see the community come together to share stories around the bonfire, chop wood and fill the woodsheds and work together to establish some new raised garden beds and plant spring and summer seedlings in the ‘Wollangarden’.

Most importantly, being sable to host all the young people on our school and Holiday programs has been fantastic. We have just finished 6 weeks of back-to-back programs, super busy but super awesome getting so many young people ingot the mountains. Stage 2 Holiday crew even got to chase some snow in the High Country this winter and go tobogganing, what fun. As always we provide ample down time for young people to truly connect to nature around them, themselves and each other, fostering a deep love and appreciation for the natural world and life itself, and highlighting the importance of being a part of an all-inclusive community.

Spring has sprung and the fruit trees are in blossom, the wattles yellow blooms can be seen far and wide along the river and distant mountain valleys and happiness is in the air at Wollangarra! Thanks once again for all the support from GlobalGiving which helps us make this magic possible!