Willunga Environment Centre Inc

YACCA is an environmental youth group that teaches young people about the environment and conservation. It connects youth with community groups and environmental organisations across SA and Australia, and allows young people to lead and participate in impactful environmental projects.

The group was founded by the Willunga Environment Centre in 2014 because of a need for young people to have an environmental education and input in their community. This need was identified when a school program, Enviro Kids, run by Karen Lawrence saw that environmental education was strong in Primary Schools, but lost in the High School Curriculum. She had discussions with Janine Anninos at WEC and a concept was formed.

It is built with the intention to be not only for young people, but run by young people; Saskia was contracted to run YACCA, and is now employed directly by the WEC. She has been pivitol to its founding success, and brought many innovationg ideas and programs. As YACCA graduates get older they take on a leadership role and teach newer members. YACCA creates an outlet where young people can connect to environmental projects in a meaningful way: young people learn about environmental issues both locally and globally, and have the tools and opportunities to make an impact in their community. By empowering our young people with these skills and opportunities, we are not only instilling positive environmental habits, but also ensuring that young people grow up with a sense of connection to their natural environment as well as have much-needed experience to complete study and be workplace-ready.

Here's what Skye said about how YACCA has helped her in her career:

YACCA’s activities so far have included:

Animal trapping and handling Flora and fauna surveys  Plant identification workshops Bandicoot project Willunga Basin Plant Book Water testing and creek health Camps at Arid Recovery Roxby Downs; Cape Otway, Victoria; Ngarkat Conservation Park Stipiturus Swamp planting days McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project plantings, weed control, other local projects Revegetation Pygmy Possum Box installation at Deep Creek Conservation Park Coastal surveys Training in caring for sick and injured wildlife Developing Nature Play locations Creating management plans Seed collection and propagation Creekline restoration at Stipiturus Conservation Park with Nature Glenelg Trust Removal of invasive plants from sites

Supporting young people from age 8 to 18, YACCA encourages working with the community to teach environmental sustainability. It not only allows members to reach strong educational outcomes, but also influences the community to include and value the opinion of young people and their capabilities within the environmental field.

To date, YACCA has worked closely with community groups including:

Support from the Willunga Environment Centre Trees For Life Natural Resource Centres Landcare Local Council Landscapes SA Reefwatch Fleurieu Birds The Native Animal Network and Fauna Rescue Arid Recovery, Roxby Downs Otway Conservation Park and the Conservation Centre for Ecology Tatachilla Eco Classroom McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project Nature Glenelg Trust

Achievements

In its seven year history YACCA has been nominated and won a number of awards and recognitions. Highlights include being highly commended for the 2015 Junior Landcare Team; winning the 2018 City of Onkaparinga Environment Award; winning the 2019 South Australian Landcare Young Leader Award; nominated for the 2021 Landcare Australian Young Leader Award; received a $40 000 grant to commence 2020-21 project work with a focus on cultural significance at the Aldinga Washpool.

YACCA members have also been awarded Young Achiever Awards for Environment, Conservation Council young leader awards, and numerous community recognitions. 

For further information on YACCA, contact our team at:

Email:  (our new, new email address!! - don't worry, ones to our old one will be redirected!) 

Phone the Willunga Environment Centre (for a message to be passed on): 08 8556 4188