YACCA
Youth And Community in Conservation Action
YACCA is an environmental youth group that teaches young people about the protection of the
environment. It connects youth with community groups and encourages the development of projects
that protect and maintain environmental welfare.
The group started in the Willunga Environment Centre due to a need for young people to have an environmental education
and input in their community. YACCA aimed create an outlet where young people can connect to environmental projects in a
way that allows them to learn about environmental issues, make a positive contribution and feel a sense of worth and
importance. By empowering the youth with these skills we are not only instilling positive environmental habits, we are ensuring
that young people grow up with a sense of connection to their natural environment.
YACCA’s activities so far have included:
• Animal trapping and handling
• Flora and fauna surveys
• Plant identification workshops
• Water testing
• Camps at Arid Recovery Roxby Downs and Cape Otway, Victoria
• Re-vegetation
• Coastal surveys
• Training in caring for sick and injured wildlife
• Developing Nature Play locations
• Creating management plans
• Seed collection
• Propagation
• Removal of invasive plants from sites
• Fish trapping for mountain galaxious
• Hosting a mock Climate Conference
YACCA continually encourages working with the community to teach youth about environmental sustainability. It not
only allows members to reach educational outcomes but also influences the community to include and value the
opinion of young people and their capabilities within the environmental field.
Currently YACCA has worked closely with community groups such as:
• The Willunga Environment Centre
• Natural Resource Centres
• Trees for Life,
• Landcare,
• Local landholders,
• Local councils
• The NRM
• Reefwatch
• Fleurieu Birds,
• The Native Animal Network and Fauna Rescue
• Arid Recovery
• The Conservation Centre for Ecology
For further information on YACCA contact Saskia at
saskia.gerhardy@hotmail.com