Join a fun, family-friendly community day to learn all about river health!

Winter riveryouthfest is on Saturday 17th August at the Bellingen Skatepark. Join us to get involved in local science initiatives and learn about the importance of river health. We aim to inspire science in young people and the wider community, while sharing the ways that science helps protect our environment.

The event will feature Gumbaynggirr welcome and dancers, guest speakers, musical performances and interactive citizen science activities by the river. Activities are targeted at young people but we encourage everyone to come down and enjoy what’s on offer!

Members from the Gumbaynggirr community will commence the event with cultural activities. Andrew Turbill, a local environmental educator and wildlife naturalist with a background in conservation science, will give a keynote presentation sharing insights on local ecosystems. 

Join a community riverbank restoration workshop, where people will come together to weed and mulch. We will mulch the 300 trees established at the community tree planting event of April 2024 riveryouthfest. Learn aboutriparian ecosystems and their importance for river health. 

OzGREEN will host a macroinvertabrate exploration tent. Participants will learn all about waterbug sampling techniques and the significance of these incredible little creatures to our waterways.

Join a series of games hosted by OzGREEN’s Youth Facilitators and Bellingen Riverwatch volunteers. Play ‘waterbug bingo’ and ‘mystery waterbug’! The team will provide self-paced learning resources for people to work through by themselves if they'd prefer.

Learn how to take part in future Bellingen Riverwatch projects such as water testing and riparian management.

The full program for riveryouthfest is yet to be annouced. Stay tuned at www.ozgreen.org/riveryouthfest. 

This initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia as part of National Science Week.