With Country Camp
A unique cultural learning and leadership experience on Yiradyuri Country
The With Country Camp is an immersive, place based learning experience held on Southern West Yiradyuri Country at The Rock in New South Wales. Designed and delivered by Southern West Yiradyuri Clans Land, Water and Sky Country Aboriginal Corporation, the camp provides a safe, guided and deeply meaningful opportunity to learn directly from Yiradyuri Elders, Knowledge Holders, and community leaders on Country.
This program strengthens cultural understanding, builds respectful relationships, and supports participants to develop a genuine connection to place. It is suitable for universities, research centres, corporate leadership programs, and organisations seeking high quality cultural learning that is responsive, grounded, and led by community.
Why Choose the With Country Camp
Learning with Country, not just about Country
The camp is centred on cultural protocols, shared learning, and two way knowledge exchange. Through guided activities, storytelling, reflection, and practical participation, groups build real insight into the cultural, environmental, historical and contemporary significance of Yiradyuri Country.
Key outcomes include:
Deepened understanding of Aboriginal cultural values, histories, and obligations to Country
Strengthened cultural capability for staff, students, and leadership teams
Genuine connection and relationship building with Yiradyuri people
Transformative learning that supports personal growth and organisational change
Practical experiences that support research, education, and on Country engagement
Pathways for long term partnership and collaboration
What Participants Experience
Each camp is designed with the needs of the partner organisation in mind. A typical program may include:
- Welcome to Country and cultural orientation with Elders
- Yiradyuri cultural narratives connected to landscape and place
- Guided walks across significant areas, including plant and tree identification
- Time with Knowledge Holders to learn about caring for Country
- Hands on activities such as string making, bush knowledge, or cultural skills
- Yarning circles and reflective learning sessions
Shared meals prepared on site that support community involvement
Optional learning activities that support research, education, or project outcomes
The camp is delivered at the SW Yiradyuri property near Kengal Aboriginal Place. This landscape holds important cultural stories and is home to threatened and culturally significant species. It is also the site of the Corporation’s growing nursery and environmental projects, which participants may contribute to depending on the program design.
Recent Camp: A Growing Partnership with Universities
Southern West Yiradyuri Corporation recently partnered with the University of Melbourne to pilot a With Country Camp for students and staff across Research, Conservation, from the Grimwade Centre. Participants engaged deeply in cultural learning and supported activities such as plant identification, data collection, and discussions about how this work may connect to teaching, research, and cultural heritage management.
The camp generated significant interest from academic staff and leaders. It has opened discussions about embedding this experience as a component of future university subjects or research partnerships.
Some images from the latest camp are displayed on this page to give a sense of the experience.
Program Streams Designed for Your Needs
The With Country Camp is offered through two distinct streams that respond to the different needs of universities, education providers, corporates and professional organisations. Each stream is co designed with you to ensure learning outcomes, expectations and cultural integrity are aligned from the outset.
This stream is designed for higher education institutions seeking a structured and academically aligned On Country learning experience.
It can be delivered as a stand alone subject, micro credential, intensive block or integrated into an existing subject. Learning outcomes, assessments and academic expectations are tailored with course coordinators to meet accreditation or disciplinary requirements.
Typical partners include faculties, research centres, field based subjects, Professional Experience units, Indigenous Studies programs, and schools exploring country based pedagogy.
The program builds knowledge logically across each day of the Camp, creating a cumulative learning experience where Country, culture and theory come together in practice. This gives students a clear, scaffolded progression in understanding Yiradyuri Country and culturally informed environmental, historical and community knowledge.
This stream supports organisations seeking cultural capability development, team leadership experiences or community grounded professional learning.
Programs are co designed to align with organisational goals which may include cultural awareness, ethical engagement, leadership development, reconciliation commitments, community relations, environment and sustainability, or staff wellbeing. Each day of the Camp builds on the previous day with intentional learning focuses that deepen reflection, understanding and connection to Country.
This is a strong option for executive teams, corporate groups, government agencies, NGOs, service providers and industry bodies who want an authentic immersion that has real impact and lasting insight.
Begin a Conversation with Us
If you would like to explore how the With Country Camp can be tailored for your institution or organisation, we welcome a conversation.
We will work with you to design a program that meets your goals, your learning outcomes and your responsibilities to Country.
Contact us at: https://yiradyuri.au/with-country-camp-enquiry/
Recent With Country Camp Images
Student reflections during our recent camp
FAQ
Who is the Camp Is For?
The With Country Camp is designed for a wide range of groups, including universities, higher education providers, research centres, corporate leadership teams, government agencies, and industry bodies. It is ideal for organisations that want a genuine, community led cultural capability experience. Programs can be tailored for small leadership groups through to larger student or staff cohorts, depending on your goals and the duration of the camp.
How does the Corporation work in partnership with organisations?
Engaging with the Southern West Yiradyuri Corporation supports Yiradyuri Elders and Knowledge Holders, strengthens community led economic development, and contributes to cultural heritage responsibilities and caring for Country. Your organisation will be part of building long term, respectful partnerships that focus on shared outcomes. The Corporation delivers high quality learning experiences that are culturally safe, well organised, and aligned with the needs of each partner.
How do we express interest in organising a camp?
We welcome enquiries from universities, businesses, research institutes, and organisations interested in cultural learning or long term partnership development. To discuss a With Country Camp for your organisation, submit an expression of interest through the online contact form. We will work with you to develop a program that meets your needs. We look forward to welcoming you to Yiradyuri Country.
What practical information do we need to know about costs, logistics, and planning?
All practical details such as costs and pricing, duration and scheduling, what to bring, accommodation and facilities, safety and risk management, accessibility, and custom program design are discussed directly with clients during the booking process. We tailor each camp to the needs of the group and in line with Yiradyuri values and expectations, and ensure all requirements are clearly outlined and agreed in advance. Once you make an enquiry, we will walk you through everything you need to know.
Walk With Country. Learn With Elders. Grow Together.
An immersive, community led learning experience on Yiradyuri Country that strengthens cultural capability, deepens understanding, and builds lasting partnerships.