New peer reviewed research has reinforced something central to Landcare NT’s mission. When young people spend guided time in nature, they build confidence, strengthen connections and deepen their understanding of the places they live. The study found that small group activities, consistent program delivery and hands-on learning in natural settings can support meaningful improvements in wellbeing for participants aged 12-17.
Creating Spaces for Learning and Connection
For Landcare NT, these findings highlight the value of the guided, place-based learning opportunities we help make accessible across the Territory. As the peak body for community Landcare, we create spaces where people can learn together, share stories and build trust through practical action in nature. This reflects our purpose of caring for both people and place, and our belief that environmental stewardship is most powerful when it is social, inclusive and grounded in local knowledge.
Programs such as BioEd and Creek Connections put this approach into practice. BioEd offers practical, place-based learning experiences that help young people discover the ecosystems around them. Creek Connections offers guided opportunities for young people and community members to connect with creek systems through creative, scientific and cultural learning activities. Both programs provide the structured, supportive environments highlighted in the study, helping participants build ecological literacy and strengthen their connections to local places.
The research affirms the value of continuing to invest in community-based learning. By bringing people together in nature, we honour a long history of grassroots actions, nurture emerging stewards and support the kind of shared understanding that strengthens communities for the long term.
Strengthening Community Connections
The first edition of our Creek Connections publication, now available with its program of events, strengthens the community connections and learning pathways that this research identifies as essential. By nurturing these connections early, we help young people become part of the long, ongoing story of caring for our landscapes and the communities they sustain.
