Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) staff and key stakeholders recently took part in a Skills Development Camp at Hiltaba Nature Reserve in the Gawler Ranges, facilitated by the Nature Foundation.
The four-day camp, which was funded through a BHP grant, was designed to give Kokatha staff and people the skills, confidence, and cultural grounding to run our very own junior ranger style programs, supporting young Kokatha people to learn about culture, conservation, and caring for Country.
Through storytelling, reflection, and hands-on learning, participants explored cultural-first environmental education, practical conservation tools, and youth mentoring strategies.
The newly established Kokatha Rangers attended the camp and will play key roles, alongside KAC’s Community Engagement Team, in leading future youth camps on Kokatha Country.
It was a very special moment when Kokatha Ranger Zak Johnson-Thomas saw a photo of himself as a child attending Nature Foundation’s first ever Kids on Country camp.
Now he’s learning to lead future camps on Kokatha Country. Check out the shot of Zak standing in front of the picture of him as a child.
A huge thank you to Katie Perry and the Nature Foundation for helping strengthen skills, confidence, and partnerships.
The first KAC-led youth camp will be held in April 2026. If you have any ideas for how you’d like it to be run, or if you would like to be involved, please reach out to Jarrad Edwards at 
jarrad.edwards@kokatha.com.au or 
0424 244 408.
jarrad.edwards@kokatha.com.au or 0424 244 408.
