AABR Fest II - Return of the Regenerators is a spring gathering for bush regenerators and all those interested in ecological restoration to learn and connect with one another. AABR Fest is an opportunity to connect with the wider bush regeneration community, forge new connections and rekindle old friendships. This family friendly event offers a rejuvenating, enlightening and entertaining experience at the Scout Camp Kariong, on the Central Coast of NSW.

Kariong Scout Camp is situated in Sydney Coastal Sandstone Bloodwood Shrub Forest, Northern Sydney Scribbly Gum Woodland, Northern Sydney Sandstone Rockplate Shrubland and Lower North Ranges Turpentine Moist Forest further down the catchment.

Established in 1986, AABR has played a vital role in promoting high-quality ecological restoration across Australia. Last year the inaugural AABR Fest, held at Topi Topi, reflected these commitments to advancing the industry by offering an exciting array of activities, engaging presentations and immersive workshops. AABR Fest II - Return of the Regenerators is on building on best from AABR Fest.

The program

More activities and details as they come to hand will be on the AABR FestII Program page.

The draft program of the AABR Festivities is available.

Engaging Talks and Workshops

Learn about Native and Invasive bush tucker with local legend Jake Cassar.
Experience an introduction to Aboriginal cultural heritage on the Central Coast
Experience the nightlife with a guided spotlight tour and presentation courtesy of Jayden Walsh
Join plant ID expert, Paul Gadsby, for an informal session where you can BYO gum nuts to ID
iNaturalist talk and presentation about Duck River flora and iNaturalist software by Thomas Mesaglio.
Learn about microbats and their role in restoration with Aleksei Atkin.
An important workshop and collaborative brainstorm with Paul Cannings on the importance of Butterflies in our community and how best we can support their comeback within our modern world
The restoration of below ground biodiversity is still a mystery box which Vanessa McPherson will open up for you
Explore the diverse botanical treasures of the Sydney Sandstone Forest surrounding the festival site
Get hands-on with a Steamweeder demonstration by inventor Jeremy Winer.
Get the lowdown on Weedlings and Seedlings with Rusty Linnane, addressing the frequent misidentification of weedlings and endemic seedlings in sub-tropical Australi
Bring your binoculars to explore the birdlife with Ross Rapmund
Discover the influence of geology on vegetation communities with John Martyn.
Hear Tim Baker's thoughts on Time v's Outcomes, staying focused on what's important.
Open your senses with a rainforest ID walk led by Scott Meier
The recent happenings at the Great Koala Park will be shared by Dee Wanis
Ian Allen from the Royal Botanic Gardens will discuss the evolving role of modern botanic gardens in conservation
Discover Native Bee Habitat, Behaviour, ID with Griffin Pickard.
Join an enlightening panel discussion sharing the various career pathways that the competent bush regenerator can travel along
Be captivated by the wisdom and knowledge of the AABR President, Peter Dixon as he shares his insights on 50 years of Bush Regen
Learn about the recent happenings and hopes for AABR at the Annual General Meeting
Unleash your creativity with Bush Crafts led by Tash and Aina
Kids can enjoy the Bush Kids Zone with nature-inspired activities hosted by Bec from Raw and Unearthed.
- and the scout camp activities and equipment*

Social activities

Start your day with Yoga for the Early Birds
End Saturday Night with The Strides for the night owls, along with Rollie, DJ BeeKind, Almost toast, and DJ Blistered Tentacles
Test your knowledge at Bush Regeneration Trivia with fun prizes! Exciting prizes on offer for the group that knows their bush regen business
Showcase your talent at AABR Idol and Open Mic - lyrics welcome for bush regen inspired songs, poetry or interpretative dance around a bush regen theme of your choosing performed to an admiring crowd
Get involved in the campsite iNaturalist challenge...prizes
Experience the thrill of spotlighting for nocturnal animals.
Share meals with fellow nature lovers during communal dining and the Saturday Sizzley.
Sit around a campfire and engage in fascinating and inspiring conversation with like-minded mortals
Don’t miss this chance to connect with nature and like-minded individuals in a beautiful setting. Bring your friends and family for a weekend filled with fun, learning, and unforgettable memories!
Enjoy the various walks available on the Scout Camp property*

*Scout Camp Activities and Equipment

Activities and equipment available around the camp include bush walks, aboriginal carvings, a compass course, a glide ride, a small obstacle course, construction poles, two small swimming water holes, a campfire circle and a bush chapel. The Glide Ride must be supervised by an adult at each end whenever in use.

Arrival

Gate times for entering the festival are as follows;

Friday noon - 7pm.
Saturday 7am - 4pm.

Please ensure that the Main Gate into the Camp is closed at all times - even if you are only dropping someone off – The Camp is not as isolated as it seems and members of the public continually take the chance to come and have a look around if the main gate is left open.

Please ensure that you park your car rear in when parking in the car park. This is to ensure that if there is a need to evacuate the Camp it is easy to do so.

Accommodation

There is limited capacity for dormitory lodgings please email whatson@aabr.org.au if a bed is required.

There will be plenty of camping options available. There is no vehicle access to the actual campsites. Please park in the car park and use the trolleys to move your personal gear to and from the sites.

Property Facilities

The Scout Centre buildings include 80 seat dining hall, fully equipped commercial style kitchen
All of the water is supplied by a creek fed dam. It is filtered and sterilised and very safe to drink
Shared toilet and shower amenities.

The Camp Environment

We are aiming for a Leave No Trace Event. Please minimise your effect. Do not damage plants, trees or any of the wildlife or to leave any rubbish around the grounds whatsoever. To protect the area, and your children, there is no vehicle access to the campsites and buildings. Vehicles must stay in the carpark. Personal gear can be walked into Camp using the trolleys provided. Only a couple of cars with the main food or activity equipment for your stay will be allowed up to the buildings. No domestic pets are allowed in the Camp.

Glass Bottles & Return and Earn

Please do not bring any glass bottles into the Camp. The glass bottles seem to end up in the campfires and they do not melt. The bottle tops end up all over the Camp. If you bring these into Camp ensure all goes in the Return and Earn bins.

Swimming

Swimming may be available in the small water holes, one next to the dam and the other ten minutes’ walk into Brisbane Waters National Park (ask for directions). Shoes should be worn whilst swimming for your own protection. If there has been no rain at the Camp for a long period of time the water holes may be stagnant so please check with the Camp Supervisor .

Getting there

The Camp is surrounded by Brisbane Waters National Park

The property is accessible via well-maintained all-weather gravel roads.

1 hour 30 minutes drive south of Newcastle
1 hour drive north of Sydney

AABRFest is a community-run event. If you would like to contribute by offering a workshop, assisting with setup or pack down, or participating in event operations, please reach out to Charlie whatson@aabr.org.au

Check in on the AABR Event page for more details

Join the bush regen community at AABR Fest to celebrate the achievements and ongoing efforts of bush regenerators across the generations as they contribute to the future of biodiversity restoration and protection.

AABR acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Custodians throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

We pay our respects to the Elders past and present and future, for they hold the memories, traditions, culture and hopes of Indigenous peoples across the nation.

Treeserve for providing our fire wood

Our promotional partner

The program

Engaging Talks and Workshops

Social activities

Businesses and Organisations supporting AABR Fest