A bold local creative initiative is calling on young East Gippslanders to help co-design a more connected, fun, and regenerative future for the region’s iconic coastal tracks and trails.
Far from a standard beach clean-up or classroom workshop, the upcoming four-day event series will combine wellbeing, ecology, and creativity to turn a portion of the Lakes Entrance trail network into a living, interactive demonstration site.
Organisers are inviting young people aged between 15 and 25 from Lakes Entrance and surrounding areas to secure their spots for the intensive school holiday program, which runs from next Monday, July 6 to Thursday, July 9. Participants will work alongside local artists, systemic thinkers, and regenerative practitioners to experiment, design, and build real-world solutions.
The initiative kicks off on Monday, July 6, from 10am to 3pm at GLaWAC
Forestec with an event open to the entire community. Attendees will take part in an “Imagi-nation” session and a screening of the film Imagine, featuring Jack Bancroft from AIME in collaboration with FLOAT and the Regen
Gippsland community.
From Tuesday onward, the program shifts focus entirely to local youth. On July 7, participants will meet at 8.30am at the Slipway Sheds before embarking on a collaborative walk to Bullock Island. The trek will serve as a brainstorming session to identify how the trail can be enhanced for young people and families, with the group returning to the Iceworks to begin building their concepts.
On Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9, action moves entirely to the Iceworks from 10am to 4pm daily. The cohort will prototype their ideas and create art and music using salvaged ocean debris and waste. The standout creations and design concepts have the potential to be permanently installed along the trail at a future community event.
Organisers say the ultimate goal is to enhance the interactive factor of the trail, driving up visitation for locals and tourists alike while fostering a thriving, resilient future for the region’s youth.
Due to the hands-on nature of the design and prototyping sessions, places are strictly limited. Young people interested in walking, imagining, and creating are encouraged to register early to ensure they do not miss out.
