Riverfest Dance with the Birrarung

Connect to the river paddling gentle moving water

Collaborate for your well-being, the Yarra and the Melbourne community.
In Collaboration with the Birrarung

Practice ecological thinking floating on the Birrarung.   Through the prism of Birds and Fish,  learn to use relationships to find joy playing with forces beyond our direct control.   See the lifeblood of our city with new eyes.

A great antidote to our phone addictions.

Low fitness level required.  Just enthusiasm and the ability to kneel in a raft ( like an ergonomic chair)

Location :   The Birrarung just upstream of the Warrandyte Bridge

Duration: 90 min

Prepare:    Dress for the conditions, spray jacket,  shoes to get wet, keep cup, good energy and open minds.

On The Day,

We will gather and connect with ourselves, each other and this place.   Derek will present a relational approach to accessing and connecting the river through the medium of the paddle.  We will begin our dance on the Birrarung upstream of the Warrandyte bridge.  When we are feeling confident the group will negotiate its path downstream.

Pull out before Pound Bend.

After the activity we will all take a 20 min stroll back to the starting point.

All paddling gear and safety provided.

Bring shoes that can get wet.

This event is part of the 2024 Birrarung Riverfest. Celebrate our river at one of 30+ events being hosted over three weeks from 1 - 22 September. Whether you enjoy riverside walks, cleanups or paddling adventures, there’s something for everyone at Riverfest.
Riverfest is presented. by the Yarra Riverkeeper Association. Check out the full program at www.riverfest.org.au

The whole of life is coming to terms with yourself and the natural world. Why are you here? How do you fit in? What is it all about?

David Attenborough

Benefits For clean up Paddlers

Individuals

  • Skill development and teamwork
  • Increased satisfaction
  • Environmental awareness and appreciation
  • Local community involvement

For your local Yarra and local community

  • Helping to protect and care for an invaluable environmental resource that contributes to the health and wellbeing of Melbourne
  • Promote a healthy river corridor for the Melbourne community
  • Help tackle climate change
  • Build healthy, resilient habitats for Victoria’s beloved animals
  • Support the health of more than human worlds

Melbourne based Education Outdoors to support community, organisations and Schools

  • Expeditions
  • Paddling
  • White Water Paddling
  • Cleanps
  • Sailing
  • Leadership

Up the Creek journeys can lead to:

  • Engaging with nature as a collaborator
  • Thriving and finding joy working with forces beyond our direct control
  • Reduced risk in the present - inoculate against risky behaviour in the future
  • Transformed capacity to learn for improved productivity
  • Creating lifelong connections to self, nature and others
  • Overcoming blockages to learning
  • Building authentic self-directed learning

Join us, come collaborate with nature!