Empowering the next generation to love and care for our natural world is a powerful resource. Through the books we celebrate and the stories we champion here at The Wainwright Prize, we hope to draw in a new audience of readers to the magic of the planet we inhabit.
“Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires a seismic shift – which can only happen if we empower young people and work with them as equals.” – António Guterre, UN Secretary-General
Across the country, there are incredible organisations doing just that. Through community programmes, woodland residentials or skills courses, there are lots of ways young people can get involved and learn about nature. Looking for summer holiday activities, or something to sign up for yourself? Here are 5 great youth nature organisations…
The Wilderness Foundation UK harnesses the power of the wilderness and nature to transform vulnerable lives and empowers people, in return, to conserve nature. They offer nature-based outreach programmes, environmental education, nature therapy camps, and wilderness trails that enable adults and youth to explore unspoilt wild places in the UK, Europe, and South Africa.
Their aims include using the outdoors, nature and wilderness experiences to bring about measurable, positive change and improved mental health within disadvantaged and vulnerable young people and adults, enabling them to lead a healthy and active life and improve their personal sustainability, independence, belonging, self-esteem and resilience.
They also work to preserve wild spaces and engender an enduring love of nature, through education and direct experience for everyone, with conservation volunteering experience, gaining practical tools and skills.
Based in Bristol, The Birch Collective is a social enterprise that was founded in response to the sense of acute isolation many people were experiencing whilst social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Their founding belief was that the isolation people were experiencing could be combatted effectively via the development of connections with the natural world, and spending time in a community of people with a shared interest in being outdoors and learning a range of practical skills, from traditional craft and handwork to ecologically sensitive food growing and conservation techniques.
They built an online community (Regenerate) of young adults via referrals from youth mental health services and voluntary sector organisations, and encouraged discussion of, and reflection upon, nature and community.
They run a weekly in-person engagement group called Fresh Air Thursdays, where you can expect anything from foraging walks and natural craft, organic food growing to natural building and cookery. They also run an immersive woodland camp, 1-1 mentoring sessions and more.
Established in 1941, The Outward Bound Trust is an educational charity working to unlock the potential of young people through discovery and adventure in the wild. It runs courses at residential centres in the Lake District and beyond.
They partner with schools, colleges, employers and youth groups to teach the most important lesson they could ever learn: to believe in themselves.
Trying to break down financial barriers that may prevent young people from accessing recourses, over 80% of their attendees receive funding to take part in courses. Their goal is to empower all young people to succeed; for themselves, their communities and society.
Society needs young people who are self-aware, confident, and resilient and who can thrive in a fast-moving, digital, and uncertain world. So Outward Bound equips young people with the skills and capabilities to realise their potential and positively contribute to their schools, workplaces and communities.
The leading UK youth movement calling for urgent action on the nature crisis, UK Youth4Nature’s mission is to mobilise and empower young people to seek and call for decisive action on nature and wildlife in the UK. Protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystems in the UK is vital for multitudinous reasons, least of all for addressing climate change, for our physical and mental health, and for the long-term resilience of our societies.
Through young people’s actions, platforming and uniting youth voices, and training the next generation of environmental leaders, their ultimate vision is to increase the visibility of nature in all decision-making, raise political awareness about the loss of nature and wildlife in the four countries of the UK, and secure a more nature-filled future.
They aim to do this through building public, evidence-led, and creative projects that call for urgent action to address the loss of nature and wildlife – from all parts of society, but particularly from politicians at all levels.
The Youth Environmental Service is a new programme, creating opportunities for young people from across the UK to spend a year working on paid, nature-based projects where they can build new skills, make new connections, and save the environment, all at the same time.
As one of the least diverse workforces in the country, the environmental sector needs new, accessible and inclusive pathways. Y.E.S allows young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds to build valuable skills and practical experience as a stepping stone to a fulfilling career.
From planting trees to building natural flood defences, protecting our marine environments and creating green spaces in our cities and towns, trainees have opportunities to learn new skills in a variety of different environments, building confidence and networks that will set them up for a rewarding and productive future.