BTO Youth Appeal
Young people are the future of BTO.
In 2024 BTO Youth is planning to engage more young people with nature, sharing the wonder of birds, and investing in the future of conservation.
BTO Youth focuses on identifying and removing barriers young people face in engaging with nature and birds, enabling more people to benefit
“I have become more confident and gained an array of skills from the opportunities provided to me by BTO Youth”
Engaging with nature has benefits for mental and physical health and stimulates and develops skills such as independence and confidence
Childhood has moved on
“Childhoods are now very different to how they were half a century ago. Technology has delivered many advantages, but many children spend hours glued to screens instead of exploring the outside world.
In a technology-driven world I feel it is more important than ever that we connect with young people and show them how they can benefit from engaging with nature.”
How BTO Youth is making a difference to young lives
In 2023 we engaged over 2,000 young people through youth-led events, Bird Camps, our Equipment Donation Scheme, and through supporting young people with resources and funding. The Youth Advisory Panel oversees all our work and is directly responsible for all our successes.
If you would like to support this work, please give today.
Your donation will support young people across the UK
Youth Representatives are trained and supported to organise events online or in their communities including youth-led guided bird walks and the online video series Nature Natters.
The Equipment Donation Scheme encourages more young people to become involved with birdwatching by sending second-hand binoculars, telescopes and birdwatching equipment to young people, schools, and youth groups.
Bird Camps reach young people in all four UK countries and are free of charge. The Camps are three-day residentials, held in a natural setting, to help young people aged 11–17 to access nature and develop their birdwatching skills.
“Being a Youth Rep has boosted my confidence and helped me develop new skills, and I am very proud to join BTO as an employee and play my part in achieving our goals.”
Kate Fox
“Thank you so much for sending me the binoculars. I was so excited to receive them and have been using them every day. I started birdwatching properly in January during the lockdown and it made me so happy.”
Ravi
“Bird Camp was an amazing and unique experience, the birds were great and the people even more so! Going there lets you connect with people like you who otherwise you might never meet.”
Bird Camp attendee
“BTO Youth is part of our present and our future and we will strive to ensure that Youth Volunteers build skills, experience and friendships through working with us.”
Please donate to the BTO Youth Appeal
With you, we can create opportunities and connections for many more young people.