Youth engagement

Taking youth work outdoors can make a big difference for young people, helping access the benefits of nature connection. Explore a variety of examples

The Trust has joined the London Wildlife Trust, Headliners and London Youth to get young Londoners involved with nature conservation. Find out more

The #iwill campaign aims to make social action part of life for 10-20 year-olds and recognises the role young people can play in addressing key environment challenges. Find examples of how the John Muir Trust promotes youth social action through the John Muir Award here:

• Torfaen Youth Service social action case study (available in English and Welsh)
• Field Notes: Youth social action and nature
• Conserve Audit 2015 Youth Social Action summary
• Trust signs #iwill Power of Youth Charter

A group of young people with a vision to create the first forest in Scotland that is co-designed, led and governed by young people. A range of organisations from across forestry and environmental sectors, including the John Muir Trust, support their vision through an expert advisory panel.

ReRoute are dedicated to involving more young people in nature. Visit their website for blogs, videos and ideas to encourage young people to get the most out of outdoor experiences - from taking climate action to enjoying urban nature, including a short video from John Muir Award participants on Shetland. The panel’s Recommendations Report offers a valuable tool for organisations to audit how their engagement tallies with expectations of young people – see the John Muir Trust interpretation.

A UK youth movement calling for governments to act on the nature crisis. Find the latest campaigns and how to get involved via their website.

The UK's youth nature network, aiming to connect, support and inspire young people with an interest in nature and conservation. Read the ‘Vision for Nature’ report, setting out how young people would like the natural world to look by 2050 and how they think we should get there; or get involved via their website.

Teenage girls in Scotland have helped design a social media campaign aimed at breaking down the barriers to getting outdoors, collaborating with Young Scot and NatureScot. The series of short animations highlight how simple outdoor activities are free, fun and can help relieve the stress experienced by many young women.

Bella Lack and Georgia Locock (school pupil and student) formed a response to help inform Chris Packham’s A People's Manifesto for Wildlife. Read their response (p47) 

YouthLink Scotland’s autumn 2021 Link Magazine explores the youth work sector’s role in helping tackle the climate emergency, including contributions from the John Muir Trust and John Muir Award Providers.