National Parks Youth Voice

The UK’s first-ever Youth Voice Conference, held in the picturesque Peak District National Park last year, was a groundbreaking event that brought together Youth Voice representatives from across all UK National Parks. The event served as a platform for these young leaders to address crucial issues, with a primary focus on communication, climate, and ensuring their voices are heard for a sustainable future. Workshops were one of the central objectives of the conference, empowering young attendees with the skills and confidence to effectively express their thoughts and concerns. These workshops aimed to equip our Youth Voice Reps with the tools needed to make a meaningful impact on the decisions that shape their future, as well as building strong networks with other youth representatives and professionals from across the UK.

The conference marked a historic moment as the first gathering of youth representatives from National Parks. To ensure that the voices of the youth were not only heard but translated into tangible actions. Their vision is to contribute to meaningful policy changes, advocate for environmental sustainability, and bring about a more inclusive and diverse approach to decision-making. Young representatives came together to build the foundations of a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable future for themselves and generations to come. Their passion, determination, and commitment to change were the driving forces behind this historic gathering. You can find the video from the conference below, or the Welsh subtitled version here.

Creating a lasting legacy

Following the successful launch of last year’s Youth Voice conference, in August this year, 38 young individuals hailing from various regions, including Scotland, the UK, and Europe, gathered for the Cairngorms Youth Climate Camp. This event saw participation from National Parks, EUROPARC, and Scottish Youth Local Action Groups (LAG). The Cairngorms Youth LAG played a significant role in commissioning this event, with program development being a collaborative effort between the Cairngorms Youth Action Team and Cairngorms National Park Authority staff.

The camp featured a lineup of activities, including workshops, field trips, and outdoor adventures, all centered around the themes of nature and climate crises. The program was organized around three distinct days: Climate and Nature Crisis; A day dedicated to exploring the pressing issues of climate change and its impact on the natural world, Wild Adventure and Nature Connection; Participants enjoyed immersive experiences in the wilderness, fostering a deeper connection with nature and Youth Action; The camp culminated in a day focused on empowering young individuals to take action and make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. You can find full details and Executive summary of the Climate Camp here. 

The people you work and learn from are either professional rangers, environmentalists or volunteers who are older and have amazing knowledge and experience. You have to adapt and absorb as much as you can.