RSPB Youth Groups
RSPB Youth Groups offer young people the chance to explore local wildlife, carry out practical action to save nature and have fun outdoors together with like-minded friends.
On this page
Many are linked to our nature reserves – from West Sussex to Edinburgh, and Swansea to Essex, and beyond – and they cater for different age groups from under 8s, 8-12s to teenagers. Have a look here to find your nearest group.
What happens at RSPB Youth Groups?
Groups usually meet monthly and our fully-vetted volunteers run fun and exciting nature-themed activities to inspire and enthuse the next generation to lead the fight on behalf of nature.
Activities can include anything from pond-dipping, looking for minibeasts, wildlife surveys, beach cleans and tree planting to creating and maintaining habitats, campaigning and event planning.
Our youth groups aim to build young people’s love of nature in a fun and informal way, which will in turn inspire and empower them to become champions and advocates for nature, both now and in the future.
They are a great place for young people to learn more about nature and make new friends, whilst also taking steps to actively do things to help tackle the nature and climate crisis.
Could you inspire the next generation?
Our Youth Groups are run by enthusiastic volunteers, who all want to inspire young people to discover the fascinating world of wildlife and develop a lifetime passion for nature.
You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to be a group leader and we provide any necessary training and lots of great resources. All our leaders undergo vetting, criminal record and reference checks, as well as full induction training to help ensure the safety of the young people we work with.
Some of our existing groups are seeking new leaders, so if you think you could help out, take a look at our volunteering opportunities.
If you’re interested in setting up a new group, read on.
How to set up a new youth group
If you are interested in setting up a new RSPB Youth Group near you, look at our guidelines here or contact one of our Youth Team on the details below. You could be the person who inspires the next generation to care for the world we all share.
Discover more activities for young people
As well as our Youth Groups, we offer other opportunities for young people to get involved. Find out more here about activities such as the work of our RSPB Youth Council campaigning and free access to our nature reserves for 16-24-year-olds.
Do you live in Scotland? Why not join Scotland’s Youth Network for Nature?
Young people from across Scotland who share a passion for wildlife, conservation and taking action on climate change meet regularly online to chat and share ideas, try new activities and learn new skills. Find out more here.
Already an RSPB Youth Group leader?
Thank you so much for giving your time to inspire the next generation about nature. You can find some of our key documents and guidance here.
Contact our Youth Group Team
If you have any questions about RSPB Youth Groups or how you can get involved as a leader to inspire others, please get in touch:
England – Joanne Raff Joanne.Raff@rspb.org.uk
Northern Ireland - Anne Cahill Anne.Cahill@rspb.org.uk
Scotland – Margo Morris Margo.Morris@rspb.org.uk
Wales – Sian Richings Sian.Richings@rspb.org.uk