International Junior Ranger Camp July 2010 – Mendip Hills AONB
The International Junior Ranger Camp July 24 – 31 being hosted by the Mendip Hills AONB is fully booked. The Junior Rangers coming are aged 12-18 and represent 12 parks in 8 countries - the Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovenia and the UK. The International Camp provides the opportunity to share information and experiences, have fun and discover Europe’s biodiversity. During the week they will enjoy outdoor activities including caving and climbing, visits to Cheddar Gorge and the historic town of Wells and involvement in Mendip’s wild landscape. The camp will be located at Fernhill Farm, a working farm and at the woodland-based Goblin Combe Environment Centre.
It is the first time that an area in England has been chosen to play host to the camp, which is now in its 9th successful year. The Junior Rangers visit is based around the limestone ridge of the Mendip Hills, one of England’s most attractive landscapes. The natural beauty of the area has led to its national protection as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
“We are honoured to have been chosen as the host venue for this year’s International Junior Rangers Camp by EUROPARC and thrilled at the prospect of being able to show our incredible landscape and surroundings to guests from a host of European countries.” says Sarah Jackson from the Mendip Hills AONB Unit.
“Everyone here, from our own Young Rangers to the host venues and the AONB partners, is busy organising the camp. Bristol Airport is working with us to organise a welcome at the airport and transfers to the camp, Cheddar Caves and Gorge are providing the climbing and caving activities, the Somerset Wildlife Trust and National Trust are leading walks, local conservation groups are leading other activities and the Dry Stone Wall Association will be working with the Junior Rangers to restore a wall on the plateau’.
The Mendip Hills AONB started its own Young Ranger scheme in 2005 based on the EUROPARC model providing a two year programme for fifteen young people, aged eleven to fifteen from local schools, to gain experience of countryside management and acquire related life skills such as first aid and navigation skills.
The Young Ranger scheme is funded by Bath and North East Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, Somerset County Council, Mendip District Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Natural England through the Mendip Hills AONB Unit.
EUROPARC acts as the voice of Europe’s protected areas and has 400 members in 36 countries managing the jewels of Europe’s land, sea, mountains, forests, rivers and cultural heritage. It is also the umbrella organisation for junior ranger programmes throughout Europe. Believing that young people are the future advocates, guardians and potential employees of protected landscape areas, the junior ranger network programme aims to involve them in the work of protected areas and enhance their understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources that need protection.
Further information about EUROPARC, its Junior Ranger network and the 9th international camp in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty can be obtained from the website: EUROPARC and the web site FOR THE CAMP
Becoming a Young Ranger
Every two years the AONB Unit takes on 15 new Young Rangers to the scheme. Details of the next intake will be publicised in April/May 2011.
The Young Rangers end of programme camp took place 27th July – 30th July. The camp started on the Monday at Swallet Farm with an emergency rescue exercise using the skills the Young Rangers had acquired during their two year programme. The Tuesday challenge was a team exercise to agree a route and navigate themselves to Shipham where they were collected and taken to Goblin Combe Centre. Despite torrential rain the group took part in a range of activities in the woods including skinning and cooking rabbit for tea! All those who participated were presented with Young Ranger certificate and will shortly receive their John Muir Award.
International Junior Ranger Camp 2009
Laura Blanchard and Andy Fox two of our Advanced Young Rangers went to Spain 25th July – 1st August for the 8th International Junior Ranger Camp. The camp was held in Parc Natural de Aiguamolls de l’Emporada in Catalunya. The Advanced Young Rangers will be contributing ideas towards 2010 international camp in the Mendip Hills.
December 2008
The Young Rangers entered a photograph in to Somerset Hedge Photographic competition and won 3rd prize. Four Young Rangers attended the prize giving evening on Friday the 28th of November at Edington Village Hall. The evening included a presentation from FWAG (Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group) on the importance of managing hedges and a talk from a photographer on ways to improve your photography.
The prizes were awarded by Lord Skelmersdale, President of Somerset Wildlife Trust and you can see the Young Rangers in the photograph receiving their award from him.
