SCOTLAND'S JUNIOR RANGERS. One of a kind. Scotland's Young People Committed to Nature

Transcription

1 SCOTLAND'S JUNIOR RANGERS One of a kind Scotland's Young People Committed to Nature

2 SCOTLAND'S JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME TALK PURPOSE To give an overview of the junior rangers programme and our vision for its future. OBJECTIVES To share best practice highlighting the opportunities which can be offered to young people through teamwork promoting learning and enjoyment. The opportunity to promote the Junior Ranger Award across Scotland. To engage with young people through nature.

3 JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME - HISTORY 1999/ The first trial on Junior Rangers in Europe was piloted by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and included two pilots in Scotland; Fife and North Lanarkshire. 2001/ Europarc adapted the award establishing a Young Ranger Network groups - Cairngorms National Park, Isle of Anglesey, Mendip Hills, Northumberland Coast & EUROPARC set up a project to revise guidelines and assist with the management of the programme The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) carried out a feasibility study establishing of a national Junior Ranger Programme.

4 BACKGROUND TO SCRA JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME Outcome of the SCRA survey (2011) To oversee the piloting of a national junior countryside ranger programme in Scotland. March SCRA Junior Ranger Programme Pilot started The aims of the pilot scheme 1. To provide advisory support to four pilots 2. Develop the process for gaining The Scottish Junior Ranger Award including a quality assurance process. 3. Design a recognition of achievement for completing the award. 4. To provide material for SCRA website

5 PILOTS INVOLVED Hopetoun Ranger Service Historic Scotland Ranger Service East Lothian Ranger Service

6 STEERING GROUP Steering Group A steering group was set up chaired by Jen Edwards from East Lothian Ranger Service. Representatives The representatives consisted Four pilot reps, Alan Smith (Co-Ordinator of the Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers Project), SNH and two consultants; Tony Clark and Sarah Watt. Objective To produce a new toolkit on how to set up a junior ranger programme and to develop competences for the junior rangers to link in with their programme of activities.

7 AWARD CONTENT Full Ranger Award Competencies Junior Ranger Award Competencies S1 Habitat Management A Know your site B Care for your site S2 Management and Project Planning S3 Recreation and visitor management C Care for visitors S4 Ensuring site and ecosystem integrit E Working with others S5 Outdoor learning and interpretation D Events and interpretation F Leadership (second level) S6 Community and other stakeholder engagement E Working with others S7 Delivering training to others F Leadership (second level) SCRA junior ranger competencies linked to the SCRA full ranger award competencies

8 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES Know your site (A) A 1 Develop knowledge of key features of your site A 1.1 Research the key features of your site Tasks can include survey s or various research tools e.g. wildlife, habitat, archaeology, visitors, etc.

9 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES KNOW YOUR SITE (A) A 2 A 2.1 A 2.2 Conduct a site survey Correctly identify species/features/issues Accurately use a recording technique Tasks could include Swan or bird counts Badger survey Amphibian survey Grassland survey Archaeology

10 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES Butterflies and Moths of Holyrood Park and Arthur s Seat NORTHEN BROWN ANGUS When newly emerged this small butterfly has beautiful deep, velvety brown upper wings. It could be confused with a female Common Blue, which can occur in the same habitats. HOLLY BLUE This species has appeared in the region in recent years having spread from the south. Check its silvery blue underwings for identification. Of the blue butterflies it is the most likely one to be seen in gardens or parks, as it is not dependent on flower-rich grasslands, like the Common and Small Blue. Butterflies and Moths of Holyrood Park and Arthur s Seat continued COMMON BLUE A widespread butterfly found in a variety of grassy habitats almost anywhere that its caterpillar s food plant, bird s foot trefoil, occurs. The beautiful and brightly coloured males are very distinctive orange spots. It usually has just one generation a year, the adults flying between June and September. SMALL COPPER This dainty butterfly is a widespread species found in range of habitats, including gardens. Its caterpillars feed on common and sheep s sorrel. The spring and summer broods can overlap, so it can be seen from late April through to late September, although it is rarely abundant. GRAYLING SMALL HEATH The Grayling needs warm, sunny sites with bare ground and fine-leaved grasses, upon which the nocturnal caterpillars feed. Its natural habitats include costal cliffs, dunes and heaths, but it has been able to colonise many so-called brown field sites such as old quarries, industrial sites and railway lines. ORANGE TIP Males are unmistakeable with their bright orange wing tips, but females have no orange so could be confused with Small or Green-veined Whites, however, Orange tips have more rounded wing tips and distinctive mottled green undersides that can also be seen faintly through the upper wing. MEADOW BROWN The Meadow Brown can be seen in a variety of flower rich habitats, often in large numbers. The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses. Males tend to be darker than females, but the amount of orange on both is variable. A strong flier, on the wing from late June to early September. An inconspicuous butterfly that tends to fly only in bright conditions, and always keeps its wings closed at rest. It occurs mostly on grasslands where there are fine-leaved grasses upon which the caterpillar feeds. Although widespread in Scotland, it has undergone massive declines in other parts of the UK. It only has one generation per year, from mid-may to early August. CINNABAR YELLOW SHELL MOTHER SHIPTON This moth gets its strange name from the wing pattern which is reputed to resemble and an old witch! The caterpillars can feed on grasses and various legumes, such as White Clover and Birds Foot Trefoil. The adult Cinnabar has similar coloration to the unrelated Six-spot Burnet, and is also poisonous to birds. In this case the poison, again obtained by the caterpillars, comes from Common Ragwort. SIX SPOT BURNET The bright red and black colours of the adults mean birds beware because the moth is packed with a chemical defence in form of cyanide! The caterpillars are also poisonous and they are thought to derive these chemicals from their food plant. A common and widespread moth often disturbed from long grass by day. The caterpillars feed on bedstraws. On the wing early June to late August. Junior Ranger Lauren Butler

11 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES CARE FOR YOUR SITE (B) B 1 Carry out a practical task B 1.1 Practical management technique(s) Practical tasks could include - habitat management, footpath maintenance and repair, gorse cutting B 1.2 Appropriate and safe use of tools Creating a risk assessment together, providing toolbox talk, being shown how to use a new piece of kit

12 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES CARE FOR VISITORS (C) C 1 Show an understanding of local access issues (including Scottish Outdoor Access Code SOAC). Tool kit and activities from the Know the Code packs C 1.1 Correctly advise on a local access issue, based on SOAC. Give verbal advice for different scenarios, create a leaflet explaining Issue, erect signage providing advice

13 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES CARE FOR VISITORS (C) C2 Use basic navigation skills C 2.1 Navigate successfully in the outdoors Examples - Complete an orientation course Know how to use a compass and map reading

14 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES CARE FOR VISITORS (C) C 3 Assist in dealing with an emergency situation, including basic First Aid. Scenario training sessions C3.1 Care of self and others. Learning to use various communication tools Radios or phones How to use a personal first aid kit What to pack for a day out

15 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES CARE FOR VISITORS (C) C3.2 Basic First Aid C3.3 Identify sources of further help/ emergency services JR s taught basic first aid course and know how to follow instructions from the emergency services, as well as provide them with relevant information.

16 Junior Ranger Competencies EVENTS AND INTERPRETATION (D) D 1 Assist in a Ranger Service activity/event/display for the public Assisted with general Park guided walk or archaeological event D 1.1 Carry out duties, as requested Patrols with Ranger Team members D 1.2 Use relevant and positive communication skills/ techniques Working with Fire Service to promote positive safe use of BBQ s

17 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES WORKING WITH OTHERS (E) E 1 Create positive working relationships with others E 1.1 Be polite and helpful to others E 1.2 Show that you listen E 1.3 Acknowledge others contributions E 1.4 Be reliable E1.5 Treat all colleagues and members of the public equally Applicable throughout all Junior Ranger activities

18 JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES LEADERSHIP (F) Leadership This competency is only available to those aged once they have gained the initial Junior Ranger Award F 1 Apply effective leadership skills F 1.1 Manage resources safely and effectively F 1.2 Give clear instructions F 1.3 Focus on positive experience for group more than self F 1.4 Identify what worked well and what could be improved for self, as leader and activity

19 PROGRAMME LINKS INTO OTHER AWARD NETWORKS

20 PROGRAMME LINKS INTO OTHER AWARD NETWORKS

21 JUNIOR RANGERS INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMMING AND REVIEW Tell us about two of the sessions that you enjoyed. What do you feel you ve achieved from the sessions provided? During 2017 what skills would you like to learn or improve on? Would you like to continue going out on patrols with a ranger? I have learned a lot about our rich cultural heritage and archaeology of the park and gained new skills doing surveys Identification skills Including different types of surveys Reading the landscape Geology and Archaeology sites knowing why they are important to our heritage First aid, I like the outdoor sessions including bush craft and map reading GPS

22 JUNIOR RANGERS INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMMING AND REVIEW CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO AND TELL US WHY?

23 JUNIOR RANGERS GATHERINGS Internally sharing best practice through junior ranger gatherings proved very successful. Each pilot hosted a gathering which the JR s benefited from. Seeing different working practices, as well as working together in a new environment.

24 WHERE ARE WE NOW 2015 Junior Ranger pilot launch at Holyrood Park

25 WHERE ARE WE NOW 2 YEARS ON! THREE OF THE PILOTS HAVE COMPLETED THE SCRA JUNIOR RANGER AWARD

26 FUTURE AIMS & ASPIRATIONS A recognised SCRA Junior Ranger badge Celebrate the Year of the Young People 2018 with SCRA giving recognition to the JR s for their achievements and their efforts. Create certificate to recognise completion of the Leadership section of Junior Ranger Award. Hold a Scottish Junior Ranger annual camp. Proposed SCRA membership of Europarc enabling Scottish Junior Rangers the opportunity to attend Europarc summer camps. Continue to promote Scotland's Junior Rangers and inspire more young people to connect with nature. Nominate some Junior Ranger Ambassadors to spread the word SCRA to continue to support the development of the Junior Ranger programme to encourage other Ranger Services to participate in the programme. Investigate feasibility of further Apprentice Ranger roles, being created and funded which Junior Rangers could be considered for as a follow on stage.

27 HOW TO ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS/ADVICE Co-ordinators Toolkit How to set up and run a successful Junior Ranger Group and Award Co-ordinators Toolkit (PDF, 1.22mb)

28 Watch the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards video: D3. JUNIOR PARK RANGERS, HOLYROOD PARK at:

29 That s it folks Thanks for listening Lily Laing MBE Junior Ranger Coordinator Ranger Service Holyrood Park lily.laing@hes.scot Tel: Bob Reid SCRA Council Member bobreid@gmail.com Tel: Martin Gray Visitor Services Manger Ranger Service Holyrood Park martin.gray@hes.scot Tel: