Jenn Harris, Managing Director of British Council-recognised BSC Education, on the importance of ecology training for young people

According to gov.uk over 80 per cent of young people are eager to take action to help the environment. As educators, it is our role to engage with young learners and inspire them to protect the natural world around them. This means developing a sound understanding of ecology, as well as providing a platform for discussion and open dialogue in a way that helps young people make informed decisions and build confidence around taking future action.

Much classroom-based learning is centred on equipping young people with the right skills for future careers. Many careers revolving around preserving our natural world are in emerging fields. This makes it important that we foster an environment where future roles are discussed and where the right skillsets are nurtured. It’s impossible to overstress the importance of 21st-century skills in supporting young learners to analyse complex environmental problems and identify creative solutions.

It is also vital that we place increased emphasis on how learners interact with one another when advocating change – the language they use and the consideration they show to others. Promoting this kind of learning environment gives young people the ability to work collaboratively, while allowing space for numerous perspectives to be heard in a non-judgemental way.  

"Ultimately, we should be teaching young people the skills to explore and question the role we play as humans in ecology"
Ecology education gives young people the opportunity to work collaboratively and understand different perspectives, says BSC Education’s Jen Harris

Ultimately, we should be teaching young people the skills that enable them to explore and question the role we play as humans in ecology, as well as how we are connected to other living things. Skills that empower learners as changemakers and future leaders include a growth mindset, flexibility, adaptability, and empathy. Yet educators must also nurture passion, focus and resilience to develop well-rounded young people. But how can we ensure ecological learning has a direct impact on the everyday lives of students in the real world?

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a great starting point in providing a solid foundation within which to learn, action and implement change. For example, it can be useful to reflect on real-life scenarios where employers are acting on climate change and where they have seen successes and failures. Educators can invite businesses and environmental organisations into the classroom to deliver inspiring talks and practical workshops to students.

Access to hands-on experiences and ‘live learning’ – not just theoretical in-class teaching, or videos – helps students to feel more connected to issues and potential solutions, whether at home or further afield. Likewise, balancing activities that deliver immediate results (such as local litter picks) with those that take longer (sowing and planting seeds), will help students to understand short-term and long-term environmental planning. Delivering immersive lessons, such as poster presentations on creating sustainable cities, visits to local botanical gardens or collecting and donating to food banks, inspire conversations that give students positive experiences of making a difference and honing collaboration, negotiation and leadership skills.

“Ultimately, we should be teaching young people the skills to explore and question the role we play as humans in ecology”

Careers education for young learners has been given greater emphasis in schools over recent years, but how can educators ensure that learning inspires them to consider a future career in the environmental or outdoor sector, especially when many of these careers did not exist in their parents’ generation? Providing exposure to diverse career pathways, field trips, guest lectures and mentor programmes are all important aspects of careers education, but being inspired by someone who is actively engaged in the environmental sector is always the best way to ensure early engagement. 

Educators must focus on the value and impact of these careers and how fulfilling the work can be – also factoring in the opportunities to travel, explore and work in a wide range of settings with diverse groups of people. There is a belief amongst Millennials and Gen Z that future education will directly empower people to solve the world’s biggest issues. With that in mind, schools and educators have a duty to encourage curiosity, and to help young people find their voice in a world that needs our protection.

BSC Education bsceducation.com

Further reading: Ocean passport with UKSA training