11 March 2010

Young Leaders on the Moors

17 young people aged 16-25 congregated at Okehampton YHA in Dartmoor National Park last weekend to celebrate their achievements as “Young Champion” leaders. The Young Champions have taken part in Mosaic, a national project led by the Campaign for National Parks. Over the last year the Young Champions have promoted Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks to their peers by organising taster visits and volunteer days, developing promotional tools and advising the National Park Authorities on becoming more youth-friendly.

Mosaic in turn gave the young people new skills, accredited training and confidence, as well as demonstrating the positive role that our most spectacular landscapes – the National Parks – can play in developing leadership skills and healthy lifestyles for young people.

Steve, a 22 year old Young Champion from Exeter, has organised two murder mystery tours across Dartmoor as part of his Champion role. He’s already planning the next one, and said of the weekend:

'It’s great to be here and find out how all the other Young Champion’s projects are turning out. I want to say a huge thank you to all the people who have helped us organise activities in the National Park.'

Alice, a 17 year old Young Champion from Barnstaple who is helping to organise a large summer youth festival on Exmoor, said:

'Mosaic has given me new skills, like learning how they look after young Exmoor ponies. It’s really useful because I want to become a vet. I’ve really en enjoyed being a Young Champion and going to the National Parks, because it is something I wouldn’t normally get to do. '

The Young Champions enjoyed a taste of a few new activities on offer in Dartmoor, including horse riding, willow weaving, archery and rock climbing. In return, the Young Champions gave back to the National Park by spending Saturday afternoon helping with conservation work – clearing gorse at an archaeological site and building bird boxes.

Via Mosaic, the Young Champions have also learned about the YHA as an affordable and youth-friendly option for staying overnight in the National Parks. Michelle Wood, Activity Manager at Okehampton YHA, said:

'It was great to see a group of young people using YHA to explore the National Parks. It’s also amazing how many people didn’t realise, until now, that the YHAs were for them.'

Orlando Rutter, Principal Learning and Outreach Officer with Dartmoor National Park Authority, said:

'The commitment, energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by the young people throughout the weekend was inspirational; we feel very privileged to be working with these future leaders.'

Ends

For further information

David Rolls, Mosaic Research Officer, Campaign for National Parks: 07935 099 462

david@cnp.org.uk

Orlando Rutter, Principal Learning and Outreach Officer, Dartmoor National Park Authority: 01626 831 076

Notes to editors

Mosaic is a partnership between the Campaign for National Parks, the Youth Hostels Association and the 9 National Park Authorities in England

www.mosaicnationalparks.org/ (external link, opens new window)

The Campaign for National Parks (CNP) is the national charity that campaigns to protect and promote National Parks for the benefit and quiet enjoyment of all http://www.cnp.org.uk/ (external link,opens new window)

Mosaic is funded by Natural England through Access to Nature as a part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.

The Youth Hostels Association runs 222 accommodation sites across England and Wales, 87 of which are in a National Park, and provides over 2 million overnight stays for members and guests each year.

Return to Dartmoor National Park Authority Partnership Project News

Page updated 10 March 2010