BTO Bird Camp

BTO Bird Camp

Bird Camps 2026 

We’re excited to be hosting Bird Camps in all four UK nations again in 2026! 

BTO Youth will be running camps in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, while BTO and the Scottish Ornithologists’ Club (SOC) will be working in partnership to deliver the Scotland Bird Camp. 

This year, we have five camps lined up:

  • Northern Ireland - County Derry/Londonderry, 10-12 April
  • England - Lancashire, 1-3 May
  • Scotland - Colonsay Island, 22-25 May
  • Wales - Pembrokeshire, 19-21 June
  • England - Dorset, 17-19 July

What are Bird Camps?

We are BTO Youth, the youth branch of the British Trust for Ornithology, who works to engage more young people with the natural world and the birds that call it home. Every year we run annual Bird Camps across the UK for 11-17 year olds, to connect them with their peers and teach them some new skills. Each Bird Camp is guaranteed to be action packed, with lots of species to spot. But the best thing about Bird Camps is that they are always completely free. "Wait til I tell my mum what I saw here!" On Bird Camp, our attendees take part in everything, from guided walks and fieldwork skills to creative activities and mindfulness. We work with local ecologists, scientists and naturalists, to teach our young people about local wildlife, from birds to butterflies. We believe nature and birds are for everyone, so we welcome all young people, regardless of their background or birding ability.
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Ages

BTO Bird Camps are open for young people in secondary school or college, as long as you are under 18 during the camp. This typically means anyone aged 11–17. 

Cost

To ensure Bird Camps are accessible to as many young people as possible, attendance is completely free. If you are in a position to contribute, any donations will help us continue offering these opportunities at no cost in the future.

  • If you’d like to support us, please contact youth@bto.org.

Equipment

We know that equipment like binoculars can be expensive, but don’t worry - you don’t need to have your own to take part. We’ll have binoculars available to borrow (just tick the box on the application form if you’d like to use a pair), and we’ll also bring scopes for everyone to use. 

The Programme

Each camp will follow a similar itinerary, with slight variations based on location and weather. A detailed plan will be sent to participants the week before their camp. Please note: Scotland Bird Camp will run from Friday - Monday to allow for additional transport time. 

Friday

  • Arrival in the late afternoon
  • Getting to know each other, health & safety briefing
  • Evening activity (e.g. bat identification or nature-inspired art)

Saturday

  • Day trip to a local nature reserve
  • Bird identification and BTO surveys
  • Learning about science and conservation
  • Creative workshop
  • Evening activity (e.g. campfire or stargazing)

Sunday

  • Bird ringing demonstration (weather permitting)
  • Identifying birds by song
  • Final presentations and pledges

Accommodation

We’ll be staying indoors in shared rooms (separated by gender), with single or bunk beds. In all four countries, we’ve chosen accommodation designed for groups and schools, ensuring a comfortable stay with everything needed.

  • If you have any specific accommodation requirements or accessibility needs, just let us know on the application form, and we’ll do our best to arrange what you need.

Accessibility

We’re committed to making Bird Camps as accessible as possible. If you have any accessibility requirements or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at youth@bto.org.

Safeguarding

The safety and well-being of our participants is our top priority. Lead and overnight staff and volunteers involved in Bird Camps are safeguarding-trained and DBS-checked (Access NI in Northern Ireland and Disclosure Scotland in Scotland).

  • A Designated Safeguarding Lead will be present at each camp.
  • For more details, you can read our Safeguarding Policy or email us at youth@bto.org with any questions.

Learn more at one of our Q&A events

We’ll be hosting informal Q&A sessions in February, March and April where you can learn more about the camps and ask any questions you might have. 

How to apply

To apply for Bird Camp*, download the information pack below and read it carefully. Once you're ready, complete the online application form before the deadline:

  • Northern Ireland & England (Lancashire): 11:59pm, Sunday 1st March 2026
  • Scotland (Colonsay Island): 11:59pm, Sunday 29th March 2026 
  • Wales & England (Dorset): 11:59pm, Sunday 10th May 2026

Please note: *Scotland applications must be completed via a different form. Please visit the SOC website for further details and to access the form. 

We encourage you to be as creative as you like in your application! Feel free to include drawings, videos, or anything else that helps you share why you’d love to take part. Simply attach them to your application form.

If you have any issues with the form, please email us at youth@bto.org- we’re happy to help!

Apply for Bird Camp

2026 Bird Camp information pack

Application form

Please note: Visit the SOC website for further details and to access the Scotland Application form. 

Thank you

Bird Camp England (Lancashire) is kindly supported by a generous BTO supporter.

Bird Camp England (Dorset) is kindly supported by Birds of Poole Harbour.

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