The Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) is a vital part of BTO Youth. It has played a key role in developing a comprehensive and inclusive Youth Engagement Strategy, which helps BTO inspire and support the next generation of birdwatchers.
The panel takes on a strategic role, bringing their ideas to life through BTO’s wider initiatives and offering valuable support to BTO’s network of Youth Representatives. They also share unique perspectives on birdwatching and volunteering for BTO through the BTO Youth Blog, ensuring the voice of young volunteers is heard.
The Youth Advisory Panel's vision for BTO’s engagement with young people is:
"A diverse, vibrant community of young birders, supported by BTO, with accessible, youth-led opportunities that inspire young people to connect with nature and science."
Meet the Youth Advisory Panel
Meet our panel of young volunteers who help steer BTO to better serve our younger supporters.
Adam, 18, Kent
Adam is a birdwatcher based in Kent in his second year of the IB Diploma programme, his favourite subject choices including Environmental Systems and Societies, Geography and Maths. In his spare time he enjoys wildlife photography and he is particularly interested in finding links between the natural world with learning in school, most of all with maths!
His first interactions with the BTO were during their Birding 101 and Nature Natter sessions, but he became fully invested in the work done by BTO Youth when he attended bird camp, which ignited a plethora of new friendships, fantastic birding experiences and newfound confidence.
Adam wants more young people to experience the fun he had, and he is passionate about helping young people’s mental health through engagement with the outdoors. During his time volunteering with BTO Youth, Adam wishes to help create a welcoming atmosphere for new young birders. When he is older he hopes to help more young people develop an interest in nature which can be beneficial for their wellbeing.
Alysia, 20, Leeds/Cumbria
Alysia is an Ecology and Conservation undergraduate student at the University of Leeds, with a keen interest in seabird research and aspirations to pursue a PhD in the field. Last summer, she helped collect data on Manx Shearwaters on Copeland Island, where hands-on experiences, including observing behaviour, ringing and weighing Manxies, deepened her passion. One of her most memorable moments was listening to the island erupt with calls during nocturnal fieldwork.
Passionate about helping young people access nature and education, Alysia serves as Wetland Officer for the Leeds Union Conservation Volunteers. In this role, she leads initiatives that encourage fellow university students to engage with nature. Her current project involves restoring a wetland in Woodhouse Ridge, Leeds working with local schools to involve students in hands-on conservation and nature-based learning.
Anna, 23, Birmingham
Anna has just completed a master's degree in Conservation and Biodiversity from the University of Exeter in Cornwall and was first introduced to BTO Youth through the Young Leader's Course in 2024. For Anna nature isn't just an interest it is an inherent part of her and how she navigates the world.
For as long as Anna can remember, she has had two special interests - music and nature. Her love of nature started with birds but has since developed into a fascination for any living thing. She also loves noticing all of the details in the natural world and is a particular advocate for UK wildlife as the wealth of biodiversity we have here in the UK is often underestimated and overlooked.
Anna is particularly passionate about the accessibility of nature and believes that everyone should have the opportunity to engage with, and get outside into nature. She hopes to be able to help other young people to build a connection with the natural world, to experience the benefits that nature can offer, and be proud to share their love of nature with others.
Bethan, 18, York
Bethan is a birder based in York. Her interest in nature stems from a family passionate about the outdoors and grandparents enthusiastic about birdwatching. Bethan has just finished her A-level subjects of Biology, Geography and Photography. Wildlife photography continues to be a great way to spend time in nature.
Bethan is looking forward to taking a year out of education to do some volunteering before going to the University of East Anglia to study Ecology and Conservation.
Bethan currently is a volunteer for Natural England working in the Lower Derwent Valley where she enjoys her involvement with bird ringing, moth surveying and species reintroduction projects.
In her free time Bethan enjoys exploring the local area on horseback, frequently having close up encounters with a range of wildlife such as Roe Deer, Red Kites, and Owls.
She is greatly looking forward to working with a team of people with a similar passion for birds. As someone who has personally experienced the benefits of nature on wellbeing, she is eager to encourage more young people to get involved.
Chloe, 25, Herefordshire
Chloe is a qualified field guide in South Africa, seasonally working out there to connect people to nature through education and wild experiences. She has also worked in rhino, pangolin and elephant conservation and monitoring, to protect endangered species against poaching.
She loves immersing herself in the smaller parts of nature too and is hugely passionate about protecting and restoring valuable ecosystems in South Africa and the UK. She's particularly interested in how we can bring farming and nature together, to improve biodiversity, soil health and habitat for declining bird species - all whilst working with landowners to achieve revolutionary farming and conservation together.
Chloe takes part in local volunteering and citizen science projects like lake and river naturalness surveys, assisting with bird ringing, pond and farmland nature restoration projects and light pollution surveys. She has a strong ambition to use science to create genuine change and she is super excited to be studying Conservation Biology and Ecology at university!
She believes that opening up this world to young people allows for birds and nature to benefit, as well as the people exploring in it. Helping people to connect is an infectious way of spreading awareness for nature. It encourages people to have these vital conversations surrounding biodiversity loss and ways we can all help wildlife - leading to future students, activists, and ambassadors for our natural environment.
Chloe is super excited to work on the panel and to get involved in youth-led, forward-thinking projects!
Emma, 24, Surrey/Bristol
Emma is a Biology graduate from the University of Oxford. She is passionate about protecting the environment and strives to use and develop her skills to work towards forward-thinking solutions. She is keen to create more opportunities for young people to connect with nature and science and embed young people into the sector.
Through increasing awareness of the positive impacts this engagement can have on mental health, she hopes to contribute to helping the young community enjoy nature and overcome their own challenges. Inspired by other panel members, Emma set up a new society at university – Oxford Ornithological Student Society, a gateway to providing that opportunity to her peers. She engaged in the avian parts of her course, in particular spotting BTO data in lectures and referencing it in her own work.
She recently enjoyed an Avian Behaviour and Ecology field course to Copeland Bird Observatory. Emma became the Young Trustee of BTO at the start of 2023 and is excited to bring a young person’s perspective to the Board.
Esther, 18, Derbyshire
Esther has been fascinated by birds for a long time, but since discovering BTO, her interest in birdwatching has developed into a passion for ornithology. Having attended Bird Camp twice and spent a week doing work experience with BTO, she has experienced first-hand the fantastic work of BTO Youth!
Esther is currently in sixth form, studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Music A-levels. She is particularly interested in learning about the science behind birds; this has recently led her to create her own website, where she shares articles she’s written about the anatomy of birds, specifically designed to be accessible to other GCSE and A-level students.
Inspired by a ringing demonstration on Bird Camp, Esther has also started training to ring birds, and is enjoying the opportunity to learn more about birds in the hand! She’s also keen on taking part in BTO surveys such as Nesting Neighbours in her garden, and when not exploring the natural world, she enjoys playing the violin and piano.
As a member of the Youth Advisory Panel, Esther hopes to make a difference to other young people, by helping them to develop their interest in birds and discover a community of like-minded people.
Esther, 18, Gloucestershire
Esther has been into birding and nature in general since she was nine. Now her interest has developed into a passion for the environment, and she is volunteering at WWT Slimbridge, hoping to go into wetland conservation to support the wetland habitats she has grown to love on her birding patch.
Esther also enjoys art and uses this hobby to advocate and raise awareness of the threats nature faces in an alternative way, as well as engaging other people in nature through this media. This includes nature journaling, documenting what she learns and finds whilst out birding in nature, and painting birds in watercolour.
Esther is particularly interested in engaging young women and girls in nature and making sure there are no barriers for them to get into the conservation sector, as well as creating safe and comfortable environments for them, especially within the birding community.
Grace, 20, London/Leeds
Grace is a Politics and International Relations student at University College London. Having grown up in the Yorkshire countryside, she developed a lifelong appreciation for the natural world and loved birdwatching in the Dales.
At university, Grace plans to specialise in climate justice and sustainable development, focusing on how people and nature can thrive together. She is passionate about equality and inclusion, founding the UCL Intersectional Justice Society to connect social and environmental issues.
Alongside this, she serves on the Youth Advisory Board for the Charity Mental Health Innovations, combining her interest in wellbeing with her belief in the restorative power of nature. Through the BTO Youth Advisory Panel, Grace hopes to help more young people reconnect with the outdoors and see conservation as something that belongs to everyone.
Haydn, 21, Suffolk
Haydn is an Assistant Warden for the RSPB at their Lakenheath Fen reserve, working to conserve iconic Fens & Brecks species including Cranes, Bitterns and Stone-curlews. He started his career in conservation as a residential volunteer at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, helping the British Swallowtail butterfly and other Broads specialities. He also has previous experience as a beach-nesting bird warden on the East Norfolk coast, leading on Kestrel diversionary feeding to ensure the breeding success of Little Tern and Ringed Plover.
As a keen all-round naturalist, Haydn has a passion for identifying and recording all kinds of species, and can often be found poking around in the undergrowth for fungi or chasing beetles with his phone camera. He also carries out regular surveys for BTO including the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS), the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and Waterways Breeding Bird Survey (WBBS) and Woodcock counts. Away from conservation, Haydn enjoys strongman training and caring for his collection of houseplants.
By being a Youth Advisory Panel member, Haydn hopes to be a window into the practical side of conservation, and to learn more about how different groups of young people can be encouraged to engage with and enjoy nature and birding. He is looking forward to getting a range of perspectives from other young naturalists, and inspiring others to have the same love for nature.
Karmannye, 21, London
Karmannye is a student from Chandigarh, India currently studying biology at Queen Mary University London. He has been birdwatching for the past 8–9 years and enjoys displaying the avifauna he observes through his photography, art, articles and stories.
Over the past years he has seen and enjoyed quite a few phenomena of nature and documented them through various means. He is also an ISSF rifle shooter and avid polo player, both of which bring him closer to nature and he enjoys his free time documenting fauna in the lower Himalayas.
In the past, he has conducted several bird surveys in India with the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and the Punjab Forest Department and currently serves as the Head of Research for the non-governmental organisation Avian Habitat & Wetland Society undertaking research on waterfowl population dynamics in Chandigarh, India. Karmannye is also looking into the temporal variation and taxonomy of aquatic invertebrates to determine the prey base of waterfowl at the Natural History Museum, London.
He first heard of BTO through volunteering as a surveyor for the Wetland Bird Survey in London, and BTO’s research and data science in this field really intrigued him to join BTO’s Youth Advisory Panel to find out more about this field along with meeting like-minded people.
Katie, 21, Edinburgh/St Andrews
Katie is currently studying ecology and conservation at the University of St Andrews, whilst enjoying painting and clay sculpting of the wildlife she’s seen in her spare time.
She has volunteered with the RSPB for over five years, as well as Cairngorms Connect and RZSS, helping to inspire younger generations to protect the environment. Recently, she completed a 107 day hike from Lands End to John o’ Groats raising funds for the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, affirming her love for the outdoors.
Katie is particularly enthusiastic about breaking down the stigma and barriers surrounding nature-based actions, and increasing the access to the outdoors.
Kit, 18, Norfolk
Kit is a Norfolk-based school student and is studying for her A-levels in Sociology, Geography and Biology. She has a keen interest in birds and hopes to pursue a career which promotes nature as an integral part of communities and our society.
She currently promotes mental health in nature to young people, via her youth-led activism group Earthling Action. She feels very privileged to be able to access nature regularly but believes it should be a basic right.
Her hobbies include painting, dancing, reading and wildlife watching.
Rosie, 20, Isle of Wight
Rosie is a birder and wildlife lover from the Isle of Wight. She’s happiest when exploring the outdoors and has had a lifelong passion for the natural world, encouraged by her family growing up. She is a member of her local Natural History Society and has helped at public events in the past, promoting species recording and encouraging young people to appreciate local wildlife. Rosie is also a trainee bird ringer on the Isle of Wight and first got involved with the BTO as an Equipment Donation Scheme recipient and through attending online BTO Youth events.
She has recently finished her A-Levels in Art and Geology and is now going on to study a year long Art Foundation course at sixth form. She really enjoys getting creative and making the link between art and nature and hopes to pursue this passion within her future career whatever that may be. Through volunteering on the YAP, Rosie hopes to make a difference to young people experiencing barriers to the natural world and hopefully spark a passion for ornithology in many more people.
Sonya, 22, London
Sonya is an MSci student at the Royal Veterinary College in London, studying Wildlife Health Sciences with an interest in wildlife disease and genetics. Her passion for the natural world developed through years of outdoor exploration, whether through mountain biking in Santa Crus mountains, foraging for sticks for earth art projects, or collecting samples for school science projects.
Sonya has a particular interest in birds, having completed several university projects on topics such as the impact of urbanisation on bird populations and Vulture rewilding initiatives. Beyond her studies, she volunteers as a Visitor Welcome Volunteer at ZSL London Zoo and worked with the Youth Science Institute to engage school children with science and environmental education, finding meaningful ways to connect her academic knowledge to her community involvement.
As a member of BTO YAP, Sonya is ready to inspire the next generation of ornithologists, especially in the fields of disease ecology and genetics.
Zac, 20, Hertfordshire
Zac is a keen birder and all round nature enthusiast from Hertfordshire. After gaining experience from various volunteering roles with the National Trust and the RSPB, he recently finished a seasonal role as Assistant Ranger on Blakeney Point, Norfolk. Living and working on Blakeney Point, Zac helped to monitor the breeding success of a range of seabirds and waders with a particular focus on Little Tern and Ringed Plover. As well as this, Zac assisted with predator control to protect ground nesting birds. He strives to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of all aspects of the natural world, and is passionate about encouraging others to do the same.
As well as his passion for birds, Zac has a strong interest in Lepidoptera, and has thoroughly enjoyed completing butterfly transects and setting up moth traps. Zac's ambition is to have a career in wildlife conservation.
He is excited to bring his experiences of practical conservation to the panel and work alongside other young people who are passionate about conserving nature for the future. Zac is particularly interested in the role that nature can play in improving mental health, especially for young people.