Bethany Lee (she/her), 25, Dorset

“Before coming on the Young Leaders Course, I had been feeling demoralised and unsure about my path in the environmental sector. I had been struggling to find a job in ecology and conservation and felt isolated from others in the sector. I applied to the course with the hope that connecting with other young nature-lovers would re-ignite my enthusiasm for wildlife conservation and boost my skills and confidence. The Young Leaders Course did all that for me and more.

Everyone on the course, from the leaders to the speakers to the other participants, was so passionate about nature and had so much knowledge to share – it was completely inspiring to be around, and I feel like I learnt so much. As a group, we all got along so well, and it was heartening to make such strong personal connections in such a short time. I really came away feeling that I had made some amazing friends and found a great support network. 

As well as the general atmosphere of the course being so uplifting, the speaker-led workshops were all so fascinating! Dr Anjana Khatwa’s session on inclusive and ethical leadership was really thought-provoking and was something that I will keep reflecting on throughout my career journey. Anjana was also such an encouraging speaker, I found hearing about her personal career journey so inspiring, and she was constantly assuring us that we are all capable of achieving our own goals.

I found Professor Russell Wynn’s workshops on habitat restoration really interesting, and I loved having the opportunity to go out onto the heathland to consider management challenges and techniques in the field. These sessions offered some personal challenges for me. Getting career advice from someone so accomplished meant I really had to confront my lack of skills head-on, which can be really hard to do. But, in the end, I came away feeling more motivated to work hard to improve my skillset and gain more practical experience. 

One of my favourite sessions was run by Liliana, a BTO Youth volunteer who had completed the Young Leaders Course a few years prior. She discussed her experiences as a young leader in the environmental sector, the challenges that come with it, and the qualities that make a good leader. It was such a helpful session, and Liliana was so honest, supportive and reassuring throughout the entire course.

Overall, the course offered a chance to reflect on and develop my leadership skills, connect with wonderful people in the sector, and expand my understanding of nature conservation, all within the beautiful surroundings of the New Forest. I definitely came away with a strong sense of community and feeling motivated to persevere in the environmental sector.”

Eve Rowson (she/her), 23, Bedfordshire

“I used to believe leaders had to be bold, outgoing and confident – qualities I don’t immediately recognise in myself. However, the Young Leaders Course has enabled me to recognise some of my other values and inspired me to continue pushing ahead with my goal to meaningfully contribute towards conservation. I aspire to be a researcher and have tailored much of my previous experience to this, feeling very comfortable sat reading journals in a library, or conducting surveys out in the middle of nowhere; though more recently I have been wanting to challenge myself to speak out and share my passion for wildlife with others.

For me, the first day was incredibly inspiring as someone who has faced some barriers to working in conservation. Dr Anjana Khatwa introduced the topic of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the importance of cultivating a balanced workforce that properly represents the diversity of lived experiences. We were joined throughout the rest of the course by Johnathon Miller-McCall, who shared great insight into the use of social media to reach new audiences and communicate our passion for wildlife with others; Prof Russell Wynn who discussed habitat management and led a fascinating tour of a local heathland, highlighting the need to understand total ecology; and lastly Dr Richard Benwell who explained the crucial role lobbying plays in shaping environmental legislation. I found Richard’s session on negotiating challenging as I have social anxiety and struggle talking in front of groups, however, it has given me the confidence to confront my weaknesses whilst also recognising my strengths like independence and resilience.

One of the greatest parts of the Young Leaders Course is the incredibly supportive team behind it. Rachael is kind and compassionate, Samuel is one of the most talented birders I’ve ever met and Liliana’s commitment to conservation and raising up other young leaders is inspiring. The other members of the group were amazing and so encouraging when we each had the rewarding challenge of leading our own nature-based activity – I did photography bingo! I can’t wait to see where this experience takes everyone else, as I know it has shaped me immensely.”

Sophie Nash (she/her), 21, Cornwall

“To me, leadership once seemed like an exclusive skill, reserved for those who are at the forefront of change, policy, and activism in the world of conservation. However, throughout my time at the Young Leaders Course, learning about the vast variation in ways leadership can be applied – from sharing scientific knowledge on social media, to writing a non-fiction book, or hosting a small event – I quickly realised that being a leader is a much more achievable goal than I once thought.

As my skills grew over the course, so did my confidence, and one of the highlights was hosting my own activity – an eco-painting workshop. If you had told me the week before that standing up at the front and leading a group would be a highlight, I definitely wouldn’t have believed you! I think that’s a true testament to how inspiring the speakers were and the friendly, warm, and welcoming atmosphere created by the BTO Youth team and the other participants. A good leader doesn’t stand alone, but has a crowd of people supporting them. I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to meet everyone who attended the course, to have them as my little community, and to be part of theirs!

Coming away from the course, I feel more motivated than ever to apply what I’ve learned to my volunteering and academic work. Learning about many of the sectors in the field of conservation and what it takes to be successful in these fields has highlighted my personal goals, current skills, and the next steps I can take to reach those goals.

While I still have a lot to learn, I left the course feeling like a leader (it really isn’t such an exclusive skill after all!) and I’d recommend the course in an instant!”