Bushcraft Volunteer

Picture a beautiful evening on a nature reserve, the sun is setting and you are helping a group of young people light camp fires to share some food/ drink and connect to the natural world. Sound great to you? Read on….. RSPB Old Moor is a wildlife reserve between Rotherham and Barnsley, within easy reach of local communities. The reserve is a visitor haven for introducing families to British wildlife in a safe, fun and accessible environment. We aim to get young people hooked on wild adventures and encourage the next generation of wildlife conservationists. We have secured National Lottery Heritage funding to make RSPB Old Moor and our other sites in the Dearne Valley even better for our wildlife and visitors over the next three years and ongoing into the future. Bushcraft and outdoor survival is a different route for families and young people to discover Old Moor and a love of the outdoors. Bushcraft events will be an exciting new venture for us. Bushcraft volunteers will: • assist with/ led bushcraft events at Old Moor for local families or groups e.g.g Scouts), with staff support. • Prepare the resources/ equipment and site checks prior to the event to ensure it runs smoothly. • Be trained in Bushcraft skills by RSPB staff so you can confidently deliver bushcraft events safely as well as having great fun. • Can help develop the bushcraft events programme, gaining excellent experience in public events. We'd like you to be available during school holidays, weekends and evenings when children's groups and families are most likely to attend an event at Old Moor. Obviously Covid-19 is affecting the delivery of our National Lottery Heritage project, but we are keen to recruit volunteers so that when we can commence bushcraft training and event development, we are ready to go.

Confidence in leading group activities and ability to engage with families, children and young people. The willingness and commitment to learn Bushcraft skills or previous experience of bushcraft skills and activities. Excellent communication skills. Interest and enthusiasm in the outdoors, wildlife and conservation. Willingness to undertake mandatory training to enable you to complete the bushcraft role and safeguard our visitors. This will give you the knowledge to deliver bushcraft activities safely. Some of this training is online, but we will give you any support you need.

Minimum:

Flexible, with a view to 1 day a week during school holidays and occasional weekends and evenings.

Duration:

Ongoing

Period:

All year round

Develop your outdoor survival skills. Kids will think you are very, very cool if you can make fire! Gain satisfaction and transferrable skills from each stage of the bushcraft events programme: you can be part of developing, preparing and delivering each event. This role would compliment other volunteer roles such as supporting or leading Scout groups, Girl Guiding or Girl/ Boys Brigade. Fabulous experience if looking to develop outdoor education, Forest Schools skills or widen conservation sector experience. Gain a greater understanding of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, it's vision and ways of working, and our management of the network of sites in the Dearne Valley. Use your knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to give groups and families an excellent experience at RSPB Old Moor and develop their love of nature and the outdoors. Meet and interact with lots of different people and become part of a friendly, supportive team, receive quarterly newsletters about the RSPB in the Dearne Valley and be invited to volunteer events. The training and regular line management support to help you excel in your bushcraft volunteer role, including outdoor survival skills, event planning and safeguarding training, and to get the most from your volunteering with us. An opportunity to represent the RSPB- be recognised as a valued part of the team by your RSPB uniform and name badge- and contribute to your local nature reserve. We can provide reference of your volunteering with us, if appropriate

Contact

Elizabeth Harding, Old Moor
Tel: 01226 273830
Email: Elizabeth.harding@rspb.org.uk

Notes

Background information, training and uniform will be provided for you. Travel expenses to and from your volunteering can be reimbursed (up to 25 mile radius each way). The RSPB is the country's largest nature conservation charity, inspiring everyone to give nature a home. By volunteering your time and talents you can help us increase our impact and help us save more nature. Like nature, our survival depends on diversity. Nature has no borders and neither do we. We believe that nature is everybody's right and being an equal, diverse organisation is the right thing to do to find solutions to our common challenges. We recognise the value of difference and want all volunteers to feel welcome, included and able to be themselves. We want to better reflect the communities in which we work so particularly welcome more volunteer applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and people under 25. We have a good representation from people with disabilities amongst our volunteers and are open to discussion of any adjustments you may need or want to volunteer.