As Scottish school pupils settle back into their classrooms, a leading environmental education charity is gearing up to inspire thousands of youngsters with unforgettable outdoor experiences.

The Field Studies Council runs a range of environmental courses for primary and secondary children from its Millport residential centre on the Isle of Cumbrae and each year it welcomes thousands of visitors.

And, with policies such as the Curriculum for Excellence and Learning for Sustainability continuing to drive Scottish education, the charity says the current academic year will be no different as teachers strive to provide a varied mix of experiences and opportunities for their pupils.

Charity Chief Executive Mark Castle, who was raised in Scotland and remembers fondly his first school trip to the Mull of Galloway, said the first schools would be arriving on site in September so staff were extremely busy putting the final touches to their itineraries.

“We are very much looking forward to the arrival of our first visitors this academic year and we hope that some of the nice weather we’ve seen over the last few months continues,” he said.

“Our staff are working hard to make sure everything is ready for their arrival and with a stream of bookings already in the diary, we’re pretty certain it’s going to be another very busy term.

“It really is magnificent to be able to welcome so many young learners to this very special location with its rich abundance of wildlife and marine species right on the doorstep.

“Teachers often tell us that when pupils leave the four walls of their classroom and come here to Millport that they come alive. They say being outside and experiencing nature first-hand enables them to unearth new skills, develop their confidence and connect with their friends and teachers in different ways.

“We know from our experience that academically, there are also huge benefits to learning outdoors. There is not a part of the Curriculum for Excellence that cannot be enriched by connecting to nature and our tutors at Millport work closely with all our visiting teachers to ensure courses are tailored to meet the needs of their pupils.”

Last year, after reopening following the pandemic and easing of coronavirus restrictions, staff at Millport welcomed in excess of 3,000 students to Millport.

Those visiting explored first-hand the rocky coastal shores which surround the centre and learned about the rich marine biodiversity by undertaking a range of activities from rock-pooling to species identification.

Some were also fortunate to take a trip out into the Firth of Clyde on board the centre’s very own revamped marine research vessel, which is often used for surveying and scientific sampling.

Mr Castle added: “Last year’s residential trips provided the ultimate tonic for students recovering from the social, mental and academic impact of the pandemic. They gave youngsters time to improve their health and wellbeing, time to re-engage with their classmates and teachers but most of all, they helped to reignite their passion for learning.”

FSC Millport caters for residential visits and day trips for all ages, primary through to university level.

It also hosts courses for families and natural history enthusiasts.

For more information about the Field Studies Council and its Scottish centre visit https://www.field-studies-council.org/locations/millport/.

One of the UK’s most notable environmental scholarship programmes for young people is taking applications for its 2022 scheme.

Now in its 10^th year, the Young Darwin Scholarship, is open for applications from individuals aged between 16 and 25 who want to develop their environmental skills and further their understanding of the natural world.

The programme is operated on an annual basis by leading outdoor education charity, the Field Studies Council (FSC), and this year due to increased funding, there are a total of 75 scholarships on offer, all of which are heavily subsidised.

Dylan Byrne, Youth Engagement Officer for FSC, said the scholarships presented an “unmissable” opportunity for young people interested in developing their passion for the environment.

“We’ve been running this programme successfully for the last 10 years and it’s a fantastic way for young people to develop their environmental skills and knowledge as well as build long-lasting friendships with other like-minded individuals.

“Due to increased funding, we have 75 places available on the programme this year – which is a fivefold increase in the number of scholarships compared to previous years – so it really is an unmissable opportunity, and we would encourage anyone interested to get their applications in as soon as they can.”

The scholarship programme, which was first introduced at FSC’s Preston Montford field centre near Shrewsbury – the birthplace of Charles Darwin – starts with a five-day immersive experience integrating fieldwork, biodiversity identification skills, career guidance and networking opportunities.

Scholars will also have access to ongoing mentoring and support as part of the scholarship programme, as well as online and in-person training from a range of FSC specialist staff and mentors.

This year, the on-site training will be run at five locations across the UK including the FSC’s own field centres at Preston Montford in Shrewsbury and Caste Head near Cumbria. Scholars will also use the YHA site at Potato Wharf in Manchester and undertake local site visits to Risley Moss and Rixton Clay Pits. In Bristol, training will be based at YHA Bristol at Narrow Quay and visits to Leigh Woods and Avon Grow Wilder will take place. In London, scholars will use training sites at Stave Hill, Regents Park and Bushy Park.

The scholarship programme has received significant funding through the Generation Green project and the Our Bright Future project as well as generous donations from organisations such as the Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland (BSBI) and Ground Control UK.

Dylan added: “This programme is aimed at supporting young people with their long-term environmental goals, whether that be supporting them onto the correct pathway to an environmental career, ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to support a more sustainable lifestyle or enabling them to meet people who share the same mindset about the environment and nature recovery as they do.

“90 per cent of all scholarship fees are covered by the charity due to the funding and donations available. Successful applicants will only be asked to fund the remaining 10 per cent of the costs which works out to be either £45 or £90 depending on which location they visit. It really is a unique chance particularly for those who can’t easily access wide outdoor spaces from where they live. “

Applications for this year’s programme close on June 5, 2022, and extra support is available for those individuals who may financially struggle to cover the remaining 10 per cent of the fees.