What will get teenagers interested in Wildlife?

[nightshade]

You could find one of the Bat carers that keep (with a licence) rehabilitated injured Bats the bat group meetings where these people turn up are always oversuscribed
I find that the main stumbling block is the cost of equipment, warm waterproof clothing, cameras, books all the things older people with disposable income take for granted.
Bats again, one of the Avon Bat Group members runs an information stall at most of the big events and they talk to anyone and everyone and have been a great success. It seems to be the informality, no rows of chairs and slideshows just raw take it or leave it information, no one is made to look silly
and ideas rephrased to make things clear to the ones that "don't get it"
straight away. A local Roundtable listed one of their pet hates as ,Speakers that give a talk and then pack up and leave.

[KeenTeen17]

I have been bullied throughout my high school life because of my love of nature and the fact that I meet up every MOnday with a society of much older people to go birdwatching etc! This would probably explain the fact I have never had a girlfriend and everyone else has had 3 or 4!

I don't care and I think I have used my life wisely so far - not worrying about the latest trainers and gadgets and I'm glad I don't waste my life outside spars on a monday night.

[the young hunter]

Hello there all who have posted on this thread.
I can't believe I didn't see this thread before!!

I've tryed to explain to my mates about it but they don't get it so I keep it quiet most the time. But I have managed to get some of my mates to listen by just showing them some of the more interesting looking orchids like the Lady's-slipper and tell them some really ace info on something that would blow anyone's mind. It's better to leave out the Lesser Twayblade if your trying to impress someone!

It's important to still be in touch with their passions too, so like going up town and getting into night clubs without ID is still high on my list of occupations and smoking a certain species of plant (please don't complain about this by the way, 3 millioin teenagers do it) is what keeps me with my people and I still enjoy it. Just because I do what 99% of teenagers don't do, doesn't mean I can't be a typical teen. I still love our culture of hanging around and drinking, teens have always done these things and they won't stop any time soon

Anyway, just wanted to say that.

I still got a bit of stick in junior school though - it gets easier when you become a teen, the younger kids are the nastiest of all

If you want to involve teenagers in wildlife though, you have to impress them with certain aspects of wildlife - rarity of some species is usually enough but also I told my friend all about the history of the Lady's-slipper Orchid and she was very impressed, haha

mike

[Meta menardi]

I think it is that "story" thing that gets most people. Once you hear about the Caddis fly larvae and their cases made from pebbles, you want to go and see it, or better still find it in your backyard. When you can't, it might as well be lions, tigers, dragons, dinosaurs; mythical beasts that you won't find.

I do think it is important for people to find their own things, perhaps with guidance. So, more countryside, less control, or perhaps more targeted control.