Eight young people from a variety of backgrounds based in Plymouth and Exeter have just returned home after experiencing the wilderness of Dartmoor in their roles as Mosaic Young Champions.  The event was organised by Mosaic (1) in partnership with Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) and the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) (2).

The aim was to introduce the young people to Dartmoor through a range of activities and encourage them to think about how they can repeat the experience for themselves and their peer group. 

Orlando Rutter, DNPA Principal Learning and Outreach Officer, led the first session of the weekend with a series of games starting inside Okehampton Youth Hostel and gradually moving outside to explore the surroundings. He encouraged the young people to rely on their partners to guide them around an assault course - blindfolded! 

The weekend began with a range of activities including mountain bike riding and gorge scrambling – which the group tackled with much enthusiasm and proved popular despite the freezing water temperature. 

The afternoon session consisted of a Conservation Challenge led by Park Rangers where the group learnt about the different ways that DNPA help to look after the National Park.  The group then got stuck in and helped maintain a footpath by clearing over 200 meters of ditches.  Johnny and Chris of Plymouth Environmental Action (PEA) led the session and gave a health and safety talk about how to use the tools. 

Navigational skills were put to the test with an orienteering session led by YHA staff and Alister from Link up, Devon.  The weather continued to be favourable enabling a barbeque that must have been good, as one the young people who shall remain nameless went back for a further 4 helpings!  The evening ended with Paul from the Foyer in Exeter using his military training experience to show the group how to build a campfire using traditional materials.  Everyone also had the opportunity to sample the culinary delights of baked bananas and toasted marshmallows.

The following day saw the group word storming and refining their ideas for planning future visits.  Applications were made to earn a John Muir award (3) and gain credits for the V scheme.

The final challenge was a foraging session led by Tom from the X Centre in Exeter who used his knowledge to step in as head chef to prepare a delicious lunch of nettle soup with fresh blackberries for pudding. 

David Rolls, Mosaic Project Officer, highlighted: ‘The enthusiasm of the young people was awe inspiring; they just thrived in this environment. It augurs well for the future as they share their experiences in their home communities. It is so positive to see the work of Mosaic developing in this way’

Ali, one of the young people from the Open Space group, captured the thoughts of many by saying “I really enjoyed the last weekend and will never forget it. It was absolutely fantastic.”

Mosaic is funded by Natural England through Access to Nature (3) as a part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.

For more information and photos please contact:

Mosaic Programme Manager, Nina Arwitz: 020 7924 4077 ext. 227.

Mosaic Project Officer, David Rolls: 07935 099 462

Or visit: www.mosaicnationalparks.org.uk

Notes to editors

1.     Mosaic is a national project that aims to build sustainable links between young people, as well as ethnic minorities, and the National Parks. It is a partnership between the Campaign for National Parks, the Youth Hostels Association and the 9 organisations that run the National Parks in England: the Broads Authority, Dartmoor National Park Authority (NPA), Exmoor NPA, Lake District NPA, New Forest NPA, North York Moors NPA, Northumberland NPA, Peak District NPA and the Yorkshire Dales NPA.  Access to Nature has provided £932,314 toward this £1.7 million project, with match funding from Nationwide Building Society, Defra and the partners themselves.

2.     The Youth Hostels Association runs 222 accommodation sites across England and Wales, 87 of which are in a National Park, and provides over 2 million overnight stays for members and guests each year.

3.     The John Muir Award has 4 elements – discover, explore, conserve and share.  Find out more at www.johnmuiraward.org

4.     Access to Nature is run by Natural England and is part of The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. Natural England manages this £25 million Lottery-funded programme on behalf of a consortium of twelve national environmental organisations comprising BTCV, British Waterways, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Greenspace, Groundwork UK, Land Restoration Trust, The National Trust, Natural England, RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust. Through this programme, it is Natural England’s ambition to create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to have greater access to our natural environment and bring a lasting change to their awareness and understanding as well as improved links to the natural world, which many of us can take for granted. For further information about Access to Nature visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature. For further information about the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk.

Location: Okehampton YHA
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