Calling Duke of Edinburgh Volunteers!
2026 - 7
Would you like to contribute to nature recovery in Oxfordshire? And to contribute to research on nature education?
Would you like to learn new skills which will be useful in your future career? And meet others who enjoy time outside in nature?
Would you like to gather ideas and insights for your future studies and careers in a sustainable future?
If this is you, please consider applying for the Oxford Earth Academy Oxfordshire Doorstep Nature Project. We are recruiting young volunteers to help us find out more about wildlife in Oxford. Urban areas are really important, but not widely recognised as valuable for wildlife. We want to understand and show how widespread nature is all around us and where different species are living.
You can do this project mainly from home or school, as well as joining in the monthly training trips to nature reserves in Oxford over the time you are volunteering. You don’t need prior experience or any knowledge, just a bit of curiosity about exploring new things. This is for Bronze, Silver or Gold.
What does it involve?
We will be working together to build up an electronic map of where wildlife is across the city. We’ll teach you how to identify and record species for the project, and show you how the information will be used. You can use an app on a Smartphone, or an identification sheet and a paper map and pencil which we will provide.
We meet up once a month, at one of the beautiful nature reserves around Oxford, for some training and activities focused on building new skills and confidence. Venues are accessible by public transport. A bit of walking will be involved and you may need wellies and waterproofs in wet weather. We prefer that you bring family members at least initially, but thereafter parents/caregivers can sign to give you permission to come alone.
Each intervening week you will be spending an hour (all in one session, or in smaller time blocks) mapping species that you can find in your school catchment (the area from which students come from to go to the school). This can be in gardens, parks, walls, road verges (where it’s safe to look) – places you normally go but might not notice the nature around you. You can do this in groups or with your family, or on your usual activities around town. You will share your findings with the group at the next meet up. At the end of your volunteering you will have short report to complete.
There are 5 places available for each school. You can do it for three months or six. You are also welcome to try it out and switch away if it doesn’t suit you.
Training and check in days
The 2026-7 training days are on the following dates and times. You need to bring a parent or other chaperone, and the whole family and friends are welcome.
Sunday 27th September 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC.
Monday 26th October 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC. This one is half term so we may add an optional extension so that we can do some more exploration and activities.
Sunday 22nd November 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC.
Saturday 16th January 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC.
Monday 15th February 11:00 - 12:30. Location TBC. This one is half term so we may add an optional extension so that we can do some more exploration and activities.
These are subject to change in case of adverse weather etc. Further dates will be posted in due course.
sign up
If you would like to sign up, please complete the form below. It needs input from the student and their parent/guardian.
Contact
If you have any questions please email kim.polgreen@oxfordearthacademy.org