AONB and Geopark Youth Ranger Programme

Are you aged between 14 and 17? Would you like the opportunity to learn outdoor adventure and practical conservation skills? Do you have a passion for the Ring of Gullion, Strangford and Lecale Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) or the Mourne Gullion Strangford UNESCO Global Geopark ? Perhaps you would like to work in the environmental conservation field? Then this could be the opportunity for you!

14 to 17 year olds are invited to participate in the AONB & Geopark Youth Ranger programme. The Programme will run for five days in each of the AONBs.

The programme will give you the opportunity to learn outdoor skills such as navigation and canoeing, whilst exploring the areas; learning about how these landscapes were formed and their rich biodiversity and heritage. Importantly, it’s an opportunity for you to learn practical conservation skills and contribute to the environmental management of the area; all while having fun and meeting new like minded people.

Some past Youth Rangers had these comments to make about the programme:

“It was very educational and fun and helped me learn how to help the environment more.”
“Great for CV, thanks”
“It was brilliant fun and I would definitely come back and recommend it!”

The programme is part funded by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency through the Carrier Bag Levy; and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Ards and North Down Borough Council.

For further details please download the application pack below.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The programme provides outdoor learning opportunities and challenges that will help prepare participants, both professionally and personally, for future studies and careers within the environmental sector. 

The programme will give you the opportunity to learn:-

• outdoor skills such as navigation and canoeing, whilst exploring the Ring of Gullion and Strangford and Lecale AONBs.
• about how the AONBs formed and its rich biodiversity and heritage.

This is a great opportunity for anyone wishing:-

• to meet new people,
• build confidence,
• contribute to your community,
• keep active and
• gain valuable environmental skills.

What’s New for 2025!

As part of our ongoing review of our Youth Ranger Programme, and our desire to make it the most beneficial to the participants as possible. We are pleased to announce these new elements to the programme for 2025.

Wild Youth Award

In partnership with Ulster Wildlife, all participants now have the opportunity to gain a Silver Wild Youth Award. This award recognises how individuals connect, learn about or help nature and wildlife. To qualify for this award participants have to have completed ALL five sessions of the Youth Ranger Programme (at least 24 hrs).

Youth Ranger Leaders – Currently in development

Based on feedback from previous Youth Ranger groups there is a strong interest for a progression project. Through the initial five-week programme the participants should have fostered a deep understanding of the beauty and fragility of the habitats found in the AONBs and the UNESCO Global Geopark.

Upon completion of the Youth Ranger Programme in Spring 2025, participants aged 16+ will be given the opportunity to progress to the Green Wild Youth Award (100 hours). Which over the course of a year will be facilitated through training in biodiversity survey skills, conservation volunteering days and citizen science projects within their own homes and gardens.

They could then be invited to set up a Youth Forum, whose voice will be heard in the overall future management of the AONBs and Geopark.

Watch this space! Applications will be opening soon for our next Youth Ranger Programme.

If you would like an idea of what the Youth Rangers did in the past, check out our photo galleries for 2016 and 2017 .

Acceptance of the following will be confirmed during the application process.