SCOTLAND'S JUNIOR RANGERS
‘One of a kind’
Scotland's Young People Committed to Nature
SCOTLAND'S JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME
TALK PURPOSE
To give an overview of the junior rangers programme and our vision for its future.
OBJECTIVES
To share best practice highlighting the opportunities which can be offered to young people through teamwork promoting learning and enjoyment.
The opportunity to promote the Junior Ranger Award across Scotland.
To engage with young people through nature.
JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME - HISTORY
1999/2000 -
The first trial on Junior Rangers in Europe was piloted by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) and included two pilots in Scotland; Fife and North Lanarkshire.
2001/2003 -
Europarc adapted the award establishing a Young Ranger Network
2009 -
5 groups - Cairngorms National Park, Isle of Anglesey, Mendip Hills, Northumberland Coast & EUROPARC set up a project to revise guidelines and assist with the management of the programme.
2011 –
The Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (SCRA) carried out a feasibility study establishing of a national Junior Ranger Programme.
Outcome of the SCRA survey (2011)
To oversee the piloting of a national junior countryside ranger programme in Scotland.
March 2013 - SCRA Junior Ranger Programme Pilot started
The aims of the pilot scheme
1. To provide advisory support to four pilots
2. Develop the process for gaining The Scottish Junior Ranger Award including a quality assurance process.
3. Design a “recognition of achievement” for completing the award.
4. To provide material for SCRA website
BACKGROUND TO SCRA JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMME
PILOTS INVOLVED
Historic Scotland Ranger Service East Lothian Ranger Service Hopetoun Ranger Service
Steering Group
A steering group was set up chaired by Jen Edwards from East Lothian Ranger Service.
Representatives
The representatives consisted –
Four pilot reps,
Alan Smith (Co-Ordinator of the Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers Project),
SNH and
two consultants; Tony Clark and Sarah Watt.
Objective
To produce a new toolkit on how to set up a junior ranger programme and to develop competences for the junior rangers to link in with their programme of activities.
STEERING GROUP
AWARD CONTENT
S1 Habitat Management
A Know your site B Care for your site
S2 Management and Project Planning
S3 Recreation and visitor management C Care for visitors
S4 Ensuring site and ecosystem integrit E Working with others
S5 Outdoor learning and interpretation D Events and interpretation F Leadership (second level)
S6 Community and other stakeholder engagement
E Working with others
S7 Delivering training to others F Leadership (second level)
Full Ranger Award Competencies
Junior Ranger Award Competencies
SCRA junior ranger competencies linked to the SCRA full ranger award
competencies
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
Know your site (A)
A 1 Develop knowledge of key features of your site
A 1.1 Research the key features of your site
Tasks can include survey’s or various research tools e.g. wildlife, habitat,
archaeology, visitors, etc.
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
KNOW YOUR SITE (A)
A 2 Conduct a site survey
A 2.1 Correctly identify species/features/issues
A 2.2 Accurately use a recording technique Tasks could include –
• Swan or bird counts
• Badger survey
• Amphibian survey
• Grassland survey
• Archaeology
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
Butterflies and Moths of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat
NORTHEN BROWN ANGUS
When newly emerged this small
butterfly has beautiful deep, velvety
brown upper wings. It could be
confused with a female Common
Blue, which can occur in the same
habitats.
HOLLY BLUE
This species has appeared in
the region in recent years
having spread from the
south. Check its silvery blue
underwings for
identification. Of the blue
butterflies it is the most
likely one to be seen in
gardens or parks, as it is not
dependent on flower-rich
grasslands, like the
Common and Small Blue.
GRAYLING
The Grayling needs warm, sunny sites with
bare ground and fine-leaved grasses, upon
which the nocturnal caterpillars feed. Its
natural habitats include costal cliffs, dunes
and heaths, but it has been able to colonise
many so-called brown field sites such as old
quarries, industrial sites and railway lines.
ORANGE TIP
Males are unmistakeable with their
bright orange wing tips, but females
have no orange so could be confused
with Small or Green-veined Whites,
however, Orange tips have more
rounded wing tips and distinctive
mottled green undersides that can also
be seen faintly through the upper wing.
MOTHER SHIPTON
This moth gets its strange
name from the wing pattern
which is reputed to resemble
and an old witch! The
caterpillars can feed on
grasses and various legumes,
such as White Clover and
Birds Foot Trefoil.
CINNABAR
The adult Cinnabar has
similar coloration to the
unrelated Six-spot Burnet,
and is also poisonous to
birds. In this case the
poison, again obtained by
the caterpillars, comes
from Common Ragwort.
Butterflies and Moths of Holyrood Park and Arthur’s Seat
continued
COMMON BLUE
A widespread butterfly found in a
variety of grassy habitats almost
anywhere that its caterpillar’s food
plant, bird’s foot trefoil, occurs.
The beautiful and brightly coloured
males are very distinctive orange
spots. It usually has just one
generation a year, the adults flying
between June and September.
SMALL COPPER
This dainty butterfly is a widespread
species found in range of habitats,
including gardens. Its caterpillars
feed on common and sheep’s sorrel.
The spring and summer broods can
overlap, so it can be seen from late
April through to late September,
although it is rarely abundant.
MEADOW BROWN
The Meadow Brown can be seen in a variety of
flower rich habitats, often in large numbers.
The caterpillars feed on a variety of grasses.
Males tend to be darker than females, but the
amount of orange on both is variable. A strong
flier, on the wing from late June to early
September.
SMALL HEATH
An inconspicuous butterfly that tends to fly
only in bright conditions, and always keeps
its wings closed at rest. It occurs mostly on
grasslands where there are fine-leaved
grasses upon which the caterpillar feeds.
Although widespread in Scotland, it has
undergone massive declines in other parts of
the UK. It only has one generation per year,
from mid-May to early August.
SIX SPOT BURNET
The bright red and black colours
of the adults mean ‘birds beware’
because the moth is packed with a
chemical defence in form of
cyanide! The caterpillars are also
poisonous and they are thought to
derive these chemicals from their
food plant.
YELLOW SHELL
A common and widespread
moth often disturbed from long
grass by day. The caterpillars
feed on bedstraws. On the wing
early June to late August.
Junior Ranger Lauren Butler
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
CARE FOR YOUR SITE (B)
B 1 Carry out a practical task
B 1.1 Practical management technique(s)
Practical tasks could include - habitat management,
footpath maintenance and repair, gorse cutting
B 1.2 Appropriate and safe use of tools
Creating a risk assessment together, providing toolbox talk, being shown
how to use a new piece of kit
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
CARE FOR VISITORS (C)
C 1 Show an understanding of local access issues (including
Scottish Outdoor Access Code SOAC).
Tool kit and activities from the Know the Code packs
C 1.1 Correctly advise on a local access issue, based on SOAC.
Give verbal advice for different scenarios, create a leaflet explaining
Issue, erect signage providing advice
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
CARE FOR VISITORS (C)
C2 Use basic navigation skills
C 2.1 Navigate successfully in the outdoors
Examples -
Complete an orientation course
Know how to use a compass and map reading
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
CARE FOR VISITORS (C)
C 3 Assist in dealing with an emergency situation,
including basic First Aid.
Scenario training sessions
C3.1 Care of self and others.
Learning to use various communication tools – Radios
or phones
How to use a personal first aid kit
What to pack for a day out
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
CARE FOR VISITORS (C)
C3.2 Basic First Aid
JR’s taught basic first
aid course and know
how to follow
instructions from the
emergency services,
as well as provide
them with relevant
information.
C3.3 Identify sources of further help/ emergency services
Junior Ranger Competencies
EVENTS AND INTERPRETATION (D)
D 1 Assist in a Ranger Service activity/event/display for the public
Assisted with general Park guided walk or archaeological event
D 1.1 Carry out duties, as requested
Patrols with Ranger Team members
D 1.2 Use relevant and positive communication skills/ techniques
Working with Fire Service to promote positive safe use of BBQ’s
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
WORKING WITH OTHERS (E)
E 1 Create positive working relationships with others
E 1.1 Be polite and helpful to others
E 1.2 Show that you listen
E 1.3 Acknowledge others’ contributions
E 1.4 Be reliable
E1.5 Treat all colleagues and members of the public equally
Applicable throughout all Junior Ranger activities
JUNIOR RANGER COMPETENCIES
LEADERSHIP (F)
F 1 Apply effective leadership skills
F 1.1 Manage resources safely and effectively
F 1.2 Give clear instructions
F 1.3 Focus on positive experience for group more than self
F 1.4 Identify what worked well and what could be improved
for self, as leader and activity
Leadership This competency is only available to those aged 14–18 once
they have gained the initial Junior Ranger Award
PROGRAMME LINKS INTO OTHER AWARD NETWORKS
PROGRAMME LINKS INTO OTHER AWARD NETWORKS
JUNIOR RANGERS INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMMING AND REVIEW
Tell us about two of the sessions that you enjoyed.
What do you feel you’ve achieved from the sessions provided?
I have learned a lot about our rich cultural heritage and archaeology of the park and gained new skills doing surveys
During 2017 what skills would you like to learn or improve on?
Identification skills Including different types of surveys
Reading the landscape Geology and Archaeology sites knowing why they are important to our heritage
First aid, I like the outdoor sessions including bush craft and map reading GPS
During 2017 what skills would you like to learn or improve on?
Would you like to continue going out on patrols with a ranger?
CHOOSE YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO AND TELL US WHY?
JUNIOR RANGERS INVOLVEMENT IN PROGRAMMING AND REVIEW
JUNIOR RANGERS GATHERINGS
Internally sharing best practice through junior ranger
gatherings proved very successful.
Each pilot hosted a gathering
which the JR’s benefited from. Seeing different
working practices, as well as working together in a
new environment.
WHERE ARE WE NOW
2015 Junior Ranger pilot launch at Holyrood Park
WHERE ARE WE NOW – 2 YEARS ON!
THREE OF THE PILOTS HAVE COMPLETED THE SCRA JUNIOR RANGER AWARD
FUTURE AIMS & ASPIRATIONS
• A recognised SCRA Junior Ranger badge
• Celebrate the Year of the Young People 2018 with SCRA giving
recognition to the JR’s for their achievements and their efforts.
• Create certificate to recognise completion of the Leadership
section of Junior Ranger Award.
• Hold a Scottish Junior Ranger annual camp.
• Proposed SCRA membership of Europarc enabling Scottish Junior
Rangers the opportunity to attend Europarc summer camps.
• Continue to promote Scotland's Junior Rangers and inspire more
young people to connect with nature.
• Nominate some Junior Ranger Ambassadors to spread the word
• SCRA to continue to support the development of the Junior
Ranger programme to encourage other Ranger Services to
participate in the programme.
• Investigate feasibility of further Apprentice Ranger roles, being
created and funded which Junior Rangers could be considered for
as a follow on stage.
HOW TO ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS/ADVICE
Co-ordinators’ Toolkit How to set up and run a successful Junior Ranger Group and Award – Co-ordinators’ Toolkit (PDF, 1.22mb)
https://scra-online.co.uk/what-we-do/junior-rangers/
Watch the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards video: “D3. JUNIOR PARK RANGERS, HOLYROOD PARK” at: https://vimeo.com/187534026
That’s it folks
Thanks for listening
Lily Laing MBE
Junior Ranger Coordinator
Ranger Service Holyrood Park
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0131 652 8150
Martin Gray
Visitor Services Manger
Ranger Service Holyrood Park
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 0131 652 8150
Bob Reid
SCRA Council Member
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01698 884 083