Conservation Experience Weeks.
This week is an inclusive, active and practical opportunity to gain important understanding, experience and skills in conservation with one of the UK’s newest and most interesting conservation projects in a unique natural environment. As a Community Interest Company (CIC) part of our remit is to offer educational and volunteer opportunities for schools, students and others interested in conservation and a potential career in it as a way of funding our Conservation Projects.
One of these is our practical Conservation Experience Week we offer aimed at gap year takers, undergraduates, graduates and anyone interested in getting valuable understanding, hands on experience and skills in conservation, meeting like-minded people and escaping to a secluded private wildlife island on the beautiful Scottish West Coast.
Knowledge, experience and skills gained may include:
- Setting camera traps for a variety of species
- Planting trees, shrubs and hedges to create wildlife corridors
- Clearing invasive and non-native species such as Rhododendron and Bracken
- Removing shore pollution, learning about and monitoring the precious marine habitats within the MPA
- Maintaining bog and wetland habitats
- Understanding natural forest regeneration and deer management issues.
- Understanding conservation grazing with rare breeds wildflower meadow management in practice
- Creating and managing forage for native honeybees
- Small boat operating skills in coastal waters
- Map reading and navigation skills
- Basic ecological survey techniques
- Species Identification skills on a range of flora and fauna
- Transport to and from the island from Fort William
- Shared accommodation on the island (separate genders)
- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, soft drinks and snacks (cooking in pairs on rota)
- Guided practical conservation experience for 6 hours a day covering a minimum of two activities
- with the remainder as free time to relax, explore or wildlife watch.
- A day off with a guided boat trip around Loch Sunart and/or Sound of Mull which can include seeing basking sharks, sea and golden eagles, whales, porpoises and dolphins (dependent on time of year).
- Two self-drive boats with tuition and safety gear for exploring the waters around the island.
- Use of our wildlife watching hides
- Any safety equipment required.
- A certificate of completion and written reference for your efforts supporting the Carna Conservation Initiative and skills learnt.
