Black Mountains College (BMC) has partnered up with various stakeholders, including Welsh Water, to give 20 young people the opportunity to explore ecological solutions to the unfolding challenges of the climate crisis.

Welsh Water and Ashley Family Foundation sponsorship has allowed 16-25 year olds from Wales and the wider UK to participate in a ground-breaking free learning opportunity this summer.

The camp provides an opportunity for a diverse group of young people to participate in an immersive learning and problem-solving experience, where they can imagine their future, and the management of natural resources in the context of climate change.

The camp runs from Tuesday, August 30 - Friday, September 2 at Troed yr Harn Farm in Talgarth.

Ben Rawlence, CEO of Black Mountains College said: “Here at BMC we are teaching the future – helping young people prepare for a climate-impacted world. The camp is the BMC approach and experience in a four-day nutshell.”

Tara Froggatt, Catchment Manager for Welsh Water said: “We work with many groups including farmers, foresters, community groups and customers to find innovative ways of looking after the land differently, so that we can improve the quality of water before it reaches our rivers and reservoirs, as well as benefit the wider environment and people.

“It is very important, for us to look to the future and working with the college, helping to support young people in this way is hugely rewarding for us. We look forward to seeing what suggestions come out of the camp.”

To bring together as diverse a pool of participants as possible, BMC worked with various partners. These included Black2Nature, Grange Pavillion Community Centre in Cardiff, Ethnic Youth Support Services Cymru, the Future Generations Academy of the Future Generations Commission, The Visionaries, and The Welsh Youth Parliament - among others. They each nominated young people to take part in the camp.

Mr Rawlence added: “Diversity in nature is a key feature of resilience – and so it is with human systems too. The challenge facing our society is not just a rapid transition to a more sustainable future, but a just one as well.”

In addition to these nominations BMC also ran an application process through their website and was overwhelmed by the interest.

The camp will take place at the BMC base in Talgarth and will feature a live brief for participants from Welsh Water on the current and future challenges to water quality as a result of climate changes, followed by creative problem solving using the BMC inter-disciplinary approach to collaborative research and practice.

The workshop is led by Dr. Natalia Eernstman, subject lead on the MA Creative Education at Art University Plymouth, and features humanitarian consultant and water engineer, Richard Luff, BMC Director Ben Rawlence, Alice Taherzadeh from the Land Workers Alliance, and London-based artist Lucine Bassa.

Mya-Rose Craig (aka Birdgirl) from Black2Nature said, “’I am really excited about the Ecological Futures Camp at Black Mountains College this summer, as it will allow Visible Minority Ethnic young people to access green skills.”

Max Girardeau from The Visionaries said: “We want to equip future generations to build a regenerative future, which is only possible if they have the space and time to grapple with the thorny and interconnected web of ecological challenges we currently face. It’s therefore a pleasure to be involved in the Ecological Futures Camp, which not only achieves this, but makes it accessible to those who most deserve to be given the platform.”

Sophie Howe, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales said: “We need new leaders and new ways of working. Black Mountains College and the Future Generations Academy are working together to create pathways for new kinds of leadership in an era of planetary crisis. This is a fantastic opportunity for young people across the UK to come and learn from Wales’ example.”

To read more about the camps and apply, please visit: https://blackmountainscollege.uk/events/ecological-futures-camp/