From 'artivism' to action: projects empowering young people to protect their planet

#EarthDay2025 blog

22 Apr 2025

In celebration of #EarthDay2025, the global campaign that encourages people around the world to work together to help safeguard the planet, we are taking the opportunity to highlight some projects that are empowering children and young people across Scotland to connect with their environment and make a positive difference.

Whether its developing global citizen skills, inspiring the next generation of climate change leaders or supporting young people to explore the outdoors, these projects are working with children and young people in empowering, inclusive and exciting ways.

Art for Action: The Open University in Scotland and Highland One World

The Open University in Scotland and Highland One World are partnering on the Art for Action project which is encouraging children from Scotland’s Highlands and Islands, Nigeria, and Kenya, to think about how society should be responding to climate change and how to express their views through the medium of art. The young participants’ artivism aims to provide a new perspective on issues such as climate change and sustainability.

We are delighted to be hearing more about this fantastic project at our Annual Conference on 28-29 May in Glasgow.

Click here to learn more about the workshop

Learning through Landscapes: Climate School 180

Helping educators to inform and inspire the next generation, Learning through Landscapes’ Climate School 180 project is supporting schools to provide quality climate change education in their settings.

Schools can apply to receive training and advice directly from the Learning through Landscapes team on how to develop a whole-school approach to climate change. The final round of the project is open for applications from schools until 9 May. Click here to learn more

Innovative toolkit supporting Learning for Sustainability

Pupils across Scotland have access to an innovative new toolkit which equips them with the ability to improve the environmental impact of their school grounds.

Developed by NatureScot in collaboration with teachers and pupils, the Nature Discovery Map Scotland toolkit enables pupils to assess their school grounds, discover what nature exists and plan how to make improvements to encourage nature to flourish in the future.

Click here to find out more about the toolkit

Inclusive community play for all Scotland’s children

A project in East Lothian is highlighting the importance of making outdoor play inclusive for all families. Supported by choose play and Thrive Outdoors, children and teenagers with additional support needs have been developing ideas to influence the design of a new play space with the aim of ensuring all Scotland’s children are able to play, learn and thrive outdoors.

Learn more about the project during Children in Scotland’s Annual Conference

Junior Rangers: Cairngorms National Park

We were delighted to feature an inspiring project led by the Cairngorms National Park in our recent issue of Insight magazine. Since 2009, the Junior Rangers project has given almost 1,000 young people the chance to experience nature and advocate for their environment while developing new skills. The project recently won the Youth Action Award at RSPB Scotland’s Nature of Scotland Awards.

Click here to learn more about the project