Education and young people

The Cairngorms National Park provides an extraordinary learning environment for people of all ages, but especially children and young people.

There are nine secondary schools and 23 primary schools either located within the National Park or containing part of the National Park within their catchment area. Around 15% of the population are aged 16 or below, slightly below the figure for Scotland as a whole (16%) but significantly higher than many other parts of rural Scotland.   

Given the unrivalled amount of greenspace on their doorstep, it is little wonder that educators have for many years taken inspiration from the natural environment, not least through outdoor learning. The Cairngorms provides an abundance of opportunities for children and young people (both locally and from further afield) to connect with nature and wildlife, learning more about the world around them and how they can help care for it.   

Since it was formed in 2003, the Park Authority has engaged with thousands of children and young people, from direct work with schools to supporting the John Muir Award, our dedicated Junior Ranger programme, volunteering opportunities and through the Cairngorms Youth Action Team. 

Resources and opportunities for young people

The Park Authority has developed a range of resources and learning opportunities to help students, teachers, voluntary groups and anyone with an interest in the Cairngorms National Park learn more about this special place. We’ve also created opportunities for young people to get involved in and influence our work. Many of these are summarised below. 

Cairngorms Youth Action Team

Across the world, young people are raising their voices and demanding action on climate change. Here in the National Park, the Cairngorms Youth Action Team have come together to empower and inspire other young people in the National Park to take action on the issues affecting them. Established in 2018, the youth group made up of young people aged 16 to 30 meets regularly in person and online, collaborating on projects, events and volunteering to ensure that young people’s voices are part of the conversation.

Junior rangers

The junior ranger project is a free, fun and adventurous outdoor learning programme for young people aged 11 to 18, delivered through close partnership working across the Cairngorms. Junior rangers have the chance to explore the Cairngorms, working alongside adult rangers on practical tasks whilst having fun, building confidence and learning new skills with people of their own age. 

Activities vary from learning how to catch, identify and release bumblebees as part of species monitoring efforts, to path maintenance and expeditions. There are two groups of junior rangers who meet once a month on a Saturday or Sunday – one in Badenoch and Strathspey and one in Deeside.

Travel grants 

A variety of educational resources have already been produced to support outdoor learning in the Cairngorms National Park, with outdoor learning seen as a key approach to delivering the Curriculum for Excellence. However, one of the key barriers that teachers and groups face is the high cost of travel to or around the National Park. The travel grant scheme helps to overcome this barrier, offering schools and voluntary groups from across Scotland up to 75% of transport costs, up to £300. 

Literary Landscapes 

Many place names in Scotland are – or come from – several different languages, primarily Gaelic, Scots, Doric and Norse. The influences of these languages are far-reaching and can tell us more about the natural and cultural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park. This includes information about the way that people used to live and work, the ecology of a place, and the shared culture of songs, stories and poetry.  

The Literary Landscapes resource provides a guide to common names and places in Scotland, as well as activities to support class activities.  

Literary Landscapes resources for teachers

Literary Landscapes booklet

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This document contains a teacher's resource about literary landscapes and place names of Scotland's National Parks (the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs). It explores the cultural, historical, and linguistic heritage embedded in Scottish place names, with a focus on Gaelic, Scots, Doric, and Norse influences. The resource is designed to help learners discover the meaning, history, and stories behind place names, linking them to the landscape, culture, and wildlife, and suggests related activities to help teachers when using this resource. The resource is intended to encourage outdoor learning, support the Curriculum for Excellence, and promote interdisciplinary learning, including Gaelic and Scots language education, with a list of further resources including a range of websites, books, and places to visit, to help people learn more about the place names.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.

Worksheets for teachers

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This document contains a variety of activities related to cultural heritage, history, wildlife, biodiversity, landscape features, habitats, folklore, songs, stories, and traditional routes. The activities encourage exploration of the Cairngorms National Park and its surroundings while promoting learning about local history, Gaelic language, and natural environment. Ideas range from drawing maps of shielings and exploring old townships to creating mini National Parks and imagining trade routes.

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Creative writing

Lots of writers and creatives have been inspired over the years by the landscapes, wildlife and people of the National Park. 

In 2019 we worked with Cairngorms-based writer Merryn Glover as our Writer in Residence. In her time with the Park Authority, Merryn encouraged people with a love for the Cairngorms to put pen to paper and explore their own relationship with nature in the National Park.  

Through workshops with schools, communities and visitors, Merryn developed the Cairngorms Lyric, and a worksheet to help people create their own. 

Creative writing resources

Cairngorms Lyric Resource

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This document contains information about the Cairngorms Lyric, a poem created by Merryn Glover, the Cairngorms National Park Writer in Residence, to encourage people to explore their relationship with nature. A Cairngorms Lyric is made up of 15 words, incorporating an element of nature from the Cairngorms and a word of non-English origin, drawing inspiration from poetic forms like Japanese Haiku. The Cairngorms National Park was established in 2003, includes five local authorities, has five of the six highest mountains in Scotland, and its waters flow into five of Scotland's most famous rivers. A Cairngorms Lyric can be in any language, any line length, and use any punctuation, and may or may not include rhyme, with the option to add extra words for a title.

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Shared Stories. A year in the Cairngorms. An anthology

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This document contains an anthology called "Shared Stories: A Year in the Cairngorms," edited by Anna Fleming and Merryn Glover. It's a collection of poems and stories from different people about their experiences with nature in the Cairngorms National Park. The book is divided into four sections: Approach, Here, Leaves and Beasties, and Living, exploring themes like discovery, specific places, plants and animals, and daily life in the park. The project was organized and funded by the Cairngorms National Park Authority, with support from the Woodland Trust and Creative Scotland, and it aims to inspire creative writing about how people and nature can thrive together. The book is available by donation to the Cairngorms Trust, which supports community-led nature and heritage projects in the National Park.

Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.