PARTNER FEATURE: Bertha Earth

Bertha Earth is on a mission to grow a diverse network of young leaders, storytellers, and changemakers who reignite a great love for our planet. Through their people, partners, and stories, they focus on supporting, amplifying, and inspiring youth-led action in various ways. 

Bertha Earth has kindly connected the It’s Time to ReWild Yourself campaign with their youth groups and engaging community, to continue spreading the importance of Nature connection and help us push the pathway challenges out to one of our target audiences.

The Ambassador Programme

Research shows that around age 11, many children’s connection to nature significantly decreases, making them less likely to engage in pro-environmental behaviours. The Ambassador Programme is for young people aged 11 – 13, and focuses on strengthening their connection to nature, self, and others, encouraging them to engage with the natural world and eventually take active roles in environmental issues.

Bertha Earth believes that to truly protect something, one must first connect with it. This belief guides many programme activities, which help participants explore and deepen their connection to nature through all five pathways.

The programme includes workshops, a nature connect day and a five-day farm retreat. These experiences encourage young people to see themselves as part of nature and consider their role in supporting the planet. Hands-on activities like making seed bombs and creating ‘journey sticks’ on nature walks help them connect with nature’s sensory and aesthetic aspects. They also practise exercises to strengthen their emotional connection to the environment.

Participants also reflect on their passions and express their love for nature, often through a form of art, allowing them to celebrate nature’s beauty and deepen their personal connection to it. Storytelling is another key element, helping to build emotional and meaningful connections with the environment.

To date, around 700 young people have completed the programme that is currently available to all state schools in London to apply for. 

Changemakers 

For 16-18-year-olds who already have a compassion for nature and a desire to make a difference, Bertha Earth offers the Changemakers Programme. This initiative provides support, collaborative sessions, and an in-person mini-retreat where young people can develop and launch their ideas in a way that’s sustainable, purposeful, and grounded in self-care and a connection to nature.

Changemakers Ella and Lisa feature in our October activity book, where they share their thoughts on what compassion to nature can involve. Discover their tips on this months activity book HERE.

Community & Stories 

Bertha Earth stays connected with the young people who participate in the programmes and are always on the lookout for nature connection opportunities to share with them. This summer, alumni are invited to engage in the ‘It’s Time to Rewild Yourself’ campaign.  

They also regularly feature inspiring stories of young people making a difference in the environmental space, including those who have gone through their programmes. Check out their Instagram page to stay up to date with the stories, and sign-up for their newsletter to hear about what they have going on.

Bertha Earth is able to do this work with the support of some fantastic people and partners, such as:

Jamie’s Farm | We Are Grow | Global Generation | Central Film School | Bore Place | London Wildlife Trust | Creekside Discovery Centre | YMCS George Williams College

Discover more about Bertha Earth

Explore the ‘It’s time to ReWild Yourself Campaign’