Friday 15 July 2016 to Sunday 17 July 2016
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Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015
Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
In June 2015, Camp Avalon attracted a number of young teenagers to the Somerset Levels, to spend the weekend birding and getting involved with nature. It included keen birders and people who had never been to the countryside or camped. These are the links to Birdgirl's blog posts about the weekend.
Camp Avalon - Friday Night
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| Camp Avalon Friday night |
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| Camp Avalon Friday night |
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| Camp Avalon Friday night |
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| Camp Avalon Friday night |
Camp Avalon - Saturday
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| Camp Avalon Saturday |
 Camp Avalon Saturday |
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| Camp Avalon Saturday |
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| Camp Avalon Saturday |
Camp Avalon - Sunday
http://bit.ly/1jueBlC
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
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| Camp Avalon Sunday |
Friday 15 July 2016 to Sunday 17 July 2016
This is a camp for young birders and is also suitable for those who have no experience of nature at all. We hope to have a number of teenagers coming from inner city Bristol who have no experience of birds and nature and have never camped. We have plenty to help to ensure that both groups are catered for.
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| Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
Come to a camping weekend on the Somerset Levels for young birders between the ages of 12 to 18 and at secondary school or 6th form. Please contact us if you are a little bit younger and still wish to come.
You may be accompanied by an adult is you wish but do not need one to attend. CRB checked adults will be with the teenagers at all times.
You may be accompanied by an adult is you wish but do not need one to attend. CRB checked adults will be with the teenagers at all times.
Based on the ABA Camp Colorado and Camp Avocet in the USA (ABA Young Birder Camps), where 40 young birders each summer experience a week of new birds, people and learning. The idea that those with experience share it with young birders. The USA camp is relatively expensive and is for a week compared with what we are trying to do here at Camp Avalon.
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| Ham Wall RSPB Reserve, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
Camp Avalon
This is a sample programme based on the one for 2015 with improvements. The programme will be finalised after feedback from those attending. At the moment, Mike Dilger from The One Show and Ben Hoare from BBC Wildlife Magazine are hoping to attend. So please get in touch with your ideas for the camp.
Friday 15th July 2016
All activities dependent on weather
6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS)
7.30 pm – 8.30 pm (CS)
9.00 pm – 10.30 pm (MD)Somerset
Friday 15th July 2016
All activities dependent on weather
6.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS)
Set up tents & time to socialize
7.30 pm – 8.30 pm (CS)
Dinner cooked on fires at campsite
9.00 pm – 10.30 pm (MD)
Looking for Nightjar on the Mendips (dependent on weather)
Led by Chris Craig, Avon and Saturday 16th July 2016
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at campsite
8.00 am - 11.00 am (AMC)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC)
11.30 am – 12.00 pm (AMC)
12.00 am - 12.30 pm (AMC or SHCP)Somerset County
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm (AMC)
1.30 am – 3.30 pm (AMC)
Bird Photography
James Packer, Chris Griffin and Brian Gibbs, Somerset County Recorder and bird photographer and
James Packer, who writes the blog The Somerset Birder and is a Somerset
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC)
4.00 pm – 4.30 pm (AMC)
5.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS)
Led by Chris & Helena Craig
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at campsite
8.00 am - 11.00 am (AMC)
Bird ringing demonstration at Avalon Marshes Centre
Mike Bailey Chair of Chew Valley Ringing Station and BTO ringing trainer (with Chris Craig assisting)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC)
Refreshment break
Avalon Marshes Centre
11.30 am – 12.00 pm (AMC)
An introduction to Bird Ringing, how to get involved and how it benefits conservation
Mike Bailey Chair of Chew Valley Ringing Station and BTO ringing trainer
12.00 am - 12.30 pm (AMC or SHCP)
How to keep and submit good records and understanding fieldcraft (for the keen young birder)
Brian Gibbs, Somerset County
Bio Blitzing at Shapwick Heath (optional for beginners)
Mike Urwin, RoAM
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm (AMC)
12.30 pm – 1.30 pm (AMC)
Lunch
Avalon Marshes Centre
1.30 am – 3.30 pm (AMC)
Bird Photography
James Packer, Chris Griffin and Brian Gibbs, Somerset County Recorder and bird photographer and
James Packer, Chris Griffin and Brian Gibbs, Somerset County Recorder and bird photographer and
James Packer, who writes the blog The Somerset Birder and is a Somerset
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC)
Refreshment break
Avalon Marshes Centre
4.00 pm – 4.30 pm (AMC)
Born to Bird, a talk focusing on how those with ethnic minority heritage can connect with birds and animals from those places
Mya-Rose Craig (age 14)
5.00 pm – 7.30 pm (CS)
Downtime and dinner cooked on fires at campsite
8.00 pm – 9.30 pm (HW)
Evening bittern walk at Ham Wall. Meet at SHCP.
Led by Chris & Helena Craig
Led by Chris & Helena Craig
Sunday 17th July 2016
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at campsite
8.00 am - 10.45 am (SH & HW)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC)
11.30 am – 12.00 am (AMC)
Andy Mears, World birder, Oriental Bird Club active Member and one of only a few birders to have accomplished the huge feat of seeing all the Pittas of the World
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm (AMC)
1.00 pm – 3.00 pm (AMC)
Sketching for birders
John Gale, acclaimed bird illustrator for ID publications around the world as well as a bird artist
3.00 pm – 3.30 pm (AMC)
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC)
4.00 pm Finish
7.00 am – 7.30 am (CS) Breakfast at campsite
8.00 am - 10.45 am (SH & HW)
Birding at Shapwick Heath and Ham Wall, searching for Great White Egret, Bittern and lots of other great birds. Meet at SHCP.
Led by Julian Thomas, Somerset birder, British and day lister and world birder (with Chris Griffin assisting)
11.00 am – 11.30 am (AMC)
Refreshment break
Avalon Marshes Centre
11.30 am – 12.00 am (AMC)
An introduction to world birding and volunteering with conservation projects abroad
Andy Mears, World birder, Oriental Bird Club active Member and one of only a few birders to have accomplished the huge feat of seeing all the Pittas of the World
12.00 pm – 1.00 pm (AMC)
Lunch
Avalon Marshes Centre
1.00 pm – 3.00 pm (AMC)
Sketching for birders
John Gale, acclaimed bird illustrator for ID publications around the world as well as a bird artist
3.00 pm – 3.30 pm (AMC)
Refreshment break
Avalon Marshes Centre
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm (AMC)
Close and looking forward to Camp Avalon 2017 (30 June -2 July 2017)
Mya-Rose Craig, Young Birder
4.00 pm Finish
Key to locations
AMC – Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road Glastonbury , Somerset , BA6 9TT
CS – The Isle of Avalon Touring Caravan Park, Godney Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9AF, telephone 01458 833618
HW - Ham Wall RSPB Reserve, park in the new Ham Wall Car Park if open or Shapwick Heath Car Park opposite, Ashcott Road, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SX
MP – Stockhill Woods, Priddy, Mendips, Somerset BA5 3BE (drive through Wells and then follow A39 towards Bristol and Bath, turn left onto Priddy Road and at the crossroads (with the Hunters Rest on the corner) turn right, the woods are on your right and park in the pull-in before the car park).
SHCP – Shapwick Heath NNR English Nature Car Park, Ashcott Road , Glastonbury
AMC – Avalon Marshes Centre, Shapwick Road Glastonbury , Somerset , BA6 9TT
CS – The Isle of Avalon Touring Caravan Park, Godney Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9AF, telephone 01458 833618
HW - Ham Wall RSPB Reserve, park in the new Ham Wall Car Park if open or Shapwick Heath Car Park opposite, Ashcott Road, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SX
MP – Stockhill Woods, Priddy, Mendips, Somerset BA5 3BE (drive through Wells and then follow A39 towards Bristol and Bath, turn left onto Priddy Road and at the crossroads (with the Hunters Rest on the corner) turn right, the woods are on your right and park in the pull-in before the car park).
SHCP – Shapwick Heath NNR English Nature Car Park, Ashcott Road , Glastonbury
Bittern, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015
Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
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| Bittern, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
Cost
£20.00 per person including carers, excluding camping costs (£16 per night for two people or much less in provided shared tents).
£20.00 per person including carers, excluding camping costs (£16 per night for two people or much less in provided shared tents).
Grants
There will be a limited number of grants available to those young people (and a parent if they are under 16 years old) from an inner city area who have little or no experience of engaging with nature and whose family are receiving means tested benefits. Camp Avalon recognises that there are almost no young birders from black or ethnic minority backgrounds and so hope that these grants will encourage disadvantaged young people to be able to attend. All equipment needed will also be loaned for the weekend.
Thank you to Opticron for the load of five pair of compact binoculars to this project.
There will be a limited number of grants available to those young people (and a parent if they are under 16 years old) from an inner city area who have little or no experience of engaging with nature and whose family are receiving means tested benefits. Camp Avalon recognises that there are almost no young birders from black or ethnic minority backgrounds and so hope that these grants will encourage disadvantaged young people to be able to attend. All equipment needed will also be loaned for the weekend.
Thank you to Opticron for the load of five pair of compact binoculars to this project.
Transport
Free transport is available to and from Bristol train or coach station. The camp site is a 10 minute drive to Ashcott Corner car park.
Thank you to Avalon Marshes Centre for their support and to the birders who have offered their time in order to pass on their knowledge to young birders. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved by e-mailing campavalonuk@gmail.com.
Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015
Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Free transport is available to and from Bristol train or coach station. The camp site is a 10 minute drive to Ashcott Corner car park.
Thank you to Avalon Marshes Centre for their support and to the birders who have offered their time in order to pass on their knowledge to young birders. Please get in touch if you would like to get involved by e-mailing campavalonuk@gmail.com.
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| Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, March 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
How to Book
E-mail campavalonuk@gmail.com with your name, age, if an adult would like to come with you and any dietary requirements or use the document posted or post a comment on the Camp Avalon blog.
Hudsonian Godwit, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015
Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
Grass Snake, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015
Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig
E-mail campavalonuk@gmail.com with your name, age, if an adult would like to come with you and any dietary requirements or use the document posted or post a comment on the Camp Avalon blog.
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| Hudsonian Godwit, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
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| Grass Snake, Shapwick Heath, Somerset Levels, April 2015 Photograph taken by and copyright Mya-Rose Craig |
About the writer
Camp Avalon is the idea of Mya-Rose Craig, who also organised the event in 2015. She is organising the 2016 camp and hopes to attract more young birders and inner city teenagers.
Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Scilly
Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig
Mya-Rose Craig is a 13 year old young birder, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, activist, writer and speaker. She is based near Bristol and writes the successful Birdgirl Blog, with posts about birding and conservation from around the world. She loved seeing Mountain Gorillas in East Africa and Penguins in Antarctica over Christmas 2015, her 7th continent.
Mya-Rose is a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador along with Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Shaun the Sheep! See the full list of Bristol Ambassadors. She has also been listed with the singer songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter
Camp Avalon is the idea of Mya-Rose Craig, who also organised the event in 2015. She is organising the 2016 camp and hopes to attract more young birders and inner city teenagers.
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| Young Birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig on Scilly Photograph taken by and copyright Chris Craig |
Mya-Rose Craig is a 13 year old young birder, naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, activist, writer and speaker. She is based near Bristol and writes the successful Birdgirl Blog, with posts about birding and conservation from around the world. She loved seeing Mountain Gorillas in East Africa and Penguins in Antarctica over Christmas 2015, her 7th continent.
Mya-Rose is a Bristol European Green Capital Ambassador along with Kevin McCloud, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tony Juniper, Simon King, Miranda Krestovnikoff and Shaun the Sheep! See the full list of Bristol Ambassadors. She has also been listed with the singer songwriter George Ezra and actress Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones as one of Bristol's most influential young people. Please like her Birdgirl Facebook Page and follow her on Birdgirl Twitter
