The Club is delighted to be working in partnership with our friends at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) to offer the Scottish Bird Camp again this year (see here for a summary of 2024's Camp) – an action-packed residential weekend for young naturalists aged 12-16!
Both SOC and BTO are committed to engaging and supporting the next generation of birdwatchers and to reaching more diverse and younger audiences, providing greater opportunities for young people to connect with birds and with each other.
Camp will provide ample opportunity for participants to make new friends, develop birding skills, and be inspired by experienced and enthusiastic trainers, as well as some of the best birdwatching experiences (and birds!) Scotland has to offer.
Dates
Camp will take place Friday 22 May - Monday 25 May 2026.
Where?
Camp will be based on the island of Colonsay (precise location information will be shared with successful applicants). This Hebridean island, located on Scotland’s west coast, will provide a scenic venue and incredible birdlife for our camp!
Who can Camp?
The Scottish Bird Camp is open to young people (priority will be given to residents in Scotland and we particularly encourage applications from SOC/BTO members) who are:
- Aged between 12 - 16 years old (we have increased the minimum age this year due to the remoteness of the camp location)
- Passionate about nature, although you don't need to be an expert; enthusiasm and a thirst for learning count for a lot!
Did you know that BTO are running Camps in every country this year? Keep an eye on their Youth Events webpage for further details.
Programme
The Camp will run from Friday evening to Monday evening and is all-inclusive. Staff, volunteers, and campers will depart for Colonsay from Oban via ferry. We will provide a transportation option from Balloch (near Glasgow) to Oban, and you are welcome to meet us in Oban as well.
The exact itinerary will depend on the weather. A more detailed programme will be shared with successful camp applicants closer to the time.
Friday: (Afternoon) arrival at Oban, ferry crossing to Colonsay, settle at camp, dinner, get to know each other, health & safety, evening activity (e.g. setting moth traps).
Saturday: Morning activity (weather-permitting), day-trip to local seabird colony, mindfulness, creative workshop, evening activity (e.g. campfire, looking for Corncrakes).
Sunday: Day trip to local nature reserve.
Monday: Pack up, final presentations, birdwatching walk, early dinner, evening ferry crossing to Oban.
Cost
With the support of our funders: the family of Ronald Guild - teacher, environmental activist, lifelong lover of nature and an anonymous donor, we've made Camp a fully-funded opportunity to ensure it's accessible to all. However, if you are financially able, we would very much welcome a donation to support our work to allow us to organise similar opportunities for young people in future. You can make a donation online (please make a note of what it's for in the Comments box), or call the SOC on 01875 871330 to make a card payment over the phone.
How to apply?
Before applying, download the information pack here for further details. You may also wish to join our Q&A session on 19th March (6:30pm-7:30pm) which you can book to attend here.
Once you're ready to apply, follow the instructions on the online application form. If you need any help with your application, email us, or join our Q&A session on 19th March. We’ll ask you why you want to come to camp, what you hope to learn, and to tell us a bit about your favourite green space, plant or animal. We’ll also ask for the contact details of two referees. Note that you can’t save progress on the form, so make sure you’ve got your answers ready.
If you would prefer to complete and send a paper application form, you can download one here. Completed forms should be sent to scot.info@bto.org.
If you are successful, you and a parent/guardian will be asked to attend a mandatory zoom call prior to camp.
Applications close at 11:59pm on Sunday 29th March 2026.
Accommodation
Accommodation at Camp will be shared indoor dormitories. We will allocate campers to shared rooms based on gender and age.
Staff and volunteers are Disclosure Scotland checked and cleared, and they are trained in safeguarding. There will always be at least two staff members on site overnight.
Travelling to camp
Our home for the weekend is on the beautiful island of Colonsay, accessible via a 2 hour ferry ride from Oban. Oban is connected to the rest of Scotland via car, bus, and train; it is roughly a 2.5 hour drive or a 3 hour train journey from Glasgow (the nearest city). We will offer transportation from Balloch train station (outside Glasgow) to Oban on the morning of 22 May. If travel costs are a concern for you, please contact us – we want Camp to be accessible for everyone!
Campers will arrive back in Oban at approximately 21:10 on Monday, 25 May. This inconvenient timing is due to the limited ferry schedule, and could change based on weather conditions. We will keep all parents and guardians updated in the event of changing timing. Please note that campers will need to be collected that evening from either Oban or Stirling train station. If the Monday evening pick-up would be difficult, costly, or a barrier to attending camp, please get in touch - we’re keen to make camp as accessible as possible and will see how we can best support you.
Equipment
A full packing list will be shared with successful applicants nearer May, however there isn't any specialist equipment required to take part in Camp, except for binoculars. Don't have any? Don't worry- we can lend you some for the weekend but you may wish to apply to BTO's excellent Equipment Donation Scheme so you have your own pair to use beyond Camp.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
There's space on the Application Form to tell us if there's something you would like us to know regarding your identity, which may enable us to make you feel more welcome/comfortable/at ease over the weekend, should you be offered a place at Camp. We're committed to making Camp a safe space for all participants, and so we ask everyone to abide by our Code of Conduct which will be shared with participants in advance.
Accessibility
We want Bird Camp to be a positive, safe, and enjoyable experience for everyone, and we are committed to being as inclusive as possible. However, due to the remoteness of Colonsay and the nature of the terrain and activities involved, we sadly aren’t able to offer a fully accessible camp for wheelchair users or for those with physical disabilities that significantly impact mobility. Much of the camp takes place outdoors, often on uneven ground, with limited access to step-free routes and facilities.
Please also note that Colonsay is accessed by ferry, and there is typically only one ferry crossing per day. This means that travel to and from the island is limited, and returning home at short notice may not always be possible. We ask that applicants consider this carefully, particularly in relation to homesickness, wellbeing, or any circumstances that may require flexibility around travel.
If you have any accessibility requirements or concerns you would like to discuss, please email us at youth@bto.org or ado@the-soc.org.uk.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding participants is of paramount importance to us. All of our staff and volunteers have completed safeguarding training and are Disclosure Scotland checked and cleared. A Designated Safeguarding Lead will be present at camp. BTO’s Safeguarding Policy can be found on BTO’s website, including BTO’s Safeguarding Children Policy. SOC’s Safeguarding Policy can be found on SOC’s website. We will complete full risk assessments before the start of camp, including a safeguarding risk assessment. You can email either team for a copy of our policies or risk assessments at youth@bto.org or ado@the-soc.org.uk.
Contributing Organisations
This opportunity is a joint collaboration between the SOC and BTO and will be led by representatives from each organisation, as well as SOC volunteers and BTO Youth Representatives, alongside a professional Youth Leader.
Funders
The 2026 Scottish Bird Camp is being made possible by the generous support of:
The family of Ronald Guild
Teacher, environmental activist, lifelong lover of nature and of all things East Lothian.
Anonymous donor
Any questions?
Email youth@bto.org or ado@the-soc.org.uk
Can't make this opportunity, but interested to hear about others?
Subscribe to our Youth Events Mailing List
Bird Camp images © BTO
