Teach the Future Summer Youth Gathering
Join a free, in-person day of workshops, games and creative action for 16–25-year-olds who care about climate and nature education.
Date and time
Location
The Young People's Forest at Mead
near Slack Lane Heanor DE75 7JP United KingdomAgenda
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Arrivals
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Welcome and Introduction
11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Icebreaker activities
11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
Session 1: What’s Wrong with Climate and Nature Education?
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Lunch break
1:30 PM - 2:15 PM
Session 2: Campaigning Workshop
2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 PM - 3:15 PM
Session 3: Creative expression
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM
Plenary: Sharing and reflections
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Informal networking and close
Good to know
Highlights
- 5 hours, 30 minutes
- UNDER 16 WITH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN
- In person
- Paid venue parking
Refund Policy
About this event
Are you a young person passionate about climate justice? Want to change the way we talk about the climate and nature crisis in schools, colleges and universities?
Come join us for the Teach the Future Summer Youth Gathering - a free, in-person day of workshops, games and creative action for 16–25 year-olds who care about climate and nature education (under 16s can attend with a parent/guardian).
You'll connect with other campaigners, get inspired by youth-led movements, and work together to reimagine what education for a better future could look like.
Whether you’re new to campaigning or have loads of experience – everyone is welcome.
What to expect
🌳 Games and informal opportunities to connect and make friends
🗣️ Workshops on what's wrong (and right) with climate education
🎨 Creative campaigning through art, writing and music
💬 Open mic space to speak your truth
🧠 Strategy and storytelling tips from experienced organisers
Practical Info
Age range: 16–25 (under 16s welcome with a parent/guardian)
Access needs: Toilets will be available at the visitor centre in Shipley Country Park, these are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
Travel: The organiser team will provide free buses for attendees to travel between the gathering location - The Young People’s Forest at Mead - and Derby Railway Station before and after the event. The bus will leave Derby Railway Station at 10am so please be at the station before then as it will not be able to wait for people. Our staff team will be there to welcome you! The bus will leave the site at 4pm and will be back at Derby Railway Station around 4:30pm - please give sufficient time before your return journey. If the cost of travel to Derby is a significant barrier, please contact us at hello@teachthefuture.uk
Food: We will provide a vegetarian/vegan light lunch for attendees, but you are also welcome to bring your own packed lunch and/or snacks.
What to bring: Comfortable clothes for outdoor games, and any art supplies you love using (optional – we’ll provide basics).
Permissions to attend and registration
To support the safety of our event, we ask that if you are:
- 18+: You register and share emergency contact details. You must read this document on photo and recording permissions before registering.
- 16 or 17: A parent or guardian must read this permissions document and fill out the registration form for the 16 or 17 year old.
- Under 16: You must attend the event with a parent/guardian. This parent/guardian must register you and themselves for this event. Parents/guardians must read this permissions document before registering. Parents/guardians will be able to wait in a separate space at the venue.
If you are 16+ and would like a parent/guardian to attend with you, please ask your parent/guardian to select the ticket option "Parent/guardian attending with an under 16", and complete the form accordingly.
Any other questoins? Please don't hesitate to get in touch by emailing us at hello@teachthefuture.uk
Frequently asked questions
No. Under 16s must have a parent/guardian in attendance with them. This parent/guardian will be responsible for the young person during the event. Parent/guardians may sit with the young person during the event or there will be a separate spac available for parents to spend time if they prefer.
A large pay and display car park is available for visitors at Shipley Country Park. To access the site from the car park, follow the track that runs adjacent to the visitor centre on its western side (to the right of the visitor centre if your back is facing towards the car park).
Visit the Woodland Trust's website: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/young-peoples-forest-at-mead/
Organised by
Teach the Future is a campaign led by secondary and tertiary education students to greatly improve education on the climate emergency and ecological crisis in the UK. The campaign is hosted and supported by the charity SOS UK.