Who is Carna Hope Week for?

Carna Hope Week is open to high school pupils from a selected local high school in the Lochaber area. We welcome applications from any pupil with a curiosity for nature. Applications are open to all pupils going into S4 – S6, as well as school leavers at any stage, regardless of their academic achievements or future plans for learning or employment.

To demonstrate that there are many ways that you can contribute to a positive future for our planet, and to your own community, no matter your interest, background or ability.

Our team and our partners represent a broad spectrum of backgrounds, educational attainment, ages and life experiences. Each of us brings a unique set of abilities and experiences to our work in nature, and to Carna Hope Week. We believe that creating resilient nature and communities for the future will require a diverse workforce with wide-ranging skill sets. We also believe that there is no wrong path to success. We want to reflect this to participants of Carna Hope Week. 

Whether you are a budding scientist, good with your hands, outdoorsy, a born farmer, a smooth communicator, a creative mind, an excellent host, a good organiser (or a little of everything); there is a place for you in the future of nature in Scotland’s rural communities.

During the week long residency pupils;

• Immersed themselves in island life; living independently (supported by two of their teachers) in the islands two cottages.
• Explored the habitats and species of Carna’s land and surrounding seas. They learnt about how these ecosystems are doing, and what we could do to help those that are declining or changing.
• Met a range of people from different backgrounds and sectors who are using their skills and their passion for nature to make a difference.
• Learnt about emerging and evolving industries such as responsible tourism, regenerative farming 
• Learnt about emerging and evolving industries (responsible tourism, regenerative farming)
• Guided by these practitioners they will experience a range of skills that offer insight into different ways of working with nature and making a difference.

Pupil reflections

“Carna Hope Week has made me more sociable and given me a greater awareness of the nature around me. I appreciate the nature on our own doorstep a lot more. I might even take photography further as it interested me greatly and John was such a great advocate for it.”

“<It’s had> an impact on future career paths (thinking of working for RSPB). Hope for our environment with how many people are helping and see it as a priority our environment will thrive once again. Good for relationships too, a good mix of people, got to know each other better.”

“I learnt that I prefer being outdoors than in and it makes me happier. Would definitely like a job outside and learnt just how many job opportunities there are for outdoors.”

“It helped me understand certain aspects of conservation better, though I still don’t agree with all of it.”

“Realise there are things we can do locally rather than globally to help the environment.”

Supporting our alumni and wider community

Since Carna Hope Week 2024 we have been working with the school and DYW to keep supporting and connecting with our alumni. It is our ambition to continue to support them into relevant apprenticeship, internship and other career pathway opportunities. We would also like to support them to return to Carna as volunteers or job opportunities.

We believe that Carna Hope Week has the potential to benefit the wider student body and community. Working with DYW and our partners we believe that Carna Hope Week can act as a vehicle to offer opportunities more broadly through careers fairs, opportunities for internships and apprenticeships, finding out about diverse career pathways etc. Carna Hope Week is an accessible way to connect the school community with local organisations and charities; providing mutually beneficial opportunities to both.