Education

Geoparks are outdoor classrooms and living laboratories, where the stunning landscapes inspire learning and discovery, contributing to environmental education that helps deepen our understanding of the world around us.

While a UNESCO Global Geopark must demonstrate geological heritage of international significance, the purpose of a UNESCO Global Geopark is to explore, develop and celebrate the links between that geological heritage and all other aspects of the area's natural, cultural and intangible heritages. It is about reconnecting people to the planet we call home and celebrating how 4,600 million years of Earth's history has shaped every aspect of our lives and our societies.

Contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development goals geoparks focus on celebrating earth heritage and championing the requirement for a sustainable approach to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

Geopark Shetland and its partners are working with the Shetland community on several educational activities to:

• Conserve Shetland’s rich geological heritage and demonstrate its links with natural and cultural heritage.
• Raise awareness and increase understanding of Shetland’s geological heritage

This includes multiple partners coming together to run the Shetland UNESCO Geopark Junior Rangers Programme in 2024. Led by Shetland Amenity Trust the pilot project involved two Shetland schools embracing conservation works. Pupils were involved in biosecurity checks on Noss Nature Reserve, sphagnum planting on peatland restoration sites and understanding what it takes to care for Clickimin Broch.

The aspiration is to develop a monthly Junior Rangers project, for Shetland’s young people to participate in conservation activities outside school. A range of environmental organisations will help them learn about how the rock, land, habitats, species and people are linked and what can be done to protect the landscape they know so well.