RSPB Wildlife Explorers                                                                                                                     

From 18th. August 2000 the Young Ornithologists Club (YOC) is henceforth to be known as the RSPB Wildlife Explorers

Despite being the world's biggest wildlife club for children, the YOC was still a mystery to many outside the RSPB. So the name change will show exactly what the younger members of the RSPB are interested in; all things wild.

The new club will cater for all children whatever their age. For the under 8's there's a colourful bi-monthly magazine called Wild Times. It's packed with photographs, stories, puzzles and things for young children to do, and features cartoons with Owlbert, Red and Rookie. The 8 - 12 year olds  receive their own award winning bi-monthly magazine, Bird Life, packed with articles, activities, competitions, jokes, projects and, of course, Rook the cerebrally challenged corvid. For teenagers there's the quarterly magazine, Wingbeat, largely written by teenagers for teenagers with up to date information about birds and the environment.

Participation is still the core of the new RSPB Wildlife Explorers. There are important surveys to be conducted, such as the starling roost count, and the winter lapwing count. This information is vitally important so that numbers of birds can be monitored year by year.

Like the adults, members receive free entry to over 140 RSPB reserves around the country.

Unfortunately, the Medway Wildlife Explorers group has recently been disbanded. There is a vacancy for someone to restart the group, and if you are interested then please contact Sue Carter.