With the slogan “Become an explorer”, this year’s Kartali Nature Camp inspired more than 60 people to explore the dramatic beauty of Bulgaria’s Rhodope Mountains, and to learn more about the local LIFE Vultures Project. Held between May 12 and 17 on the banks of the Studen Kladenets Reservoir, the event, attended by everyone from small children to volunteers and students, proved incredibly popular with young Bulgarian nature lovers.

Twelve-year-old Zach Haynes, BBC Wildlife magazine’s inspirational junior blogger of the year, describes himself as a “small dude with a big love of nature”. Zach regularly writes about nature and his daily discoveries in his blog Year of  Nature. In this blog for Rewilding Europe, he talks to us about his love of wildlife, and reminds us how rewilding can always take place on a small, very personal scale.

Rewilding Europe places high value on education programmes and activities for kids, students, volunteers, activists and other nature enthusiasts. We believe that an essential part of our work is to communicate and share our passion, knowledge and enthusiasm for the natural world, and the philosophy of rewilding with the generations to come. In May, the ‘Black Vultures Nature Camp’ for children and Earth Day celebration in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains successfully empowered a new generation of young Europeans to share this vision further.