GTT Workshops
Since 2014, and even amidst the challenging times of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, GTT has consistently organised workshops in many locations, aiming to involve as many GTT members and friends as possible. Our organisation feels incredibly fortunate to have a dedicated group of founding members who have wholeheartedly committed themselves to attending as many workshops as possible. We are sincerely grateful for their presence and unwavering support which has been invaluable.
The GTT workshops were designed to align with the seasons, ensuring that the topics covered resonate with nature’s needs of time of year. During the Spring seasons, we focused on the art of seed planting, nurturing the growth of sustainable ideas. In the Summer months, our efforts shifted towards activities such as litter picking, building environments of cleanliness and awareness. As Autumn and Winter approached, we delved into the realm of animal care, promoting compassion and responsible stewardship during these colder months.
GTT also created Sustainable Tech Competitions, fostering innovation and encouraging our members to showcase their creative solutions. We also collaborated with national and international campaigns, establishing meaningful ties and increasing our collective impact.
Amidst the unprecedented lockdowns, we swiftly adapted and embraced the virtual realm. Zoom meetings became our primary mode of communication, allowing us to stay connected and continue our shared journey. To support our initiatives during this time, we devised a unique fundraising approach, encouraging members to count their steps and contribute based on the number of steps they were able to accumulate.
GTT’s workshops have not only served as platforms for education and exploration but also as catalysts for positive change towards a more sustainable future.
GTT Summer Camps
GTT also organised annual summer camps in both Italy and the UK, immersing participants in the wonders of wildlife and nature. These camps were strategically located in exciting environments, on a sunny hilltop vineyard, nestled within a wildlife park or tucked away amidst a lush English forest. One summer was camp was on a research boat in the Ligurian Sea. In these settings, GTT members fearlessly embraced the elements and willingly disconnected from the distractions of mobile phones and electricity. In the UK camp, water was heated through the power of fire, and all meals were prepared by hand from local produce. Always camping in tents or under the stars, members certainly faced and overcame their fears on several occasions.
The GTT camps served as valuable platforms for educating members about conservation and highlighting the significance of biodiversity. While a performing arts theme underpinned some of the activities, the core focus remained on cultivating an appreciation for the natural world and the importance of biodiversity. As a culmination of their learnings, the members had the opportunity to stage a captivating show at the end of each week, showcasing their newfound knowledge and talents.
Beyond the educational aspect, the GTT Summer camps played a crucial role in building bonds and promoting a sense of unity among participants. Through a series of group activities designed to encourage trust and enhance teamwork, lasting connections were forged. It is worth noting that no camp was devoid of the occasional drama or unexpected turn of events, but it was through these challenges that valuable lessons of resilience and adaptability were learned. The camps provided an escape into the wilderness and instilled a sense of responsibility towards our environment. They served as transformative experiences, blending education, creativity, and adventure, leaving GTT members with memories and skills that would endure far beyond the duration of the camp.
Green Teen Team Books 1, 2 and 3
Theodora documented the building of The Chelonia Project through three books.
Chelonia Book 1 told the story of the building of The Chelonia Garden.
Chelonia Book 2 took a closer look at the inhabitants of The Chelonia Garden.
Chelonia Book 2 delved into the importance of biodiversity and gave pages to our collaborators at the time to talk about their work.
You can read the books here.
Armenis and Teregova Schools Project, Romania
At the beginning of June 2015 GTT members visited the town of Armeniș in Caraș-Severin County, western Romania. The visit was to see a presentation of student’s conservation projects. The trip was awesome! The student’s projects were amazing and it was decided that not only would they all win prizes but they would all be supported to implement their projects over the coming year!
The project was in collaboration with WWF Romania, Rewilding Europe and Parco Natura Viva.
The Turtle Conservancy, USA
GTT visited The Turtle Conservancy in California in 2015 and 2016 and The Turtle Conservancy collaborated on the GTT Book 3.
The Turtle Conservancy is dedicated to protecting threatened turtles and tortoises and their habitats worldwide, and to promoting their appreciation by people everywhere.
Turtles are among the most threatened groups of animals on the planet, and are in desperate need of conservation help. More than half of their 300+ species are threatened with extinction according to IUCN Red List criteria. Primary threats to turtles and tortoises include habitat loss and degradation, high-volume unsustainable consumptive exploitation for food and medicinal products, and illegal international pet trade. The Turtle Conservancy is an amazing organisation.
The Turtle Conservancy featured Theodora in their beautiful magazine The Tortoise in 2016.
Coram’s Fields, UK
GTT were happy to be to work with the after school club at Coram’s Fields in London for three years. In 2017, we set up City Nature Club to make ‘Coram’s Field’s Seasons’. Coram’s Fields is an amazing seven acre city garden square exclusively for the use of children and young people. There is a youth centre, children’s centre, community nursery, sports and after school programmes as well as an adventure playground city farm and cafe.
We were very honoured to be asked to help with the new onsite Nature Garden which was due to open in Spring 2018. Here we helped support children and staff in the upkeep of the garden for the short period of time. Also in collaboration with the Bat Conservation Trust and the Bee Friendly Society.
Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme, The Maldives
The Maldives Whale Shark and Green Teen Team collaboration is a perfect example of our satellite projects. The MWSRP has been successfully tracking Whale sharks in the Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean.
The Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP) is a research-based conservation charity dedicated to studying the whale shark and fostering community-focused conservation initiatives in the Maldives and the greater Indian Ocean.
GTT worked on an educational project with MWSRP since 2017, to provide a platform for Marine Science studies in the Maldives. The project was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
One More Generation , USA
GTT was very happy to help One More Generation (OMG) with their OneLessStraw Campaign.
The OneLessStraw pledge campaign strived to educate the public about the dangers of single use plastic straws, its effects on our health, our environment, and our oceans.
Poppy’s Creche, UK
GTT is proud to collaborate with Poppy’s Creche.
Poppy’s Creche is an entirely self-funded small charity which is run and managed by Ann and her valuable team of volunteers. Poppy’s Creche is named after a very special albino hedgehog, Poppy.
Poppy’s Creche specialises in taking sick and orphaned babies and they work tirelessly, 365 days a year to hand rear the youngsters. Young hoglets need feeding by hand every two hours and this can be exhausting for the hedgehog carers!
GTT sponsored a hedgehog called Spike. He was a few days old and hardly able to stand, Poppy’s Creche thought he may have brain damage which would make him lose his balance. We decided to take a chance and it was the right thing to do, now (in August) Spike weighs 400 grams and has a healthy appetite!
GTT has sponsored heated pads to put inside the baby hedgehog’s boxes to keep them warm and a number if items from Poppy’s wishlist.
Read more about Poppy’s Creche here
EAZA’s Silent Forest Campaign, Bali
In 2018 GTT signed up with EAZA’s Silent Forest campaign and raised funds to support the fieldwork of the Bali Myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) conservation. The Bali Myna is a Critically Endangered Asian (specifically Indonesian) songbird and one of the most iconic bird species on the planet.
Funds raised were spent on the following:
– Supporting Indonesian students/ecologists to conduct studies of Bali Myna.
– Devising robust pre-release, release, and post-release protocols.
– Introducing a robust system of monitoring and studying released Bali Mynas with tracking to help determine the key ecological needs of the species.
Indonesia has one of the highest number of bird species assessed as threatened with global extinction in the world and the highest one in Asia (Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable; IUCN Red List, 2017) so we felt it was a valuable project to support.
Arise and Shine, Zimbabwe
GTT was a mentor for Arise and Shine, a new project for young female school leavers in Zimbabwe led by Annele Sibbs.
Arise and Shine’s objectives are to … “create a conducive environment for girl growth; Develop entrepreneurship skills; to develop the growth of girl child socially, physically, emotionally and economically.”
The girls in the group started gardening, using tools sponsored by GTT and they sold some of their produce in the local community and keep some for their families.
Arise and Shine was approved by the elders in November 2018 and the local forestry donated fruit trees to the group for their garden. Again this project was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Protecting African Lions, South Africa
GTT collaborated with PAL to help Protect African Lions. A green bracelet featuring a button specially designed by PAL founder and artist Conor McCreedy in collaboration with artisan Lianne Landman was made. Each bracelet has one of four personal quotes, written by GTT members.
The funds raised helped to help protect female lions from poachers to ensure they are able to breed freely. GTT sponsored a tracker for a female lion. This work helped strengthen the community outreach projects working with local schools in areas where African lions live, so that local people understand and respect the value of the African lion. In turn, this will add value to the landscape and other wild species living in these areas which builds the ecosystems and helps preserve biodiversity. This in turn helps raise the status of the African lion and push towards the banning of African lion exports and change the CITES protection.
You can still donate to receive your bracelet HERE!!! and help us help the last remaining lions in the wild.
In 2019, Theodora was asked to be the youngest speaker at the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Conference in Bangkok. Theodora spoke passionately about how important it is to listen to the voices of the young people and how to help encourage them to be park of bigger hands on responsible activist projects.
WAZA promotes cooperation between leading zoos, aquariums, national and regional associations, as well as with leading wildlife experts, academies, and universities and provides support for species-conservation management and husbandry of animals in human care, and encouraging the highest standards in member institutions. Many of these organisations are vital in the care of threatened and endangered species and are fundamental to conservation and reintroduction projects.