Teenage Dirtbags
Teenage Dirtbags is a our volunteer group for young people aged 13+. We get out into the woods, learn new skills and chat around the fire. It’s free to attend, and a great way to learn more about the woodlands and hang out with your friends - as well as making new ones!
This year’s project
Starting in October, we’ll be working with our Teenage Dirtbags to build a new Blacksmith’s workshops on our site on the Cardross Estate, nr Port of Menteith, using traditional timber framing techniques. Sessions will run fortnightly from Saturday 10 October to Saturday 30 January (with a break over the festive period), and we’ll culminate with some blacksmithing sessions in our new workshop, so that participants can also make some items to be used in the workshop. We’ll also be sharing a meal each session, cooked by the Dirtbags.
Our Dirtbags will meet new people, learn new skills and - most of all - have fun in the woods. The sessions also provide a space for teenagers to be themselves and get away from every day stresses.
Interested? All you have to do is fill in our sign-up form and we’ll send you all the relevant information. You can email us with any questions on hello@greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk. Need to know more before you sign up? Check out the FAQs below.
This year’s project has been supported by the Youth Impact Fund, offered by Forth Valley & Lomond Youth Local Action Group.
How Teenage Dirtbags started…
The original project was supported by Scottish Forestry and, over the course of 5 months we introduced the Teenage Dirtbags to traditional crafts and skills, including coppicing, tree planting, greenwood crafts and blacksmithing, and worked together to build a timber structure in the woods.
The Dirtbags reported:
Increased wellbeing
Increased confidence – about being outdoors, working with others, and doing practical activites
Learning about potential careers in the woods
Having a great time!
FAQs
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We want to give young people a safe way to find out about different traditional crafts skills and potential careers in the woodlands. We also help it will build confidence, increase wellbeing, and help participants meet new, likeminded folk.
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The sessions for this year will take place on our site, nr the Port of Menteith. Directions are here. If you’re on public transport, you can get the X10 to Arnprior or the X10A to Port of Menteith, and we can arrange a lift.
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We run fortnightly starting from Saturday 10 October. The full list of dates is:
Saturday 10 October
Saturday 24 October
Saturday 7 November
Saturday 21 November
Saturday 5 December
Saturday 16 January
Saturday 30 January
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We start each session at 10am and end around 3.30pm.
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Our site is fully outdoors, with covered areas to work and socialise under. We have a working kitchen and two composting toilets.
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No! You can come along to any of the sessions without committing to the full programme. We did find last year that regular participants got more out of the programme and enjoyed it more.
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We’ve received funding to cover food, so we’ll provide lunch, drinks and snacks. If you’d prefer to bring your own food, then that’s fine, too!
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The Dirtbags work together and in turns to prepare lunch, so we discuss in advance what they want to eat, and provide ingredients. We also expect them to tidy up afterwards! Last year, we had things like pasta with sauce, toasties, soup and sandwiches, and fajitas.
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Yes - we can!
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We provide all the tools, and we’ll have work gloves for you to wear. You’ll need waterproof jackets, appropriate outdoor clothes for the winter, and sturdy shoes.
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No! Each session is free to attend.
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Get in touch with us via email (hello@greenaspirationsscotland.co.uk) and we’ll look at each case individually.
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In a word, yes! There are obviously some risks working outside, but we do our best to mitigate those. We’ve been running projects like these since 2013 and we only work with experienced trainers. We’re first aid trained and everyone involved has the full PVG clearance to work with young people. We also have full insurance for all the activities we do.
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Of course! A focus of ours is to encourage more women into the working in the woods. All sessions will have at least one female trainer involved.
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We welcome everyone to the woods, so yes - please do come along. We have good experience of working with young people who are neurodivergent, and try our best to create safe spaces for everyone.