Welcome to our 2026–2027 Bertha Earth Ambassadors Programme!

We can hardly believe we are entering our sixth year of delivery. It has been a real privilege for us all to be part of this journey and to see the Bertha Earth Ambassadors Programme grow alongside the young people, schools and facilitators who take part in it.

Over the years, we have listened, learned and continued to develop the programme through the experiences and voices of all the people who bring it to life. We hope you are enjoying the direction it is taking.

Thank you for your contributions, care and collaboration in making this happen. We couldn't have done it without you.

We know we still have a lot to learn and more we want to shape, and we're excited to open this next stage of the journey up to all of you. Together, we are working towards our Curriculum & Learning for Action North Star: creating a high-quality, experiential and scalable programme that supports young people to connect, learn and take action.

– The Bertha Earth Team

At Bertha Earth, we are on a mission to reignite a great love for our planet. 

We believe every child should have the right to inherit a healthy, thriving planet, and we are incredibly grateful to our founder, Tony Tabatznik, for championing this vision. One of the greatest challenges of our time is a deep sense of disconnection: from nature, from each other and from the belief that we can make a difference.

We also know that when young people feel more connected to themselves, each other and the natural world, they are better able to care, contribute and create change.

The Bertha Earth Ambassadors Programme intentionally brings together experiential learning, nature connection, storytelling, reflection, creativity and action. Throughout their journey, Ambassadors are supported to develop a:

• Connection to Self: Greater awareness of their thoughts, feelings, strengths and the choices they make

• Connection to Others: Respect and care for others, alongside a stronger sense of belongin

• Connection to Nature: A deeper understanding that humans are part of nature, not separate from i

• Working Together: An understanding of what it takes to collaborate towards a shared goa

• Storytelling: The confidence and skills to use stories and their own voices to connect with and positively influence other

• Ability to Act: Greater confidence in their ability to contribute, take action and make a difference

How to Use the Workshop Plans

Each workshop contains some common features to help you prepare and deliver it confidently.

Scripted Language

Suggested language is provided throughout the workshop plans. You can use it word for word, or adapt it into language that feels natural to you. However, where particular language is repeated throughout the programme, such as Ubuntu, Web of Life, BE Here Now or Project Planet Love, please use the agreed terminology to maintain consistency across the programme.

Highlighted Verbs

Key facilitator actions are shown in bold. For example:

– Gather
– Explain
– Ask
– Invite
– Demonstrate

These are there to help you quickly scan a workshop plan and see what you need to do next.

1. Immersive Workshops

Workshops with this label involve the Ambassadors physically entering into and experiencing an activity. The Core Activity may be longer than usual, with a shorter Opening to create enough space for the activity. Immersive does not automatically mean the session is outdoors.

2. Outdoor Workshops

This means the session can easily be delivered outside, has been designed as an outdoor session or would benefit from taking place outdoors.

3. Key Message

The central idea we want the Ambassadors to feel, experience and take from the workshop

4. Key Aims

The learning experiences the workshop is designed to enable.

5. Key Outcomes

These answer the question: “By the end of this workshop, what will Ambassadors have experienced, understood, felt or done?” 

6. Design Principles

The particular Bertha Earth Design Principles that are most important within the workshop.

7. Resources

The physical and digital resources required to deliver the workshop.

8. Story Capturing Opportunities

Moments during the workshop that may be particularly good opportunities to capture photographs, video or audio. These moments can become part of the Celebration Montage, enabling the Ambassadors to look back across their journey and see how far they have travelled. Always follow Bertha Earth’s safeguarding and consent guidance, as set out in the Media Consent Policy. Check each young person’s parent or guardian consent, including whether images may be shared within the school or publicly.

As a matter of best practice, young people should also be given a clear choice on the day.

Most workshops follow a familiar rhythm. This consistency helps Ambassadors know what to expect while leaving plenty of room for each workshop to feel different.

Opening

Arrive – Connect – Get Ready

The Opening helps Ambassadors arrive in the space, connect with one another and prepare for the Core Activity. Not every opening will contain every element.

Depending on the workshop, it may include:

• Awe and Wonder: An image, question or idea that sparks curiosity about our planet, nature or environmental changemakers.

• Energy Check-In: A quick opportunity for Ambassadors to notice and share how they are arriving. Over time, this becomes a familiar programme ritual.

• BE Here Now: A short grounding or self-care practice that helps the Ambassadors arrive, settle and focus. Suggested exercises may be provided within individual workshops, with further options available through the BE Here Now Toolkit. bertha.short.gy/toolkit

• Designated Photographer: An Ambassador or Facilitator captures moments from the workshop for the Celebration Montage. Where appropriate, rotate this role so different Ambassadors have an opportunity to contribute.

Core Activity 

Experience - Explore - Discover 

The Core Activity is the heart of the workshop. Ambassadors learn through activities involving movement, creativity, storytelling, problem-solving, nature connection, collaboration, play and critical thinking. Where possible, allow young people to experience before explaining the activity. Sometimes the most powerful discovery is the one they make for themselves. 

Some workshops offer more than one activity option. These are designed to meet the same learning aims in different ways. Some workshops need more time for the Core Activity, so Facilitators are encouraged to adjust the timings within the individual workshop plan. Facilitators should choose the option that best meets the needs of the Ambassadors and are not obliged to deliver every option.

Embed the Learning

Notice – Question – Make Meaning

This is where the Ambassadors pause and explore what happened during the Core Activity and what they learned from it. Each session includes bespoke questions designed to help Ambassadors make sense of the activity and embed the key teaching and BE’s vision. This is different from the Reflection, which gives Ambassadors space to consider their own experience, what they are taking away and where they are personally on their Ambassador journey.

This is where an experience becomes learning that lasts.

Closing the Session 

3-2-1 Reflect - Make it Personal

The 3-2-1 Reflection gives Ambassadors an opportunity to consider what the workshop means for them personally. It can be split into two parts. If you have time, complete both. If not, choose the part you feel will best serve the needs of your group.

Part 1: Quiet Reflection

Ambassadors spend a few minutes reflecting individually in their Storybooks. They consider the following themes:

1. Enjoyed - What did you enjoy most about this session?

2. Take Away - What are you taking from today that you will practise or bring into your everyday life?

3. Celebrate - Celebrate yourself. What are you celebrating and why?

The Storybooks give Ambassadors a personal record of their journey, allowing them to notice their experiences, ideas and growth over time.

Part 2: Sharing Together

Ambassadors have an opportunity to share some of their reflections with the group. Encourage listening without judgement and celebrate each contribution. Ambassadors do not need to share anything that they would prefer to keep private.

Invitation 

Carry It Beyond the Room

Where appropriate, the workshop ends with a simple invitation, challenge or action that Ambassadors can carry into the week. It might involve noticing something, trying something, talking to someone, spending time outdoors or taking a small action connected to the workshop. Where appropriate, experiences can also be shared through the Community Hub because the learning doesn't have to stop when the workshop ends.

Wider Context 

Some workshops include a Wider Context section. This gives facilitators additional information about particular ideas, themes or activities explored within the workshop.

It may also include links to useful videos, articles or other resources. You don't need to teach everything included here. Think of it as a place to deepen your own understanding, answer questions more confidently and explore further if you or your Ambassadors are curious.

Guides & Toolkits

Separate from this Handbook, the Bertha Earth Icebreaker Booklet (bertha.short.gy/icebreakers) is available to facilitators through the online BE Learning Portal.

It contains a range of additional energisers and activities that can be used alongside the Ambassadors Programme.

The BE Here Now Toolkit (found here) offers a short grounding or self-care practice that helps the Ambassadors arrive, settle and focus.

A little preparation makes a big difference. Before the programme begins, please make sure the following arrangements are in place.

Onboarding the Group

Before the programme begins, Bertha Earth will provide the school with a guardian form (found here). This enables parents and guardians to receive information about the programme and provide relevant information and permissions, including photography consent and dietary requirements where appropriate.

Workshop Space

Where possible, please provide:

• A consistent classroom or workshop space

• Enough room for physically interactive activities

• A projector or screen

• A sound system for music, audio and video

• Safe on-site storage for programme resources

Some workshops benefit from access to outdoor spaces or larger rooms. Check upcoming workshop plans in advance so these can be arranged where needed.

1. Know the Journey

• Read through the handbook before the programme begins so you understand the overall journey.

• Familiarise yourself with several workshops ahead rather than preparing only one week at a time.

• Notice the connections between workshops so you can help Ambassadors see how their learning is developing.

• Explore where Bertha Earth themes might connect with existing school values, projects or activities.

2. Work With Your Co-Facilitator

• Meet before the programme begins to discuss how you will work together.

• Agree roles and responsibilities.

• Discuss how you will support different learning and participation needs within the group.

• Agree how you will communicate between workshops.

• Decide how you will manage resources, preparation and pack-down.

3. Know Your Spaces

• Confirm the main workshop room.

• Explore the school grounds and identify useful alternative spaces.

• Identify any workshops requiring additional space, access to sinks or outdoor areas.

• Explore suitable local parks or green spaces for the Nature Walk.

• Have a backup plan for poor weather or unexpected changes.

4. Resources and Storage

• Agree a safe and accessible place to store Bertha Earth resources between workshops.

• Check upcoming resource requirements in advance.

• Prepare physical and digital resources before each workshop.

• Make sure any technology, videos, audio or slides are working before Ambassadors arrive.

This programme continues to grow through the experiences of the people who use it.

If something works brilliantly, we want to know. If something doesn't work, we want to know that too.

If you encounter an accessibility barrier, notice something that could be clearer or have an idea that could help us improve the programme, please share it with us.

Your experience helps us continue learning and developing the Ambassadors Programme.

Email: programmes@berthaearth.com

This handbook is intended solely for use by Bertha Earth facilitators and school-based facilitators. The material must not be modified, republished, reproduced or redistributed in any format without the prior written permission of Bertha Earth.

© 2026 Bertha Earth. All rights reserved.

For questions, support or feedback, email: programmes@berthaearth.com.