Wader Ambassador Programme

Wader Ambassador Programme for National Schools

The Breeding Waders EIP has recently launched the Wader Ambassador Programme, a new educational initiative for national schools.

This four‑week programme is designed to help pupils understand Ireland’s breeding waders, the pressures they face, and how disturbance can affect their ability to nest successfully. Through a mix of research, creative activities, and presentations, students build awareness, knowledge, and a sense of stewardship for local biodiversity.

What the Programme involves

Participating students, primarily from 5th and 6th class, take part in a range of engaging activities, including:

Researching the breeding wader species found in their local area.
Exploring how human disturbance affects ground‑nesting birds.
Learning practical actions that help protect breeding waders.
Presenting their findings to the Breeding Waders project team.
Creating artwork for a local disturbance awareness sign.

To support schools in delivering the programme, each participating school receives a €250 grant to help cover the cost of materials used during research and poster creation.

Awards and recognition

Upon project completion, students formally present their research and completed disturbance sign designs to the Breeding Waders EIP team at an awards ceremony.

Each school is then awarded:

An official Wader Ambassador Certificate
A Wader Ambassador Flag, recognising their role as champions for local biodiversity and ground‑nesting bird conservation

The Wader Ambassador certification is valid for two years.

Following the ceremony, the student‑designed disturbance sign is professionally printed by the Breeding Waders EIP and installed in a high‑nature‑value area close to the school, helping to raise public awareness and reduce disturbance to breeding waders in the local landscape.