Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[patsylabrador]

I know a young boy who is aged 15 and his education has effectively come to an end. His reading is very poor, I'm not confident that he can read at all and if he can he is totally resistant. His parents are pretty hopeless, they are very self-absorbed and have never tried with him.

The only thing he seems interested in is nature and I recently lent him 'The Bumper book of Nature' and he seemed quite excited by it and promised to let me know if he spotted any of the creatures in it. I thought I might get him a magazine subscription for Christmas, something that might interest and inspire him, he spends too much time watching TV.

Can anyone suggest anything, I thought of the Aquila magazines but I think they might be for more gifted children.

His grandparents have tried to get him growing vegetables and cooking but not with any great success. He's learnt that nothing bad will happen if he doesn't bother and so doesn't. It's very sad.

[sari]

Is there a BBC wildlife magazine....does he was Springwatch?Autumnwatch etc...tell you what...I'll have a look..

 

http://www.bbcwildlifemagazine.com/

 

Is there a local college that does Animal Husbandry...we have one near us in Leics....would a course like that be appropriate. To be honest with you, education qualification are not an entry requirement, we have the students in school, with the animals sometimes, and they are all casualties of the education system, poor ducks.

[sari]

I also wondered if there are any day courses, at Eco Centres, like green wood-working, etc. If you are in London, you have a much better chance of coming across something like this. Disenchanted young men like the opportunity to work with tools.....I hate to say mess about with knives...but it's true. My other half was never happier as a lad than messing about with a Knife and some wood...then he discovered skateboarding........and has plenty of scars from both. I hope you can find something that piques his interest.

[patsylabrador]

Thank you Sari, those are great ideas, esp the college and day courses. I shall do some research and try to enthuse both him and his parents. BBC are good at that sort of thing, I will check out the magazine.

[sari]

No Probs.....I wish I could think of more things. I hated school, but was lucky to s"Ooops, word censored!"e through with 4 appalling A-levels.

 

I hope some practical course inspires him, does he like survival type stuff?: Ray Mears, Bear Grylls etc...The opportunity to make fires, chop stuff with knives.....sleep outside... I'm sure there'll be something like that around.....I'd say scouting, but they are too religious based for me! I'm in Guiding ( my punishment from a former life, I'm sure, ) but are totally non-faith based.

 

good luck x