Youngsters will explore the wonders of nature as the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS) hosts the fifth Environmental Youth Conference this week.

Up to 60 students from schools across the Island are taking part in the two-day event on Wednesday, entitled 'The Power of One'. The theme of this year's conference is how individuals can each make a difference by taking action to help protect the environment.

Although delegates will gather at Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ), there will also be field trips to Paget Marsh, Walsingham and Trunk Island accompanied by scientists.

Other activities include group discussions, visits by some of Bermuda's environmental 'heroes', and workshops on bluebird boxes and GPS technology.

The keynote speaker is visiting conservationist Sophie Benbow, of Blue Ventures - an award-winning charity which conserves marine life in Madagascar. She will also give a public lecture at BAMZ tomorrow evening.

BZS Education Officer Joseph Furbert said: "We want to make sure delegates come away with the idea that, individually, they can make a difference.

"We are looking forward to empowering our young people with skills to enable them to make positive individual changes in our society.

"The delegates will be focusing on some of our important environmental issues and learning how they can personally take action to help protect and nurture the Bermuda natural environment."

Some 60 students, aged ten and above, were picked by 30 public, private and home schools to take part in this year's conference.

The event is being sponsored by the Ernest E. Stempel Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment, the Department of Conservation Services and the Bermuda National Trust.

The closing ceremony and awards presentation takes place on Friday at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) between 5 to 7.30 p.m. Ms Benbow's lecture takes place at BAMZ tomorrow at 7 p.m.

For more information contact 293 2727.