Adults have had their chance with Bermuda's environment and now the Islands young people need to lead the way.

That's according to 15-year-old Caitlin O'Doherty, chair of the Bermuda Association of Eco-Clubs (BASE) and founder of her eco-club at her school the Bermuda High School for Girls.

The youngest member on BEST Bermuda Environment and Sustainability Taskforce steering committee by at least 20 years, she was encouraged by environmentalist Stuart Hayward to speak up for young people.That eventually turned into BASE, which started in November 2007 and hopes to encourage the youth to be environmental leaders through support, co-ordination and monitoring of active eco-clubs.

According to Caitlin, the problem is young people are continually preached to, but are not given the practical, hands-on small steps they could do to help the Island and the world's environment.

She said: "I think if no one teaches the youth and says this is the type of thing you should do, they won't know. The only way to create a new environmentally aware generation is to show them what they need to do and educate them.

"And the only way you are going to improve the environment conscience is teaching them how to be environmentally friend and why.

Rather than preaching to students at schools, the only way I got the message was going out there to save the toads and to plant trees. It's more effective if you are part of the message rather than just listening to it.

"A lot of people complain that the youth go off and do whatever they want, but if they can get involved in something that is theirs, it's different.

"They need to because it's our future and the adults – they have had their chance."

One way BASE is trying to reach out to these students and teachers is by offering meetings such as the Eco-Fest on Saturday.

Held on the Waterville grounds of the Bermuda National Trust, various organisations and schools showcased the work they have been doing.

It brought Keep Bermuda Beautiful, Clearwater Middle School, Somerset Primary, Works and Engineering, the Audubon Society, Bermuda Zoological Society, the National Trust and BASE out in force.

Caitlin said more than 100 people attended throughout the afternoon and the group was able to recruit more minds to the BASEproject.

And she hopes these minds will also help her motivate the Bermuda High School Eco-Club which she started almost three years ago.

After primary and middle school years at BHS where, Caitlin said, they had a chance to be environmentally involved, the senior school provided little in that vein.

That's when she decided to take matters into her own hands and start the Eco-Club, which then turned a hallway at the school into a recycling hall.

Here students and teachers could recycle everything from the regular cans and tins to old egg cartons and print cartridges, which would then be used by the art department.

However, after the initial excitement, Caitlin, said the club hit a bit of a rut and struggled to come-up with new ideas or a way to move forward.

She now hopes with links formed through BASE, BHS's and other Eco-Clubs on the Island will find a place to share what they are doing and where they are going.

"We have a recycling corridor printing cartridges, six pack rings, egg cartons among the regular cans, tin, etc. We could share our resources with the other clubs," she added.

"I think a lot of them are on their own and ours was even going through a lull. Now, nobody says my name anymore; they call me Eco. I am proud of it because I have worked hard for it.

"I have to become more of a leader because it's my school. I got the award (The David Wingate award from the National Trust) and that encouraged me more.

"But the key, and what I am working on, is getting the other schools involved and helping others.

"BASE idea is not only to promote the environment and sustainability in schools, but also to empower students and show them it's not just up to the teachers and adults to say what's right in the community.

"The environment is hugely important and I think the youth all see that when they find their climbing trees are no longer there.

"Since I had the opportunity to empower myself I think it's important for other students to feel that too; whether it's running the clubs themselves or coming to meetings."

Anyone interested in starting their own club or linking with those on the Island and want to contact BASE should e-mail Caitlin at: basebda@gmail.com.