TRAIL CAM COLLECTIVE
CAMERA TRAP LOAN SCHEME
Join our Trail Cam Collective, a unique scheme by NatureSpy that loans camera traps to individuals and small groups.
Whether it's for local wildlife discovery, ecotherapy, or aiding small conservation projects, we're aiming to make wildlife monitoring more accessible.
We're passionate about helping people connect with nature and their local green spaces.
Our Trail Cam Collective loan scheme is tailored to foster this connection by making wildlife monitoring more accessible. The Trail Cam Collective aims to bring people, groups, and communities closer to nature.
Through wildlife camera loans, we want to make wildlife monitoring more accessible for those seeking to explore and understand their local wildlife. This may include learning about a particular species or habitat, engaging in a small conservation project, or seeking personal enrichment or ecotherapy outcomes.
Our goal is to create a ripple effect of positive change, enabling a deeper appreciation and understanding of the wildlife that shares our environment to form lasting bonds with local ecosystems and fostering a community of conservation advocates.
This scheme focuses on personal and community-level wildlife engagement and stands apart from our larger conservation project collaborations. For those involved in broader projects or seeking extensive collaboration, find out more about our Project Partnerships.
ELIGIBILITY
The Trail Cam Collective loan scheme is currently open to individuals, families, community groups, education programmes and small grassroots charities based in the UK. The scheme is inclusive and welcoming to people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Whether you're an avid nature enthusiast or someone new to wildlife monitoring, our camera loan scheme offers an opportunity for connection with local wildlife and green spaces.
NatureSpy’s trail camera loan scheme is presently available to individuals, families, community groups, educational programmes and small grassroots charities based in the UK.
Trail cameras provided must be used solely for wildlife watching purposes.
This scheme is not suitable for scientific research, as individuals/projects borrowing multiple cameras will receive a variety of models.
HOW OUR LOAN PROCESS WORKS
Cost
We do not charge for borrowing trail camera equipment, and we cover the postage costs to and from your location. Battery costs lies with the borrower. All cameras provided in our loan scheme operate on 6-8x AA batteries.
Models
While camera models cannot be chosen, rest assured that all cameras within our scheme are of good quality—most are Browning, Bushnell or NatureSpy models—and are regularly tested by our team. These traditional trail cameras utilise SD cards, which we provide with each camera.
Quantity & Duration
We can currently provide a maximum of 10 trail cameras per loan, and the maximum loan duration is 12 weeks. However, loan duration is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the number of cameras needed and the current demand for camera loans. During periods of lower demand, longer loans may be possible.
Applying
Applications should be submitted via our online form below. Please apply at least one month in advance of when you need to deploy the cameras to allow time for application review and equipment preparation. We aim to review applications within 2 weeks and we will be in touch via email to let you know if your application has been successful.
Feedback
We'd love to know how you get on with your cameras. We'll provide a link to our Findings & Feedback Questionnaire, which we encourage you to review before using the cameras. Completing this questionnaire after using the cameras helps us to improve the loan scheme and create case studies to showcase the scheme's impact.
Returning kit
To return the cameras, we'll provide an online Return Form as a checklist for their condition upon return. Once you’ve submitted this, we’ll be in touch to arrange postage. Timely return ensures readiness for the next project's use.
What we ask
Upon successful application, we'll send you a loan agreement covering the terms and conditions of borrowing the equipment. After receiving your signed agreement, the cameras will be prepared for dispatch, either immediately or closer to the loan start date.
As part of our no-cost camera loan, we kindly ask that participants complete our brief Findings and Feedback Questionnaire. Your insights are invaluable in evaluating how the cameras are utilised and how they are contributing to wildlife monitoring, eco-therapy benefits, and key discoveries, as well as helping us to identify potential enhancements for the scheme.
Additionally, we encourage sharing 5-10 highlights from the captured footage and a few photos of the cameras in action. Your contributions help us craft impactful case studies that showcase the exciting discoveries and therapeutic experiences facilitated by the project.
