“We only protect what we love, we only love what we understand, and we only understand what we are taught”
Harrie Kerley – Founder of Uncle WILD Academy
Who I Am
Hi, I’m Harrie, a world explorer, filmmaker, and founder of Uncle WILD Academy — a roaming schools outreach program that connects students with wild nature, places, and lives through adventure talks, YouTube storytelling, and global education.
From a young age, I dreamed of exploring the world, meeting diverse cultures, and experiencing close encounters with wildlife. That passion led me to study Journalism — and for the past 15 years, I’ve been living that dream.
I’ve helped run turtle conservation projects, guided underwater explorers to see ocean giants, led plastic clean-ups across countries, installed river trash barriers, reforested mangroves, planted coral, and filmed wildlife stories around the globe. Along the way, I’ve developed a unique way to share these adventures with students and schools.
The Power of education
My first conservation project with turtles in Cape Verde opened my eyes. Protecting wildlife isn’t only about science — it’s about people. I saw that long-lasting change comes from education.
By reconnecting communities with their local species, we sparked pride and protection. But I kept asking: what about children who don’t have access to wild nature at all?
In 2020, I noticed a huge gap in marine education in schools. On a blue planet, how could oceans be missing from the curriculum? To bridge that gap, I trained as a Secondary Geography teacher (PGCE) and began bringing ocean literacy and global exploration into classrooms.
The results were powerful:
Students were inspired by real-world wildlife stories.
Children grew curious about cultures beyond their bubble.
Many dreamed of becoming explorers, conservationists, and storytellers themselves.
That’s when the seed of Uncle WILD Academy was planted.
From Global Adventures to School Classrooms
Partnering with my search engine sponsor OceanHero, I cycled across Tanzania, Kenya, the UK, and Indonesia, bringing schools face-to-face with global environmental projects. Alongside hosting talks and consulting, I created a YouTube series showcasing small, local conservation heroes.
These stories proved that when students fall in love with their local environment, they’re more likely to protect it. My first conservation project with turtles in Cape Verde opened my eyes. Protecting wildlife isn’t only about science — it’s about people. I saw that long-lasting change comes from education.
The Birth of Uncle WILD
Uncle WILD Academy was born to combine adventure-led storytelling with school outreach. Today, the Academy connects classrooms with real-world conservation, global exploration, and wild stories that ignite curiosity.
I believe education should be exciting, immersive, and connected to the living world. That’s why I work with schools, teachers, parents, and students to bring WILD learning to life.
Together, we can help the next generation fall in love with nature — and protect it.
