International training course "Outdoor brings more!"

ABOUT THE TC This outdoor training course is for youth workers to improve their competences on using outdoor methods with youngsters to tackle the topic of participation and active citizenship in youth exchanges within the Youth in Action projects. Outdoor education is often seen as having fun with youngsters outdoors – but there is more to it, outdoor brings more! With an appropriate application of outdoor methods, youth workers can more easily motivate youngsters to participate and achieve greater learning results and outcomes. During this 5-day training course an international group of youth leaders will participate in an outdoor course, which will be used as an example and experience to reflect upon. These reflections will help the participants to understand better their role, their leadership style within groups and will make them understand the methods used giving them the opportunity to adapt them to their own target groups. Over the course several moments will be used to establish links with theoretical frames in order to facilitate a good and profound understanding. AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING COURSE The main aim of the training course is to encourage youth leaders to effectively use outdoor methods in their future youth exchanges with youngsters, especially for tackling the topic of active citizenship. By the end of the course, the participants will have: - experienced, analysed and reflected upon experiential learning and outdoor tools as a learning method and their transferability towards their future projects and daily work, especially youth exchanges within the Youth in Action programme; - understood and got the know-how to use different theoretical concepts, which give a support to run outdoor activities for learning; - have learnt to develop their leadership skills in a way that supports active participation of youngsters; - and got the know-how to use methods to tackle the topic of active citizenship and participation with youngsters; - reflected upon and learnt models about active citizenship and participation. CONTENT OF THE TRAINING COURSE In the training course participants will explore the differences in how outdoor education isn perceived in different countries and/or local environments. They will learn about the effective application of outdoor methods in a project with youngsters, especially in a youth exchange. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their practises, their realities, and to discuss issues of their interest. We would also like to be very clear about one thing to avoid future disappointments: the participants will not learn very technical skills how to paddle or how to climb walls and make safety knots, but they will learn how to use these kinds of activities as efficient methods to empower youngsters in their future projects. The course will include cycling, canoeing, caving, adrenalin park, and hiking. All special equipment will be available on the spot. Participants are advised to bring comfortable sports clothing and shoes. PROGRAMME OF THE TRAINING COURSE The programme will start on the 19th of August 2013 at 9 am and end on the 23rd of August 2013 at cca 5 pm. (Therefore, please note that the arrival and departure days are 18th and 24th of August!) You can find a detailed programme in the PDF version of the call under Downloads. PROFILE OF PARTICIPANTS The training course is open to youth workers and/or youth leaders from all programme countries of the YiA programme. Participants have to: - be youth workers and/or youth leaders with an interest in or some experience of using outdoor methods as a tool for reaching different learning goals and/or interested in reinforcing the educational effects of their outdoor methods in their future YIA projects (especially youth exchanges); - be new to or at least quite inexperienced in the YIA programme (especially youth exchanges); - have at least 1 year of experience in working with groups of youngsters; - be capable of working in English language; - come from the countries stated above; - be 18 years old or older. The maximum number of participants is 24. PRACTICALITIES AND VENUE OF THE SEMINAR The training course will take place in a Hostel Pod Voglom (http://www.hostel-podvoglom.com/en) in Bohinj, Slovenia. The hostel with basic facilities is situated at one of the most beautiful locations in the national part Triglav - on the south shore of Lake Bohinj, 2 km from Ribčev Laz in the Julian Alps. It is an ideal place for young or adult groups who want to do different outdoor activities and are looking for a simple stay with relaxed atmosphere, peace and beauty in contact with nature. The participants will be sleeping in basic rooms with 3-4 beds. Every room has its own bathroom and a balcony. Part of the hostel is also PAC Sports outdoor centre that organises various activities for hostel guests, which we will make a use of during the training course. TEAM OF FACILITATORS The training course will be run by two professional trainers with extensive experience in the field: Femke Gordijn from the Netherlands, and Wim Vogelaere from France.