Outdoor rural expedition 'EU and Youth'

Aims of the tool

To enjoy the various landscape in the vicinity of the event
To get to know each other, have positive cooperation experience and deeper personal and cultural knowledge of each other
To learn about some aspects of the European Union experience

Description of the tool

This is an interactive and informative group activity that uses Actionbound - GPS-based location app and nature to engage young people in reflection about European and their role.

This activity can be used at the beginning of youth exchange or training course

A hike with several intermittent group tasks connected by a theme. Walking a circle on a dirt road, stopping for tasks.

Technology:
Actionbound, linear progression, with pictures of places to stop at and tasks delivered after finding the right spot. The bound was live at: https://actionbound.com/bound/EUandYou2018

Tasks:

1. Introduction
Hi, you are now participating in the EU and You expedition! Congratulations! This expedition will let you to be in touch with different kinds of topics and group tasks. Take in mind that it will take around 2 hours, and it will take part in the nature. Make sure you have your mobile with you and to have enough battery on it. Enjoy the expedition.

2. Photo recreation (in the venue)
This is your first task: On 14th of June 1985 five of the ten member states of the European Economic Community signed the Schengen Agreement that abolished most border checks among the states. Use available materials to recreate this photograph of the signing of the Schengen Agreement! Attach your photo to progress to the next task.

3. Mobility (near the 200m sign)
The European Union promotes mobility of individuals. For your second task, Which countries you visited in the last year even outside EU?

4. Languages (near Intersection)
The languages of the EU have been influencing each other for hundreds of years. See if you can find similar words (words with the same root and meaning) among the native tongues of your group. Write down the answer as Word 1 (language 1), Word 2 (language 2) Find at least 4 such pairs.

5. Culture (near Tree Alley), picture of the culture iceberg
Cultural differences are celebrated among the people of EU, though often our knowledge of other cultures is very limited. For your next task, find and share in the group something about your culture, which is not well known by others.

6. Economy (near Lake view)
The European Union provides a common market for free transport of goods and workforce. Compare the (approximate) costs of products in your home countries. Write down the answer as: Cookie, 1€ (Estonia), 2€ (Finland), 3€ (Morocco) Write down at least 5 such products.

7. Borders (near border sign)
Most European Union nations share open borders as part of the Schengen Agreement, but that was not always the case. Create a small theatrical sketch about a possible event on the border between 2 countries. Film the sketch and attach the video as an answer.

8. Story-time (near tree before the intersection)
The EU unites various cultures and individuals. For your next task, share a personal story with a person in your group while walking to the next destination. :) Take a funny selfie of your group!

9. Interview (at the venue)
Each person is special. For your next task, pair up with a person from your group that you know the least. Get an A4 paper, draw an outline of your partner, fill it with all the things that makes him or her special (then change roles). Don't forget to write the name. As an answer, attach one photo of the paper per each participant of your.

Download complete task descriptions in the attachment. Locations can be adapted to realities at the venue of the event.

Video from this expedition: https://youtu.be/S5YEvRkAiCI

Preparation:
Participants need at least one mobile device with Actionbound installed, enough battery to last the estimated 2-3 hours. Being ready to be in the sun, walk 3km, talk and think, interact and act ;)

Debriefing:

1. Steaming out - get emotions out, set the structure for the session:
- How do you feel?
- What was the topic of the expedition?

2. Reflection about participants’ observations, feelings and activities:
- Draw the brightest moment, tell us about it. Use contextual questioning about observations and events.

3. Conclusions about participants’ learning outcomes. Hand method, 5 fingers:
- What was the moment you felt best?
- Important for you?
- What was difficult?
- Relatable how did you cooperate in the group?
- Something else?

Use contextual questioning about learning outcomes.

4. Application - discussion about learning applied to real life:
- What did you find out?
- What’s your main take-away?

5. Feedback - discussion about our expedition to make better:
- What would you do differently?
- What was done good?

This activity is based on the innovative method of Expedition. Complete description of this method is available from NGO 'Nectarus': http://www.nectarus.lt/en/english-expeditions-learning-on-the-move/