Doors Wide Open - Outdoor Paths to Reach Youth at Risk

AIMS & OBJECTIVES - What do we offer? * Explore and analyse how outdoor methods can be used to work with "young people at risk of exclusion" More concretely: * explore the benefits of outdoor activities for youth at risk * Improve the skills of youth workers working with youth at risk in experiential learning and outdoor methods * get more insight in the theory of experiential learning, reflection techniques and group dynamics * share best practices on outdoor methods for youth at risk and how this contributes to the personal and social skills of your youngsters * link the experiences of the TC to the daily work situation at home by working out future action plans * explore how each of the participants works with youth at risk in his/her own working environment * explore how the Youth in Action Programme can be a tool for social inclusion for youth at risk TARGET GROUP - Who are we looking for? There will be places for 24 participants at the course, selected according to the criteria below: * directly working with "Youth at Risk" (in terms of facing social exclusion). These are youngsters in problematic situations, youth in care (in institutions), streetkids, people in social welfare, youngsters "under supervision", from problematic family situations, young (ex-)offenders, young people with psychiatric problems,... * this can be (volontary or paid) youth workers, social workers, educators, peers and others who are working with one or more of these different types of 'youth at risk' * it is IMPORTANT that you have DIRECT CONTACT with the target group (NOT youth work managers, directors or coordinators) and a minimum of work experience with this target group (NOT complete beginners in youth or social work with youth at risk) * Candidates should have interest in international projects, but not necessarily have experience of international projects before. * Applicants should be prepared to try out different experiential learning methods themselves (give yourself a challenge) * having a good working knowledge of (international :-) English, the working language of the seminar * available to actively attend the full duration of the course! * willing to participate into a follow-up questionnaire 6 months after the training course. NOTE: candidates should contact their NA to check if they reimburse travel costs for this seminar. METHODOLOGY * the programme will be a mix between trying out different methods and reflecting about the use of them with youth at risk. * There will also some inputs about outdoor methods, about youth at risk and about doing projects within the Youth in Action programme.