Ecotone - Knowledge of the Edge ( Somatics - Ecopsychology - Vocal and Dance improvisation)

Inspired by the ecological concept of the ecotone (the transitional zone between ecosystems where diversity and resilience thrive) this training approaches boundaries not as rigid separations, but as spaces of encounter, dialogue, and growth.

What is it about? 

We use the ecotone as a metaphor for human experience, learning, and relational practice. Just as in nature, our personal, social, and cultural boundaries are not rigid walls, but spaces of encounter where growth and insight happen. In these liminal spaces, we exist in a shared field of possibility. This is the “in-between” where relationships are alive, knowledge is co-created, and the body, mind, and environment interact as a dynamic system.

Central to the training is the exploration of boundaries. A boundary is not only a line that separates; it is also a place of contact. It defines identity while making relationships possible.

In this training, the edge is not an abstract concept. It is a practice. Participants are invited to sense where boundaries appear in their bodies, in relationships, in group dynamics, and in institutional structures. Through movement, voice, reflective dialogue, and embodied inquiry, they will explore what it means to stand in the in-between: between certainty and curiosity, leadership and listening, individuality and belonging, structure and improvisation.

By inhabiting these transitional spaces, participants learn to recognize the subtle signals of change — moments of tension, resistance, creativity, and connection. They practice staying present at the threshold rather than rushing to resolve it. This capacity is essential in youth work and facilitation, where growth often happens at the edge of comfort, identity, and worldview.

​​How does this topic relate to youthwork and facilitation? 

Youth work often emphasises dialogue, participation, and social learning.
Somatics emphasises embodied awareness, sensation, and internal regulation.

At their intersection, something new emerges:
Youth work becomes more embodied and regulated.
Somatic practice becomes socially engaged and community-oriented.

In a time of increasing polarisation, mental health challenges, and ecological anxiety, youth workers need more than technical methods; they need relational intelligence, psychological flexibility, and the ability to stay grounded in uncertainty. Understanding how to work “at the edge” helps them support resilience, inclusion, and authentic participation. It allows them to transform moments of discomfort into opportunities for growth and to turn diversity into a source of creativity rather than division.

Methodology:

Somatics  - Ecopsychology - Dance and vocal improvisation

​Somatic practices focus on increasing awareness of bodily sensations, movements, and patterns, seeing the body as a source of information and insight. By noticing how we feel, move, and respond in the moment, participants can explore their physical, emotional, and relational states. This awareness supports presence, self-regulation, and resilience, offering tools to navigate uncertainty, tension, and transitions, both personally and in group contexts.

Dance and Voice Improvisation are spontaneous practices where movement and vocal expression emerge in the moment, without predetermined structure. These practices invite participants to explore physicality, creativity, emotion, and relational attunement, responding to stimuli such as rhythm, breath, space, and the energy of others in the group. Improvisation becomes a way of inhabiting the edge, noticing what emerges in the in-between of structure and freedom.

Ecopsychology explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, emphasising that our well-being is interconnected with the health of the environment. Participants engage with nature as a reflective and relational mirror, exploring transitions, boundaries, and inner states while growing a sense of ecological awareness, interconnection, and responsibility. ​​​​

​FOR WHO? 

The intention of this training is to support youth workers, facilitators, and educators in exploring and practising embodied, relational, and interdisciplinary approaches for working with young people at the edges of experience, learning, and identity.

The knowledge of this training is important for youth workers and facilitators because they constantly operate at the edges, between individuals and groups, safety and challenge, structure and freedom, conflict and connection. Their role requires holding spaces where young people explore identity, difference, belonging, and uncertainty. Without awareness of how boundaries function (psychologically, relationally, and somatically) it becomes difficult to create environments that are both safe and supportive.

We aim to have 28 participants from Slovenia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania and Hungary.

Participants must be over 18 years old and have a communicative level in English so that they can participate fully in the program.

​This training course is funded through the Erasmus+ Programme, travel costs up to a specific maximum allowed amount will be fully reimbursed.

Slovenia: 28 EUR (56 EUR for Green Travel*)
Italy: 211 EUR  (285 EUR for GT*) 
Germany, Spain, Hungary, Romania, France: 309 EUR  (417 EUR for GT) 

Last drop of information: 

Applications deadline: 29th of March at 12pm
Selection results: 4th of April
Arrival day: 2nd of June by 7pm
Start of the program: 3rd of June 
Last day of the program: 9th of June
Departure day: 10th of June by noon

For More Information, visit this page: 

https://www.moave.si/ecotone

Application form link: https://forms.gle/D6SsaxBWT37WMbTc8