Nature's Best Bet

About the training

Nature’s Best Bet is an Erasmus+ project for youth workers, educators and facilitators active in non-formal learning and youth work. Its core is a training course to explore nature as a learning environment and as an active educational resource. The course is based on non-formal and experiential learning. Participants will take part in embodied and somatic practices, movement-based activities, outdoor games, moments of silence and reflection, and structured peer exchange. Learning emerges through direct experience, group processes and interaction with the natural environment.

Objectives and outcomes

The training aims to support participants in:

• strengthening competences related to emotional regulation, resilience and self-awareness,
• developing confidence in facilitating groups in outdoor and nature-based settings,
• expanding their toolkit of embodied, playful and reflective methods for youth work.

By the end of the training, participants leave with fresh inspiration and concrete ideas for nature-based youth work, a deeper ease in shaping non-formal learning through embodied and movement-based approaches, and a stronger sense of confidence in accompanying young people and groups in outdoor learning spaces.

Transfer and follow-up

Learning is meant to travel beyond the training itself. Participants are invited to reflect on their experience and to translate what they discover into small, meaningful actions within their own youth work contexts. A follow-up activity supports this process and helps the learning continue.

This training is for youth workers, educators and facilitators who are:

• actively involved in youth work, non-formal education or socio-cultural facilitation,
• curious about nature-based and embodied approaches,
• willing to engage both personally and professionally in an experiential learning process,
• motivated to integrate new perspectives into their work with young people,
• committed to the full process, including preparation, training and follow-up action,
• open to spending time outdoors, moving, breathing and exploring nature through simple embodied practices,
• willing to step beyond their comfort zone with curiosity,
• interested in growing within a caring group, strengthening confidence and emotional grounding through collective support.

Participants must be travelling from the following countries:

Italy, Spain, France, Latvia, Greece, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Romania

Training course dates: 27 May – 2 June 2026 (arrival 26 May, departure 3 June) 

Training course venue:  Spinello di Santa Sofia (FC), Italy, in the Northern Apennines

MORE INFO: https://bit.ly/natbestbet