Operationalising Experiential Learning in Youth Work

This training course is designed for professionals in youth work who are interested in incorporating outdoor adventure education into their practice. The course will showcase quality experiential learning through outdoor adventure education (OAE) and provide a structured framework for participants to transfer this experience into their professional routine. Participants will learn about youth work and education practices and solidify their stance on non-formal education. They will also build their inner readiness to engage meaningfully with their target audiences and improve their basic hard and soft competencies relevant to designing and implementing outdoor adventure education programs and activities. The training course will introduce OAE as a healthy leisure habit for youth workers' well-being, particularly relevant after the COVID-19 pandemic and its side effects such as overdigitalization of study and work.

Learning objectives:

• Showcase quality experiential learning through outdoor adventure education (OAE) and engage participants in transferring this experience into their professional routine.
• Share youth work and education practices and solidify stances on non-formal education by providing a structured and facilitated framework for it.
• Build inner readiness of participants to engage meaningfully with their target audiences, employ learner-centered and contextual approaches to their youth work curriculum and practice.
• Improve participants' basic hard skills and soft competencies relevant to designing and implementing outdoor adventure education programs and activities.
• Introduce OAE as a healthy leisure habit for youth workers' well-being, especially relevant after COVID-19 pandemic and its side effects such as over digitalization of study and work.

Methodology: The training course will use a combination of experiential learning and outdoor adventure education methods, including team-building exercises, outdoor activities, and a three-day hike led by the participants themselves. Participants will reflect on their learning and use what they have learned to design their own educational activities using outdoor adventure education methods.

Who should attend: This training course is designed for professionals in youth work, including youth workers, street workers, social workers, teachers, and trainers. Participants should be willing to learn and have fun, and no prior experience in outdoor adventure education is required.

Application form.