Outdoor Activities for inclusion

Long term multi-stage project "Outdoor Activities for inclusion"

Training Course 3rd - 11th October 2019 (including travel days) in Kuusamo, Finland. 

Seminar 7th - 13th December 2019 (including travel days) in Kuusamo, Finland.

Participation in both activities is mandatory.

Outdoor games and activities are important for the physical and cognitive development of children and teenagers. Being active in nature or in a semi-natural environment, implementing tasks promote active learning with direct personal experience. Being given a challenge, which an outdoor adventure can provide, young people learn to overcome their challenges and fears, and are given opportunities to develop their independence, which will help to build their confidence. Taking into consideration that children and youngsters are at the age when they make most of their friends, and get to know other cultures by themselves, the outdoor activities can also be used as a tool for inclusion and integration of youngsters with fewer opportunities.

Unfortunately, the potential for outdoor activities and games as a tool for inclusion and integration is not fully used. Youngsters facing cultural differences, social obstacles or educational difficulties will increase their opportunities for inclusion or integration, if outdoor games or activities are constructed or adjusted in a way to support this goal, or comprise of elements supporting it.

"Outdoor Activities for inclusion" is a multi-stage project that aims to expand the use of outdoor activities as a tool supporting inclusion in youth work.

The objectives of the project are:

• To acquire and improve competencies for using outdoor activities as a tool for inclusion in youth work
• To acquire and improve competences on empathizing and defining the needs of target groups
• To acquire and improve competences on developing, prototyping and testing outdoor activities supporting the inclusion in local communities
• To acquire and improve competences on involving youth in developing Erasmus+ projects supporting inclusion through outdoor activities
• To develop and disseminate a toolbox of outdoor games and activities supporting the inclusion

The project comprises of five stages:

• Preparation at home before the arrival.
• Training Course that will equip participants with competencies to develop outdoor games and activities supporting inclusion, based on the needs of their target groups.
• Implementation of local outdoor activities supporting inclusion in each partner country by using new competencies gained during the Training Course.
• Seminar, where the participants of the Training Course with one young person per organisation will share their experience about the implemented outdoor activities, together develop international projects supporting inclusion based on needs of young people and contribute to developing and dissemination of the Toolbox of outdoor games and activities supporting the inclusion.
• Dissemination of the results of the project, including the Toolbox of outdoor games and activities supporting the inclusion in the local communities.

Approach and content

The project structured in learning by doing and self experiential way. Which means applicable, transferable, nature-based and action-oriented working for all of the activity days.

During the Training Course participants will experience and learn different types of outdoor activities (Hiking, Boating, Solo time, Photo hunting, etc.); empathize and define the needs of various target groups; develop, prototype and test their own outdoor activities supporting inclusion; introduced to methodological and safety aspects. 

The Solo time will offer some specific ways to question yourself as a professional Youth Worker in the field of experiential education. 

During the Seminar participants will be able to reflect the lessons learned during the local implementation stage, to dive deeper into Erasmus programme, project development and writing, project management, development of Toolbox and planning of dissemination actions.

The Trainer team will offer methods of reflexion, which can be used in the follow-up multiplying events in the home countries of the participating partner organisations. 

In the content of nature baste activities, the program will offer reflection methods based on self-reflection in a natural surrounding, to calm down and listen to yourself in nature.

Please be aware that the Training Course and the Seminar will not provide you with academic knowledge as it is a purely non-formal activity, and its success depends on the active participation of everybody present.

Profile of the participants

We consider that the project will serve at its best when the participants (youth workers, trainers, etc.) will be involved in all stages of the project. During the third stage (Implementation of local outdoor activities), participants will recruit young persons (one per country) among participants of implemented outdoor games and activities or/and most active youngster inside the organisation, who will take part in the Seminar. Which means that one participant of the Training Course would be replaced with a young person during the Seminar.

We are looking for youth/social workers, youth leaders, trainers and educators, who:

• are familiar with outdoor games and activities or motivated to acquire them as an educational method

• eager to transfer gained knowledge to the youth in their organizations and countries

• ready to engage themselves in different local and international projects using outdoor activities as a learning method

• committed to working during the whole project, meaning also the implementation of outdoor activities in local communities, Seminar, and follow-up activities

• are interested in providing short testimonials on their impression about the project, 

• are ready to support development and dissemination of the toolbox of outdoor games and activities supporting the inclusion

• have a good level of English

• are aged 18+