"Let's do it outdoors!"

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.
Today we observe different organizations in Europe that offer outdoor activities and games. The wide range of activities such as backpacking, cycling, camping, canoeing, fishing, and etc. gives children and youngsters wide opportunities to find an activity according to their preference and passion.

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.

"Let's do it outdoors!" aims to educate and support youth workers, trainers and educators on how to use outdoors as a tool for inclusion in their youth work. The objectives of the project are:
To improve the competencies of using the outdoors as a tool for inclusion in youth work
To improve competencies on empathizing and defining the needs of target groups
To improve competencies in developing, prototyping, testing and using outdoor activities supporting the inclusion in local communities
The project comprises of three stages:
Preparation of the groups 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.
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 share their national outdoor games/activities; experience and learn different types of outdoor activities (Hiking, Forest Wisdom, Solo time, Photo hunting, Kayaking, 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. There would be one and a half-full day stay complete outdoors, including cooking, sleeping outside and group activities.

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 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.

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, and follow-up activities
• are interested in providing short testimonials on their impression about the project,
• have a good level of English
• are aged 18+

Financial costs

The costs for food, accommodation and programme materials are fully covered by the grant received from the Erasmus+.
Travel reimbursement according to the distance calculator https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/resources/distance-calculator_en

€40 fee to be paid by each participant on the spot in cash. This fee goes as a contribution to the administrative costs of the project.