Erasmus+ Project

Action 4 Mountains

Enhancing Mountain Literacy among youth through Outdoor Learning

Description

Action 4 Mountains: Enhancing Mountain Literacy among youth through outdoor learning"

was a youth exchange involving 5 EU countries Cyprus, Portugal, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. The mobility activity brought together 37 young people to live, share, experience, learn and develop together and was realized in Cyprus under the coordination of the NGO Active Zone Outdoor. The main goal of the project, which engaged together 37 young people from different social and economic background including people with visual impairment, was to increase mountain awareness of young people and equip them with skills to take major steps to protect mountain areas against the impacts of climate change. Outdoor sports such as hiking, climbing, trail running, orienteering and outdoor activities leaded to the creation of more responsible behaviour for mountain protection.

Objectives

“Action 4 Mountains: Enhancing Mountain Literacy through outdoor learning”, objectives were:
1. to raise awareness on young people and communities on climate change and mountain sustainability
2. to exploit outdoor education aiming to develop green skills among youth to accelerate climate action
3. to promote health, reinforce physical activity on the mountains and create an alternative path for youth to enhance better
mental health and wellbeing
4. to highlight the significance of mountain environmental protection and to create space for sharing good practices aiming
to develop better environmental awareness
5.to promote intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding and respectful exchange amongst young people by using outdoor
learning as the main vehicle for the communication of such values
6. to create the next generation of young leaders on mountain literacy that will increase their ability to develop mountain
protection and respect among young people
7. to develop the tools Code of Conduct and Outdoor Games Cards to be exploited for their youthwork
8. to spread information about EU opportunities for youth and to develop further cooperation of partner promoter
organizations in the field of outdoor learning including ERASMUS+ projects.

Activities

The activities were implemented at the youth center, in the local community of Kornos, Stavrovouni mountainous area, Kritou Terra and Innia local communities, Peyia Forest, Innia Climbing site, which provided opportunities for outdoor activities, workshops and mountain sports. The activities that took place during the youth exchange week were led by the facilitator with the contribution of group leaders and active participation and engagement of all participants. Specifically the activity program included among others: Ice-breakers, warmups, energizers and outdoor games, Team-building activities such as "The Human Camera", "Discovering Kornos", "Escape from labyrinth, Outdoor activities that developed environmental awareness about climate change and mountain literacy such as 'Lie flatin the forest', Plogging in a hiking trail, Geocaching, Orienteering, "Where do you stand for safety", Workshops focusing on environmental aspects such as: "Discovering the unknown fauna of Cyprus", "Threats of the Mountains", Round tables with representatives "Youth and Mountains: Challenges and Opportunities", Climbing experience in order to get to know a mountain sport, to develop self-confidence, to foster trust and communication with the others, to become aware of how to practice the sport with responsibility, Creation of the Code of Conduct derived from participants experience during the A4M Youth Exchange and previous knowledge, Creation of the tool "Outdoor Games Cards" an educational tool with games aiming to foster environmental awareness among youth, hiking, trail running and orienteering experience to improve mental health, to appreciate the nature in the mountains, to develop further boding among the group and the sense of team spirit, Plan your community strategy session aiming to develop a sense of responsibility and the need to come up with ideas and initiatives initiatives in their local communities, to find solutions on how to foster environmental awareness and education about the mountains, reflection session groups, Informal events to increase integration and mutual understanding such as intercultural evenings, night games, Erasmus Plus and Youth Pass presentation for better understanding of Erasmus Plus and its opportunities,