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Outdoors and Digital Tools in Youthwork

2021-1-FI01-KA153-YOU-0000085762021Mobility of youth workersfinalized
Countries: FI|UA|ES|AT|MK|IT|GE|PL|MA · Grant: €26,336.52
Digital youth workPhysical and mental health, well-beingQuality and innovation of youth work

Objectives

Context and background: Every day our world is filled more and more with smartphones, tablets, video game systems, and virtual reality, it’s more crucial than ever that kids get outdoors, because lack of exposure to nature impacts their health and social competencies. The issue became even more important since last year when many kids stayed locked inside, without the possibility to visit nature and interact with their peers. There are numerous studies that have proven that being in the outdoors can decrease one's stress level, accelerate healing from an injury or illness, increase one's ability to focus, communicate and express freely — even in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. But not all youth workers and educators are aware of the benefits of these methods and/or have the capability and skill to use them in practice with their target groups. Even taking into account that digital tools became in some cases the “only” tool that you can use in order to organize activities, in order to follow national health regulations and measures. Not many organizations in the youth work field can afford to take the risk and replace good old methodology with digital tools (web pages, apps, etc). Through our project, we wanted to start changing this situation by showing youth workers and educators a variety of ways how they can organize outdoor learning experiences while using digital tools. "Outdoors and Digital Tools in Youthwork" was a multi-stage project that aims to expand the use of digital tools during outdoor activities. The objectives of the project were: -To exchange tools, experience and know-how related to outdoors learning -To develop competencies in identifying the needs of various target groups and adaptation of activities according to them -To develop competencies in developing own outdoor learning activities combining them with digital tools -Build a community that supports the quality of outdoors learning projects and activities for young people.

Project partners (9)