We wanted to make the Via Alpina long distance hiking route visible and “possible” for young people (many can’t experience mountain’s landscapes due to money, equipment, distance, inexperience, no adequate supervision).With the camps and with JS we also wanted to bring the topic of inclusion to organizations that did not deal with this topic a lot in past (raise awarness,equip people to be able to conduct more inclusive activities).Besides, we wanted to promote common democratic values and cross-border exchange between organizations and young people.Raising awareness and finding solutions about wild camping was WP3 objective In all work packages we educated (on different levels, depend on target group) young people to understand climate change and empower them to act in a climate-friendly-way. We wanted to create different opportunities (live,online), to transfer knowledge about climate crysis. We promoted CO2 neutral activities and travels and showcased that this kind of travel is possible andit can also be fun. With the WP4 we wanted to give opportunities to young people to organize activities on their own (with the support of a mentor) in which they can discover sustainable initiatives, positive stories and projects (utopias).
We applied to address several needs in Alpine youth work and outdoor education. Mountains and multi-day hikes remain inaccessible for many young people, especially those with fewer opportunities:we wanted to create inclusive activities and raise awareness in our partnershp.There was a clear need for environmental education in natural settings, as well as for intercultural learning opportunities combining hiking, camping, and awareness of climate change and what can be done to tackle it.Our partnership was designed to be multidisciplinary, allowing each organization to share expertise and learn new skills. WP3 was developed around the topic of bivouacking, addressing the challenge of sustainable and responsible wild camping in the Alps. We wanted to highlight positive futures through stories and initiatives, responding to the need for inspiring examples that empower young people to act. Smaller initiatives in the Alps often operate in isolation; the youth worker training addressed the need to connect these initiatives, exchange good practices, and strengthen networks. Dissemination through JS and media activities ensured that knowledge reached a wider audience, addressing the need for visibility and shared learnings across regions.