Roots & Routes is an international Youth Exchange designed to empower young people to become active, environmentally responsible citizens through experiential learning in nature and sustainable tourism practices. The project responds to the growing environmental pressure caused by mass tourism, lack of environmental awareness, and the disconnect between young people and natural ecosystems. From a youth work perspective, the project aims to strengthen young people’s competences to critically understand these challenges and to actively contribute to solutions within their own communities. Objectives of the project The main objectives of the project are to: • increase young people’s awareness of environmental sustainability, responsible tourism and human impact on nature • strengthen key competences such as teamwork, communication, leadership, critical thinking and civic engagement • empower young people to design and communicate practical, locally relevant environmental solutions • provide young people with tools to translate learning into concrete community action through educational nature trails and sustainability toolkits • foster long-term cooperation between youth organisations and young people in different European countries The project directly contributes to Erasmus+ Youth Exchange priorities by promoting environmental responsibility, active citizenship, non-formal learning, inclusion and youth participation in shaping more sustainable societies.