“Forest of the Mind” aims to strengthen the capacity of youth workers to respond to growing mental health challenges among young people by using nature-based, inclusive, and experiential youth work methods. The project is designed as a professional development activity that directly addresses the reality youth workers face today: increasing climate anxiety, emotional distress, social exclusion, and the need for safe, meaningful learning environments beyond traditional indoor settings. From a youth work practice perspective, the core objective is to equip youth workers with concrete tools, methods, and confidence to use nature intentionally and responsibly as a space for learning, emotional regulation, and inclusion. Rather than treating outdoor activities as recreation, the project trains participants to design and facilitate eco-therapy-informed youth work, where nature becomes a structured learning environment supporting mental well-being, resilience, and reflection. A second key objective is to strengthen metacognitive competence in youth work. Youth workers will learn how to help young people understand their own thinking, emotions, and behavioural patterns through experiential activities. By linking experience, reflection, meaning-making, and future action, participants will be able to support young people in developing self-awareness, emotional literacy, and coping strategies that are transferable to everyday life. The project also aims to improve youth workers’ ability to work inclusively with young people with fewer opportunities, particularly those facing mental, psychosocial, or intellectual disabilities. Through direct practice with local day centres and supported by professionals, participants will learn how to adapt outdoor and nature-based activities to different needs, ensuring safety, dignity, and meaningful participation. This responds directly to the need for more inclusive, accessible youth work practices at local level. Another central objective is to strengthen the quality and sustainability of youth work organisations. By working in international teams, participants will exchange methods, reflect on their professional roles, and co-create follow-up activities and future Erasmus+ projects. This ensures that learning does not remain individual, but translates into organisational change, new partnerships, and long-term local and European impact.