BACK TO NATURE FESTIVAL - Uniting Youth and Nature

Bulgaria — June 24–27, 2025, the serene landscapes of Bulgaria became the meeting ground for over a hundred young people and youth workers from 6 European countries during the BACK TO NATURE – European Youth Outdoor Festival, a four-day celebration of inclusion, access to nature, and environmental awareness.

Organized by the Paint and Quarter Horse Foundation Bulgaria (PQHFB) in partnership with organizations from Italy - Trekkify, Estonia - Equilibre, Belgium -QUEST, Croatia- OAZA, and Lithuania -Lithuanian Sea Museum, the festival formed part of the Youth Going Back to Nature – Engage, Connect, Empower project under the Erasmus+ program. Its purpose: to inspire a new generation to reconnect with nature and promote accessibility, diversity, and sustainability in outdoor activities.

In the words of one participant: “BACK TO NATURE showed me that we are all connected — people, animals, and the planet. It wasn’t just a festival; it was a journey back to what really matters.”

Everyone can now do the activities of the festival! They are all available in 3 simple and easy to follow Toolkits at https://outdoorportal.eu/results/ . Even more activities are free to explore in our resource hub at https://outdoorportal.eu/digital-spaces/ . Take a look how we designed and put into action environmentally sustainable outdoor activities in action.

🏞️ Day 1 Pancharevo Lake: Rediscovering ourselves and nature for young women

The festival opened at Pancharevo Lake, where participants arrived from Sofia by shuttle and were greeted with festival gifts, energy, and lakeside views. The morning began with “Creating Safety and Curiosity”, an ice-breaking session led by Trekkify (Italy) that used creative games to build trust and open communication among participants. Later, QUEST (Belgium) facilitated “Understanding Access to Green Areas” — a lively group activity exploring how geography, ability, and privilege shape young people’s access to nature. After lunch, OAZA (Croatia) invited participants to express their expectations and experiences through Metaphor Cards, while Equilibre (Estonia) closed the day with “Building Awareness of Personal Space and Boundaries in Nature”, encouraging mindfulness and respect for others’ presence in shared natural spaces. To finish the day and learn how to get in touch with our body QUEST (Belgium) introduced everyone to exercises to ‘’Soothe the Nervous System’’.

🌳 Day 2 Chavdar Village & St. Petka: Meeting with trees and climbing for young people from rural areas

The second day moved to Chavdar Village, famous for the beautiful views and rich history. To build trust and challenge themselves participants began with climbing of the climbing wall high above Chavdar. With helmets, ropes, and laughter, the group learned to support each other — literally and figuratively — as they climbed together. Then, everyone joined a ‘’Treasure Hunt to Discover Nature Surroundings’’ organized by Trekkify (Italy). It was a chance to explore the surrounding nature and dive into it. Participants relived thousands of years of the village history and all that is hidden below the ground by exploring Topolnitza archeological park. The afternoon was dedicated to immersive sensory activities that invited the group to slow down, observe, and form a deeper bond with nature – ‘’Nature Mosaic’’ by the Lithuanian Sea Museum (Lithuania) and ‘’Tree Therapy’’ by OAZA (Croatia). Collecting objects found in nature to form one mosaic reminded all of us of the inspiration we could receive from nature and how can we easily harm it. Looking up and appreciating the great energy and power of the trees built a close and meaningful relationship with the ecosystem, reminding all of us that it is breathing and helps us breath.  

🐴 Day 3 ‘’Aramliets’’ Nature Park: Nature for all and bonding with horses for young people with special needs

Day three focused on accessibility and inclusion. The group with participants with fewer opportunities travelled to Aramliets Nature Park. On a wide-open meadow, they enjoyed variety of activities to bring them closer to animals and themselves. ‘’Animal Tombola Discovering’’ by Trekiffy (Italy) helped participants learn about the characteristics and symbolism of different animals, encouraging self-reflection and empathy through playful discovery. ‘’The Wheel of Life Exercise’’ by Equilibre (Estonia) guided participants to assess balance in key areas of their lives, promoting self-awareness and mindfulness about personal well-being. ‘’Creating a Mandala’’ by Equilibre (Estonia) facilitated hands-on collaboration through building real construction, feeling the power of team work and support for one another. The hosts of PQHFB (Bulgaria) brought their loving therapy horses for ‘’Equine-assisted Activities’’. Participants interacted with horses through grooming, leading, and observation exercises designed to promote empathy, calmness, and mutual trust. For many, it was a deeply emotional experience — a living demonstration of how animals can foster social inclusion and emotional resilience.

⛰️ Day 4 Vitosha Mountain: The view from above – a hike for young people

The final day took the group to Vitosha Nature Park, where they embarked on a climbing to Kamen del peak that overlooks the city of Sofia. We began with preparation for the hike with ‘’Breathing Exercises’’ guided by the Lithuanian Sea Museum (Lithuania) staff. Focusing on your breath is a powerful activity to do both for a specific task, for relaxation, or in critical moments, especially when working with disadvantaged groups. Also led by the Lithuanian Sea Museum (Lithuania) the participants played a game for ‘’Opening up for Self Awareness - Sensory Stimulation’’. Trusting someone to guide you through the rocky mountain is an experience that bring you on travel inspiring variety of emotions to reach empathy, equip the participants with valuable tools for personal growth and a deeper appreciation of the environment. On the path to reach the peak, surrounded by mountain views, participants reflected on what they had learned — about themselves, nature, and one another.

🌿 A Festival Beyond Borders

The BACK TO NATURE Festival was a living embodiment of the Erasmus+ and the European Youth Goals strive for inclusion, diversity, and environmental protection. Beyond being a scenic outdoor gathering, the festival carried deeper ambitions:

• Inclusion & accessibility: By designing specific days for youth with fewer opportunities – young women, youth at risk, youth with special needs, and making nature accessible, the festival affirms that nature should be open to all.

• Intercultural learning: With participants and facilitators from 6 European countries, the festival fosters cross-border dialogue, idea exchange, and connection.

• Environmental education in action: Rather than just talking about sustainability, participants are stepping into green landscapes, walking, climbing, interacting with ecosystems and animals.

• Blending human and animal connection: The inclusion of horses in therapeutic settings underlines the possibility of nature and animals contributing to emotional well-being and social inclusion.

Through hiking, horse therapy, art, and friendship, the festival reminded the community that the path to inclusion — like a trail through the forest — is one best walked together.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project: YGBN - Youth Going Back to Nature - Engage, Connect, Empower. Nr. 2022-2-BG01-KA220-YOU-000098776.