Youth Going Back to Nature - Engage, Connect, Empower
The project Youth Going Back to Nature - Engage, Connect, Empower /YGBN/ aims to pave the way of the young people with fewer opportunities to return to nature through environmentally sustainable outdoor activities. Together with our partners we will Connect, Engage, and Empower the youth community.
The project was created by our organization - Paint and Quarter Horse Foundation Bulgaria and is executed in partnership with LIETUVOS JURU MUZIEJUS - LSM /Lithuania/, AssociazioneSportiva Dilettantistica Trekkify - Trekkify /Italy/, Equilibre MTÜ /Estonia/, ODRŽIVA ALTERNATIVA ZAJEDNICI - OAZA /Croatia/, and Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation - QUEST /Belgium/.
As part of the project in 2023 and 2024 3 learning exchange events for the partners are being organized. Together we will author and spread documentaries and toolkits to help us and others engage the disadvantaged youth in outdoor activities. This and other resources are available on the Youth Outdoor Portal.
In 2025 the youth community is invited to the first International Online Youth Outdoor Conference and the first in Europe Youth Outdoor Festival in Bulgaria. In all 6 countries partnes are organizing interactive dissemination events to reach broader audience on a local level.
The YGBN project is possible thanks to the support of the Erasmus+ Program and the European Commission.
In May 2023 we had our project kick off meeting that marked the begining of the YGBN venture. It was a pleasure to discuss with all partners all project activities in details, answer administrative questions and set dates for events and meetings that are coming up. Everyone was excited to start working and brainstorm ideas.
LEARNING EXCHANGE EVENTS
Our organization hosted an inspiring Learning Exchange Event in September 2023. 13 participants from all 6 project partners worked on field to develop innovative environmentally sustainable outdoor activities. Our team and our colleagues from LSM, QUEST, Equilibre, OAZA, and Trekkify went to the mountains just outside of Sofia, Bulgaria at the horse ranch, home of PQHFB. The main beneficiaries we designed the activities for are young women.
Another Learning Exchange Event was organized in April 2024 by Trekkify in the beautiful Foligno, Italy. 13 participants from all 6 project partners worked on field to develop innovative environmentally sustainable outdoor activities for young people at risk.
The final 3rd Learning Exchange Event for the project took place in July 2024. The Lithuanian Sea Museum hosted the event in Klaipeda. Lithuania. 12 participants from all 6 project partners worked on field to develop innovative environmentally sustainable outdoor activities for young people with disabilities.
EUROPEAN YOUTH OUTDOOR NETWORK
We are proud to announce that in September 2023 the European Youth Outdoor Network was officially found in Sofia,Bulgaria. The founding members of the EYON are Paint and Quarter Horse Foundation /Bulgaria/, the Lithuanian Sea Museum /Lithuania/, AssociazioneSportiva Dilettantistica Trekkify - /Italy/, Equilibre MTÜ /Estonia/, ODRŽIVA ALTERNATIVA ZAJEDNICI - OAZA /Croatia/, and Quality Education in Europe for Sustainable Social Transformation - QUEST /Belgium/.
The main goal of the EYON is to connect different entities dedicated to youth and outdoor activities. The network will facilitate exchanging knowledge, practical tools and materials; connecting professionals and the youth community; creating partnerships to advocate to environmentally sustainable activities.
YOUTH OUTDOOR PORTAL
The Youth Outdoor Portal - https://outdoorportal.eu/ is now live!
The Portal (https://outdoorportal.eu/) is an interactive platform developed under the "Youth Going Back to Nature – Engage, Connect, Empower" (YGBN) project. It aims to engage, connect, and empower young people, particularly those facing barriers, by providing resources and information on environmentally sustainable outdoor activities. The portal offers various sections, including "Mountain," "Sea," "Gardens," "Urban," and "Animals," each containing resources and activities designed to foster a deeper connection between youth and nature.
In addition to activity resources, the portal features toolkits and documentaries developed by professionals . These materials are tailored to support specific groups, such as young women, youth at risk, and young people with disabilities, in engaging with nature-based activities. The toolkits provide structured approaches to outdoor activities, while the documentaries showcase the development and implementation of these activities.
The portal serves as a hub for the European Youth Outdoor Network, aiming to foster connections among various organizations focused on youth and outdoor activities. It also provides information on upcoming events and opportunities for users to share their experiences, promoting a collaborative and inclusive community dedicated to reconnecting youth with nature.
TOOKITS AND DOCUMENTARIES ON ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
The development of a set of environmentally sustainable outdoor activities was the subject of 3 learning exchange events. During the events professionals worked on innovations in the field of outdoor activities for different groups of young people:
Young Women
The activities dedicated to young women was captured in the 1st YGBN Documentary. The goal was to create tools to help young women gain confidence in their strength and abilities, help them cope with difficult situations and challenges. Watch the full documentary below.
As a result of the good practices shared the partners created the The Toolkit ‘’Young Women Going Back to Nature’’ . The Toolkit is intended to offer a thoughtful and impactful approach in working with young women within the realm of nature and outdoor activities involving a well-structured progression.
Young People at Risk
The activities dedicated to young people at risk was captured in the 2nd YGBN Documentary. The goal was to create innovative approaches to engage young people at risk in the community, help them build up their network, connect with the environment. Watch the full documentary below.
As a result of the good practices shared the partners created the The Toolkit ‘’Young People at Risk Going Back to Nature’’ . The Toolkit focuses on empowering young people facing socio-economic and educational challenges through environmentally sustainable outdoor activities. It provides practical exercises designed to promote physical health, mental well-being, and social cohesion by engaging youth with nature. This initiative aims to foster inclusion and resilience while addressing barriers to accessing green spaces and encouraging community engagement.
Young People with Disabilities
The activities dedicated to young people with disabilities was captured in the 3rd YGBN Documentary. The efforts were directed towards involving that particular group in outdoor activities in an inclusive way, aiming to improve their mental and physical health. Watch the full documentary below.
As a result of the good practices shared the partners created the The Toolkit ‘’Young People with Disabilities Going Back to Nature’’ . The Toolkit offers a variety of activities such as animal recognition games, nature scavenger hunts, and horse-assisted therapy to enhance sensory, cognitive, and motor skills. By promoting accessibility and holistic engagement, the initiative seeks to empower youth with disabilities and address their unique challenges in a supportive environment.
Funded by the European Union. 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.