Combining sustainability with youth empowerment, this Erasmus+ multi-activity project promoted environmental education through non-formal methodologies to foster inclusion and civic engagement among young people, particularly those from rural or geographically disadvantaged backgrounds. Coordinated by ARCI Chieti, Urban Organic, and the Abruzzo Institute for Protected Areas, the project engaged partners from across Europe in four phases aligned with the ORA method: Observe, Rethink, Act.
Due to the Covid pandemic time, the first step was a virtual seminar, held in September 2021, which laid the foundation for a shared educational platform by collecting local case studies and exchanging innovative practices on youth work, nature, and inclusion. The second study visit, hosted in Blackpool (UK), allowed participants to experience advanced models of environmental education in action and gather replicable tools for community-based inclusion through sustainability.
In the training course phase, held in Borrello (Italy), youth workers and educators participated in field-based workshops on outdoor education, pollinators, and bioindicators within protected natural areas. These hands-on experiences deepened participants’ skills and led to the creation of practical modules and educational resources.
The project culminated in a youth exchange in Tornareccio, centered around Monte Pallano’s protected site. Young participants engaged in workshops on environmental communication, outdoor action, and biodiversity monitoring, using nature as both setting and subject. Final outputs were shared with the local community, creating a moment of direct youth protagonism and reinforcing the social value of environmental learning.
All phases contributed to a comprehensive publication collecting outcomes, methodologies and educational tools aimed at supporting inclusive environmental education practices across Europe.
