Training Course

Health & Well-being through Nature-Based Methods
(25th – 31st May 2020, Czech Republic)

Our bodies are no less a part of this planet than the trees, the mountains, or any existing creature. Yet, instead of feeling intimately connected to this planet, we often find ourselves feeling a deep sense of separation.

Science has come to prove the interconnectedness of human beings and the natural environment through its positive effects on the mental, physiological, and spiritual aspects of the person. Ancient wisdom provides guidance on how we may reclaim our connection to Earth.

Europe needs young leaders who are capable of handling both the challenges presented by their generation and those occurring in their personal lives. This can be learned with a focus on connection to nature, improving personal well-being, and developing a sense of community. (HWNM project team)

In fact, in ancient times, there was a great sense of spiritual connection with the natural world. This way of being was so fundamental to ancient cultures that it had no name, it simply was.

If we can rediscover our connectedness to nature and approach it holistically, we can activate new perspectives, solutions and tools to create authentic and sustainable changes in our personal lives and in our communities. 

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Feel the invitation to join this activity and contribute to deepening the quality of youth work by experiencing methods of outdoor education, self-awareness and intercultural understanding, and develop innovative educational tools based on personal and community needs.

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Learning experiences

The training course will combine three thematic spheres for enabling participants to work on deeper personal levels in youth work: nature-based methods (holistic thinking), community building (intercultural understanding), and experiential learning (developing educational tools).

Therefore, the programme is rooted in using rituals, ceremonies, ancient wisdom, and ecocentrism (human as equal part of nature; opposite is anthropocentrism) and expertise from the local organisation in Czech Republic. The activities will be inspired by the Wheel of Life, group dynamics, intention clarification and focus, natural elements, Way of Council, Rites of Passage, and creativity. All this will support self-reflecting, integration and adopting healthy habits and growth.

The experience from the training course will afterwards be transferred to the different local communities of participants and a blog and an e-manual will be published, as a way to share with other youth workers and educators about the methods and tools, so they can be experienced with many other communities.

This activity will support participants to:

• Increase knowledge and skills in the field of environmental education.
• Deliver knowledge about holistic thinking and healthy lifestyles.
• Develop attitudes towards nature-based youth work, open communication, ceremonies and rites of passage and how it can be included in contemporary educational and experiential activities.
• Develop competences to recognize young people’s strong and weak sides, and be open to their vulnerability and personal development.
• Create a space for intercultural awareness by sharing stories about ancient wisdom and symbols from different cultures.
• Create innovative educational tools for self-discovery based on ecocentrism.

Practical info

For whom?

• Residents in the following countries: Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Macedonia, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Austria. This list represents the countries of the partner organisations involved in this project.
• Youth workers or people committed to become active youth leaders (no age limit).
• People who feel connected to the topics of the project and have a strong and relevant motivation for joining the process. The motivation should be a blend of personal and professional factors.
• People willing to commit fully as participants in the training course and in the preparatory and follow-up activities, including developing initiatives in their communities.
• Part of a Naturefriends organisation or willing to engage in the network following the training.

Where and when? 

Vila Sklenářka (Czech Republic)
25th – 31st May 2020 (travel days included)

About the venue:

“Vila Sklenářka” is a seminar center situated in a rural and remote area that offers a great environment for nature-based education with “a focus on personal growth and self awareness”. The venue is barrier-free and offers several options for accommodation indoor and outdoor. It also hosts Forest.Ink, the local group experienced in the topics of the training course.

How much does it cost?

• Food and accommodation are 100% covered.
• Travel costs covered by Erasmus + programme up to 180 euro for participants coming from Czech Republic, Germany and Austria, 275 euro for participants coming from Italy, Macedonia, Romania and Spain and 360 euro for participants coming from Portugal.
• Participation fee (solidarity contribution) on a sliding-scale from 40€ to 80€, depending on what is available for each person at the moment. The higher contributions will create opportunities for others, in the spirit of community.

If you have economical constraints covering the course fee, please contact us to find a solution.

Travel rules

According to IYNF’s Travel Policy you are asked to choose the most sustainable way of transportation, and funding rules from Erasmus+ require 2nd/economy class tickets. For flights and traveling by car prior approval of the project team will be needed.

How to apply? 

Please fill in and submit the APPLICATION FORM, until 16th MARCH 23:59 CET. The selected participants will be informed via email by 23rd March.

If you have any questions, please write to the project team at TC_HWNM@iynf.org

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