06/07/2026
Guided by Nature was more than an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange. It was a shared learning journey where young people from different European countries explored how nature can support wellbeing, cooperation, creativity and a more sustainable lifestyle.
The project brought together participants from Italy, Greece, Turkey, Lithuania and Poland, creating an international space for non-formal education, intercultural learning and peer learning. From the first activities, the group slowly built trust, openness and a sense of community through team-building games, reflection exercises, shared responsibilities and conversations.
One of the central experiences was the educational hike to Polica and Schronisko on Hala Krupowa. Participants prepared for it in responsibility teams, taking care of navigation, food, snacks, safety, equipment and group connection. The hike became much more than a physical challenge. It was a space to practise teamwork, decision-making, mutual support, digital-life balance and direct learning from nature.
During the exchange, participants also took part in outdoor upcycling workshops, exploring how simple materials and creative thinking can be used to make useful outdoor tools and educational resources. These workshops helped the group reflect on sustainability in a very practical way — not only by talking about responsible choices, but by creating, testing and learning through hands-on experience.
Peer learning played an important role throughout the whole project. Participants shared their skills, ideas, cultural perspectives and personal experiences with each other. In this way, everyone became both a learner and a contributor to the group process.
Guided by Nature reminded us that learning does not happen only in classrooms. Sometimes it happens on a forest path, during a shared challenge, while creating something from reused materials, or in a simple conversation with someone from another country.
Step by step, nature guided us towards stronger connections, greater awareness and a deeper understanding of how young people can care for themselves, each other and the environment.
