As the lives of youngsters become more and more sedentary, this leads them to neglect physical activity which is crucial for the human’s development at that age. The lack of physical activity leads to various health problems, including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases. It also negatively affects the mental health of youngsters. Time spent in front of a TV or computer screen disturbs the normal psychological and social development: it adds to less curiosity, lower self- control, more distractibility, more difficulty making friends, less emotional stability, being more difficult to care for, and inability to finish tasks. One of the ways to improve youth’s mental and physical well-being is by wild camping.

Camping in nature offers many benefits for young people. It adds to the physical activity time, helps to build and strengthen relationships, teaches valuable lessons about self-reliance and teamwork. Basking in a forest can reduce psychological stress, depression symptoms and hostility towards others. It can also lift the mood, improve sleep, increase vigour and help to feel more alive.

Aims and Objectives of Wild Camping

• prepare to talk about social exclusion/inclusion situation in your community
• present how outdoor activities are being used for social inclusion in their countries
• in country teams, prepare to lead a special workshop on wild camping and different aspects of it. Each team will be able to choose from 4 topics (environment, healthy lifestyle, inclusion and self-reliance vs teamwork) and 4 methods (World Café, Open space workshop, Fishbowl conversation, Bohm Dialogue)
• prepare possible additional activities or games to be presented while walking or sitting down near the campfire
• share information about the project in your own networks
• search for or think of original energizers, ice-breaking activities, ways for reflections, YouthPass usage and other non-formal education methods that might be used during the project.

1. sharing photos and videos from the youth exchange;
2. writing press releases, blog posts, articles to the digital mediaabout the project;
3. sharing pictures with the slogans created during the youth exchange highlighting wild camping benefits;
4. organising info-session for the local youth about the camping, social inclusion and this project;
5. any other dissemination activities that youth came up with.

Participants

1. team leaders (1 per country);
2. youth with fewer opportunities (2 per country);
3. youth interested to learn about social inclusion through physical outdoor activities (3 per country).

Accommodation

APV

The participants will be accommodated in a hotel in Kaunas city centre (twin rooms). The hotel meets safety standards and is suitable for project needs – conference room, space for meals.

The place of stay: Kaunas

Youth exchange

• The youth exchange will take place in Mančiagirė, a village in the Dzūkija National Park. The park is the largest protected area in Lithuania and the country’s most extensive forest.
• Our base camp will be a rural tourism home. There will be electricity, Wi-fi, showers, toilets. For the first two days we will stay there, third to sixth days will be spent completely outdoors without any facilities and on the last day, the group will come back to the home.
• We will hike around 10km every day.
• Every participant must take a SLEEPING BAG.

Place is here.

Google maps here.

Wild camping – Erasmus plus – Lithuania – abroadship.org

Wild camping – Erasmus plus – Lithuania – abroadship.org

Wild camping – Erasmus plus – Lithuania – abroadship.org

Wild camping – Erasmus plus – Lithuania – abroadship.org

Travel

APV

• Kaunas airport – Kaunas city centre is reachable by direct bus route no 29/29E
• Vilnius airport – Vilnius station (train, bus routes 1; 2; airport express) – Kaunas station (train, bus)
• Every participants must purchase tickets with flexible dates and travel insurance for travel disruption/delay

Youth exchange

• Kaunas airport – Kaunas station (bus route no 29/29E) – Varėna (bus) – Marcinkonys (bus)
• Vilnius airport – Vilnius station (train, bus routes 1; 2; airport express) – Marcinkonys (bus)
• Organisers will pick you up and take you to our base camp
• Every participant must purchase travel tickets with flexible dates and insurance for travel disruption/delay

What to bring

• Pack light!
• Hiking backpack
• Comfortable waterproof hiking shoes
• Sleeping bag
• Towel
• Personal cosmetics, sunscreen, mosquito repellant
• Sleeping bag and towel
• Comfortable clothes – layers layers layers! Pack quick drying t-shirts, warmer jacket, swimsuit, extra socks
• Insurance