How outdoor experiences strengthen young people’s resilience
As part of an Erasmus+ cooperation project, Outward Bound Slovakia and Outward Bound Germany have tested innovative ways to strengthen the mental health and life skills of vocational students. The final report now available summarises key findings and effects of the project.
The project aimed to open up new perspectives for young people in vocational training through experiential outdoor programmes. The focus was on the question: How can experiences of nature and group dynamic challenges contribute to promoting resilience, self-confidence and social skills?
More than 180 vocational school students from Slovakia and Germany participated in the project. The target group was supplemented by teachers, social workers and representatives of training companies. The diversity of the participants enabled a broad view of the effect of the methods used.
Key findings from the project report
- Strengthening resilience: Many participants reported that they felt better able to deal with stress and uncertainty after the program.
- Social development: Cooperation in challenging situations in particular promoted teamwork, communication and mutual trust.
- Nature as a learning space: The connection to nature was experienced as strengthening and calming – an important factor for mental health.
- Different starting points: While German participants were often confronted with pressure to perform and fears about the future, Slovakian young people tended to focus on social insecurities. The programs were able to respond to both groups individually.
The report is clearly in favour of integrating outdoor elements more strongly into vocational training. The following are particularly recommended:
- close cooperation between schools, providers and parents,
- regular reflection sessions to anchor the learning experiences,
- a long-term perspective on promoting mental health.
The Erasmus+ project impressively shows how holistic educational approaches can strengthen young people – not only professionally, but also emotionally and socially. The final report provides valuable impulses for educational institutions that want to break new ground in personal development.
You can find the full report here: Impact study for the project_Vocational education and mental health.