Restoration Academy

Empowering Youth Participation in Nature Restoration

An Erasmus+ project promoting nature restoration as a means for youth education, youth participation, environmental awareness and active citizenship.

GA number: 2023-1-FI01-KA220-YOU-000155405

Funded by: Erasmus+      Duration: 01/09/2023-31/08/2026


Challenge

Around 75% of the Earth’s land and 85% of wetlands bear the imprint of human activities, endangering roughly one million of the planet’s eight million species, according to IPBES. The “UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” spanning 2021-2030 underscores the pressing need for ecosystem revival.

In Europe, the EU Biodiversity Strategy seeks to halt biodiversity loss by 2030, addressing the dire state of over 80% of EU habitats.

This project addresses this century’s challenge, by actively promoting nature restoration through youth education, non-formal learning and volunteering activities. It responds to young people’s priorities regarding climate change and environmental degradation, by creating opportunities for youth participation, environmental learning and active citizenship.

Innovation

This project provides youth organisations and youth workers with practical tools and educational resources to promote nature restoration as a means for youth-oriented education, informal learning and volunteering activities. The project supports young people in becoming active citizens and environmental leaders, through the development of guides, training materials, practical tools, educational videos and restoration activities.

The  project results include a transnational report on Nature-Based Environmental Education, a good practices brochure, a Guide for organizing youth nature restoration camps, practical camp organization tools, a multiplier’s training model and demonstration and animation videos.

Action

The Transnational Report on Nature-Based Environmental Education (NBEE) brings together findings from desk research, national studies and surveys conducted in Greece, Finland, the Netherlands and Slovakia. Addressed to youth workers, educators and youth organisations, it identifies key challenges, gaps and young people’s needs, providing a valuable foundation for promoting environmental education through nature restoration across Europe.

Discover the Transnational Report here.

Infographic on youth workers survey answers

The Good Practices on Nature-Based and Nature Restoration Activities present inspiring examples of successful initiatives from Greece, Finland, the Netherlands and Slovakia. Featuring nature restoration projects, youth participation activities and other effective practices, the collection provides practical inspiration for youth workers, educators and young people seeking to promote environmental action through nature-based approaches.

Download the brochure in English.

Download the brochure in Greek.

The Guide for Organising Youth Nature Restoration Camps provides practical guidance for youth organisations, youth workers and educators interested in planning and delivering nature restoration activities for young people. It includes step-by-step recommendations on preparation, coordination and implementation, along with practical tips and an operational model to support meaningful youth participation in environmental restoration initiatives.

Discover the Guide here.

Poster: Steps to organize a nature restoration camp

The webinar and training materials provide practical educational resources to support youth workers and youth organisations in promoting nature restoration initiatives. Structured into thematic modules and based on the project’s Guide and other key outputs, they can be delivered as a complete training programme or as standalone sessions, allowing organisations to adapt the content to their specific objectives, audiences and learning needs.

Watch the Restoration Academy webinar: Empower youth participation in nature restoration.

Read the webinar material.

Discover the Multipliers Training Model (EN)

Discover the Multipliers Training Model (GR)

The demonstration and animation Videos showcase the principles and practice of nature restoration through engaging visual content. Featuring real restoration camps, youth-led activities and practical examples, they help young people, youth workers and organisations better understand the link between climate and nature while inspiring environmental action. All videos are available on the project’s YouTube channel with subtitles in English, Finnish, Greek, Slovak and Dutch.

YouTube: Restoration Academy

Outputs

Camp at the Archipelago Sea National Park, Finland

Camp at the Little Carpathians, Slovakia

Camp in Amsterdam and Friesland, the Netherlands

Camp infopack: example from the Netherlands

Camp Organizers’ Check-List

Feedback Form Template

Multipliers’ training model [EN]

Multipliers’ training model [GR]

Organizers’ Packing List

Participants’ Packing List

Registration Form Template

Potential Stakeholders and Organizations

Desk Research

Good Practices [EN]

Good Practices [GR]

Guide for Organizing Youth Nature Restoration Camps

Poster

Webinar Slides

Youth Workers – Infographic

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Project Partners

Organization Logo_KMOP Edu Hub
KMOP Education and Innovation Hub, Greece
Nuorten Academia – Finland (Coordinator)
RE-PEAT – The Netherlands
Strom zivota – Slovakia
Luonto-Liitto ry – Finland

Leave a comment
or ask for help