Innovative outdoor learning in Ukrainian protected areas
In our new series “Youth Empowerment and Action Highlight” – or IKI YEAH for short – we present successful initiatives from IKI projects that empower young people to engage in sustainable transformation. In this edition, we take a look at Ukraine.
In late 2023, the project “Conservation of highly valuable primeval and old-growth forests in selected national parks in the Ukrainian Carpathians”, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), hosted two two-day workshops. A total of 43 staff members from twelve protected areas took part in the workshops, which were specifically designed for education staff working with children. We used minimal materials; instead, we emphasised the use of natural elements found outdoors with the aim of demonstrating that impactful learning could happen with what is available in nature — trees, leaves, footprints — if interpreted creatively and intentionally.
Results
The workshops led to the development of a variety of well-structured and engaging outdoor education programmes. They were created by educators working within the protected areas themselves and offer meaningful learning experiences for children. The educators now have a better understanding of what effective outdoor education looks like and how to implement it. In addition, we have established strong, regular connections with educators from local parks for further collaboration.
Lessons Learned
The experience showed that one-on-one, on-site consultation is the most effective approach when working with protected areas. Demonstrating methods in the field had a much greater impact than simply explaining them during virtual meetings. It also became clear that meaningful support for educators requires an in-depth understanding of their specific challenges. This can only be achieved by listening closely and co-developing practical, tailored solutions.
Replication Potential
During the workshops, we focused on how to effectively plan and carry out outdoor activities using the ZIM method (Ziel–Inhalt–Methode) – a planning framework based on learning goals (Ziel), content (Inhalt), and methods (Methode). This helps educators design outdoor activities that are not only engaging, but also safe, fit-for-purpose, and pedagogically sound.
What’s more, these programmes can be reused and adapted by other protected areas — each programme available on the project website includes active links to ready-to-print materials such as illustrations, diagrams, and games, allowing for quick and effective implementation.
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Contact
IKI Office
Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH
Stresemannstraße 69-71
10963 Berlin
Youth engagement in the IKI
