*WITHINTHEFRAMEWORKOF THEBEYONDHORIZONSPROJECT LEADBYENOS
The Youth Manifesto for the Outdoors expresses the collective vision of young Europeans involved in the Erasmus+ Beyond Horizonsproject.Weadvocateforanoutdoor culture that is: inclusive, sustainable, accessible,andyouth-led.Wecalluponpublic authorities,organisations,andcommunitiesto workwithusandnotjustforus.
YoungpeopleacrossEuropeshareacommonbelief:naturebelongstoeveryone.
Theoutdoorsisapowerfulspaceforwellbeing,connection,resilience,learning,identity-building,creativity,andactivecitizenship.Ithelpsus grow as individuals and empowers us to engage as responsible members of society. Yet access to nature remains uneven. Environmental pressures are rising. Many young people face economic, cultural, social, and physical barriers that prevent them from enjoying and participatingfullyinoutdooractivities.
TheYouthManifestofortheOutdoorsexpressesthecollectivevisionofyoungEuropeansinvolvedintheErasmus+BeyondHorizonsproject. Weadvocateforanoutdoorculturethatisinclusive,sustainable,accessible,andyouth-led.Wecalluponpublicauthorities,organisations,and communitiestoworkwithusandnotjustforus.Thisisourvisionforafuturewhereeveryonecanstepoutdoorswithdignity,safety,andjoy —nowandforgenerationstocome.
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 Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
Theoutdoorsmustbeaspacewhereeveryone canbelong,participate,andthrive.
INCLUDEPEOPLEWITH DISABILITIESANDTHOSEFACING SOCIAL,ECONOMIC,CULTURAL, ORGEOGRAPHICALBARRIERS
USETHEOUTDOORSASATOOL TOBUILDCOMMUNITY
NATUREITSELFDOESNOT DISCRIMINATE-PEOPLEAND SYSTEMSDO
EVERYONEBELONGSINNATURETHEOUTDOORSFITSALL
Accesstonatureisstill unequal.Youngpeoplecallfor removingstructuraland attitudinalbarrierssothat outdoorexperiencesdonot dependonincome,mobility, gender,ethnicity,or background.
Outdooractivitiesstrengthen relationships,encourage cooperation,andfostera senseofbelonging.They createsharedexperiencesthat bringpeopletogetheracross differences.
Naturalspaceshavethe potentialtobeopen,free,and welcoming.Wemustensure thattheirdesign, management,and programmingreflectthis openness.
Asyoungpeople,wewantto challengediscriminatory practicesandadvocatefor inclusivepolicies, representation,andleadership inoutdoorsportsand recreation.
THEYOUTHMANIFESTOFORTHEOUTDOORS
Enjoying nature comes with the responsibility tocareforit.
WEMUSTGIVESOMETHINGBACK INEXCHANGEFORWHATNATURE OFFERS
NATUREISSACREDAND DESERVESPROTECTION
CARINGFORNATUREMEANS MAKINGITACCESSIBLEAND INCLUSIVE
THELEASTPOSSIBLEIMPACT REQUIRESKNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS,ANDEDUCATION
Outdoorrecreationprovides health,joy,andpersonal growth.Inreturn,wecommit tobehavioursandchoicesthat protectecosystemsand biodiversity.
Thisbeliefreflectsamoral dutytopreservenatural spacesnotonlyforourselves, butforfuturegenerations.
Openingnaturetomorepeople shouldgohandinhandwith teachingresponsible behavioursthatminimise disturbance,pollution,and degradation.
Respectgrowsthrough learning.Outdoorprogrammes shouldintegrate environmentaleducation, LeaveNoTraceprinciples,and sustainabilityskills.
Accesstonatureisaright,notaprivilege.
PUBLICAUTHORITIESSHOULD PROMOTETHEOUTDOORSAS PARTOFEVERYDAYLIFE
EVERYONESHOULDBEABLETO AFFORDANDREACHNATURE
WEMUSTBUILDTHEFUTURE TOGETHERWITHTHENEXT GENERATION
BARRIERSSHOULDBE SYSTEMATICALLYIDENTIFIEDAND REMOVEDUSINGAVAILABLE KNOWLEDGE
Urbanplanning,transport, schools,youthorganisations, andsportssystemsmust integrateregularcontactwith natureintotheirpoliciesand infrastructures.
Outdooropportunitiesmustbe economicallyaccessible, supportedbypublicfunding andinclusiveinitiatives, especiallyformarginalised youth.
Youngpeopleshouldbecocreatorsindecisionsabout landuse,outdoorsport policies,greeninfrastructure, andclimateaction.Youth participationisessentialfor shapingresilientandinclusive outdoorcultures.
Research,localexperience, andyouthinputshouldguide strategiestoreducephysical, financial,informational,and culturalobstaclestooutdoor participation.
THEYOUTHMANIFESTOFORTHEOUTDOORS
Whatyoungpeople pledgetodofor inclusive, sustainableand accessibleoutdoor spaces.
AsyoungEuropeans,werecogniseoursharedresponsibilityin shapingthefutureofoutdoorsports,recreation,andthenatural environment.Wecommitto:
1.Practisingresponsibleoutdoor behaviour
2.Championinginclusioninall outdoorspaces
3.Beingactivecaretakersofnature
4.Engagingincontinuouslearning
5.Raisingourvoicesand participatingindecision-making
THEYOUTHMANIFESTOFORTHEOUTDOORS
Tomaketheoutdoorsaspacethatistrulyaccessible,inclusive, andsustainable,weurgepolicymakers,educators,andoutdoor organisationsatalllevelstotakeaction:
1.Improvephysicalandeconomic accesstonature
2.Prioritiseinclusivedesignand participation
3.Integrateoutdooractivitiesinto educationandyouthpolicies
4.Protectnaturalareasthrough sustainablemanagement
5.Supportresearch,innovation,and cooperationinoutdoorsports
Whatweaskfrom publicauthorities, institutions,and organisations.
We,theyoungpeopleofEurope, callforaboldandunited commitmenttomakingthe outdoorsaspaceforeveryone— aspacewherenatureis respected,diversityis celebrated,andfuture generationscanflourish.
Weaskdecision-makers,organisations,educators, communities,andyouthleaderstojoinusin: breakingdownbarriers, protectingnaturalspaces, buildinginclusiveenvironments,and empowering the next generation to lead the way.
The outdoors is not just where we play. It is wherewegrow,connect,learn,andimaginenew horizons.
“Let us build a Europe where every young person can step into nature with confidence — and into theirfuturewithhope.ˮ