Webinar: Outdoor Sports – Engaging with or using nature?

We are pleased to announce the launch webinar for the “Sustainability and Education in Outdoor Sports’ project, hosted by EUROPARC Federation. The SEE project is a newly awarded Erasmus project by the European Commission which aims to tackle the un-coordinated approach to the teaching and communication of environmental ethics in the spheres of outdoor sport and recreation. The increasing appreciation for the benefits associated with outdoor recreation and sport has been highlighted in a previously funded Erasmus+ project on the “Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society”. The project is ultimately about ensuring that outdoor sports are managed sustainably and responsibly in natural and protected areas will enable greater confidence to allow increased participation so that more people can enjoy the recognised benefits of Health Enhancing Physical Activity in the outdoors. IMBA Europe is one of the project partners of the SEE-project.  In this webinar, we will have the opportunity to hear from Lissa Breugelmans, an avid cyclist, with a Masters in Biology who can share a unique perspective as an outdoor enthusiast and practitioner, who understands the current impacts outdoor activities have on nature. We will also learn from Daniele Piazza, director of the Dell’Ossola Protected Area about an integrated strategy – involving many different local stakeholders, to minimise and mitigate the effects of outdoor sports in this alpine nature park. Myles Farnbank, from Wilderness Scotland, will present the Adventure Travel Guide Standard, a useful tool to  institutions, sustainable destinations and training programs, in order to build the capacity of the Outdoor sport sector on the three core  responsibilities all trainers should have: Sustainability, Safety, and Quality and Meaning.  This webinar will publically launch the ERASMUS + SEE project. Led by Leave No Trace Ireland, ‘SEE’ stands for Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports. Please find the link here to register for this event which will take place April 27th, 11 am-12.30 CET Agenda: Welcome and introduction to the webinar – Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Federation   Dilemmas for an outdoor enthusiast – Lissa Breugelmans, Outdoor sports practitioner and PhD student at University of Antwerp The RESICETS project – Park and Outdoor Sports working together to minimise the impact of outdoor activities on wildlife – Daniele Piazza, director of the Aree Protette dell’Ossola The Adventure Travel Guide Standard- Showing how the Outdoor Sports sectors values nature though sustainability standards – Myles Farnbank, Wilderness Scotland guide, fellow of The Royal Geographical Society and a Master Educator of Leave No Trace The SEE project.  Researching the issues and finding best practice – Mike McClure, ?Outdoor Recreation Development Officer, ?Sport Northern Ireland Let’s talk about it – All participants have the opportunity to exchange on the topics discussed and/or to ask questions. Final remarks and Close – Noel Doyle, Leave No Trace Ireland   project partners Leave No Trace Ireland (LNTI) Technical University Munich (TUM) Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) National Resource Centre for Expertise and Sport Performance / Centre de Ressources d’expertise et de performance sportives de Rhone-Alpes) (CREPS) The National Institute for Physical Education in Catalonia (INEFC – Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya) International Mountain Biking Association Europe (IMBA) Mountaineering Association Tara (MAT – Planinarski Klub Tara) Surf Clube de Viana (SCV) Folkungaland (FL) EUROPARC Federation (EF)