The YOUrALPS infodays series mark an important chapter in the Interreg Alpine Space project: scientific findings with surprising output on mountain-oriented education were presented to political stakeholders and other interested actors.

The Berchtesgaden National Park was the first in line and organised a two-day conference on education for sustainable development and mountain-oriented education. Around 90 participants joined the conference and discussed specific methods and topics in the Alps, explicitly referring to future perspectives to connect youth increasingly to nature and their Alpine environment. The conference was held in collaboration with the „Arbeitsgemeinschaft Natur und Umweltbildung Bayern“ (ANU) and was inaugurated by Dr. Christian Barth, Department Head of the Bavarian Ministry of Environment.

The French infoday was held in the context of an International Festival on Jobs relating to the mountain environment. Hence, numerous stakeholders active in the territory, including teachers, mountain guides, and employees in the public sector dealing with education topics, participated in a dynamic exchange. Local actors emphasized the necessity of including political actors in the debate to assure the inclusion of mountain-related topics and outdoor education in curricula. Moreover, interest for joining the YOUrALPS initiative became clear: several actors stressed the wish to move their local initiatives onto a larger, international level.

The Lombardy Region was in charge of the organisation of the infoday in Milan. Invitees joined for a half day meeting and got in touch with YOUrALPS pilot sites who presented their activities. Moreover, the Alpine school model which is to serve as a label for those schools engaging in in-depth collaboration with protected areas was presented, implementing the criteria which were developed in a theoretical approach.

For further information please see http://www.alpine-space.eu/projects/youralps/e