#OurEUStory 2023: The SEE Project
Nature has often been called our ultimate playground. But as more of us embrace the outdoors, are we doing enough to protect it?
The Sustainability and Environmental Education in Outdoor Sports Project, or SEE Project, is bridging the gap between outdoor sports and environmental consciousness.
With the COVID19 pandemic’s rise, so did our love for the outdoors. Increased footfall led to increased harm, and we knew that the toolkit we were developing for environmental sustainability in outdoor sport and recreation was needed.
Aligning with the European Green Deal, SEE Project united 10 partners across Europe. From Serbia to Sweden, our exchanges spread knowledge, share perspectives, and worked to solve the challenges of responsible outdoor recreation.
The aim of the project is to ensure that environmental education is a foundational aspect to the teaching of outdoor sports in Europe.
Our outcomes? Four impactful project reports, a European best-practices guide, and an Educational Toolkit. This toolkit isn’t just a tool; it’s a movement to teach outdoor sports enthusiasts the art of sustainable participation.
This toolkit features inputs from over 100 stakeholders involved in outdoor sports, environmental protection and land management across Europe. These inputs helped inform the development of the toolkit and modules.
The SEE Project has also created a compendium of good practice, that includes 70 activities for inspiring everyone who engages in outdoor sports and recreation to respect and protect the world around them.
One of the important impacts that this toolkit has worked towards, is to reduce friction between nature lovers and land managers; and to enhance our outdoor experiences by focusing on the importance of mental well-being and inclusion.
After three years, this toolkit is ready for the world, and we cannot wait to see what ways it is used to promote responsible sporting practices, to protect our landscapes, and cherish nature.
