Reflections on the SEE Project International Learning Symposium 2023

22nd November 2023

 

Earlier this month Leave No Trace Ireland Project Coordinator Dr. Noel Doyle set off for the SEE Project International Learning Symposium.

Over the last three years, Leave No Trace Ireland has led this Erasmus+ programme, working with 9 partner organisations from across Europe to spread knowledge, share perspectives, and work to solve the challenges of responsible outdoor recreation.

Travelling overland from Westport to Munich with Sport NI and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre, the group took two ferries, crossed five countries, and drove over 2000km to arrive in Munich for the three day event.

Hosted at the Burg Schwaneck just outside of Munich, the over 90 attendees could not have asked for a more beautiful place for this rousing event.

After opening the proceedings to an international audience, Noel Doyle facilitated the discussions and inspirational talks – and may have admitted to taking some enjoyment for being the “bad guy” who insured that all presentations stuck to the schedule!

 

Through the facilitation of sessions, all participants learned from a range of amazing projects across Europe.

The fulcrum of this Symposium, and the final outcome of the three years of research and development, was the SEE Toolkit. 

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.

Throughout the three days, everyone took part in deep conversations on the work that has been done, and got to showcase and take part in the different elements of the SEE Toolkit.

Making his SEE Pledge with his fellow attendees, Noel and all partners highlighted the need for a European commitment to outdoor sports.

Reflecting on the event, Noel Doyle said that;

We began this work in 2021 as colleagues, but I have come to cherish and love working with each of the SEE partners – to hear their stories, and further our collective drive to develop outdoor sports into a more sustainable future.

A special thanks to all the partners for an amazing week: The EUROPARC Federation; the Technical University of Munich; Sport NI and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre; CREPS; INEFC; IMBA Europe; TAPA; Surf Clube de Viana; and FolkungaLand.

Thank you to the Erasmus + and commission for funding an amazing project and I can’t wait to SEE how the project develops into the future!

Go n-éirí an bóthar leat

 

A special thank you to Sport NI and Tollymore National Outdoor Centre for sharing the journey and the camaraderie along the way!