Youth Green Conference 2025: A Week to Remember

With the support of the Erasmus+ program, young people from Austria, Slovenia, Spain, and the Ukraine, gathered in Biosphere Reserve Lungau, Austria, to reconnect with nature, share cultures, and get an unforgettable experience.

Throughout the week participants enjoyed ziplining, climbing, teambuilding and barefoot forest walks. They explored wool manufacturing, recycling, and leather workshops, and discovered the importance of human&wildlife coexistance, beekeeping, biodiversity, and sustainable living.

Creativity and self-expression were encouraged through eco-workshops, dance sessions, and podcast creation, while cultural exchange came alive during lively evenings of music, dance, and storytelling around the fire.

The guiding message of the week was clear:
“Respect Nature” isn’t just a phrase. It’s a way of living and relating to the environment.

Please also read: Together for climate and nature: Youth Green Conference-2025 begins!

Conference Highlights

Among numerous Conference highlights were:

• Outdoor adventures: climbing, giant swings, ziplining, and Jacob’s ladder
• Nature-connecting activities: barefoot forest walks, herbal-rural and survival in nature workshops, and eco-games
• Nature conservation activities: Respect nature and ranger dialogue workshops, wetlands and biodiversity activities; Carpathian Day celebration
• Workshops: wool manufacturing, recycling, leather crafting, biodiversity & beekeeping
• Creativity: hip-hop dance, podcasting, and eco-poster-presentations
• Cultural exchange: international evenings, music, dance, films, and fire storytelling
• Team spirit and friendship making: teambuilidng activities, informal communication and “secret” friend
• Closing moments: award ceremony, reflections, and group sharing

And of course there was a lot of possiblity to improve and practice English!

Special guests

The conference also hosted special guests from Austria, Georgia, Unitied states, and New Zieland, who joint in person or online, as well as recorded their appeal to the youth. Among them:

• Chiatura Students’ Council” from Georgia, established in 2013 under the “the Chiatura Union” (ACU). Our mission is to promote the formation of young people as active citizens in Georgia  through non-formal education and the protection of human rights. Their primarily work to prevent environmental issues in our region, such as air and water pollution, soil degradation, and improper resource extraction.
• Jakob Mohl from Austria, currently involved in nature conservation and wetlands protection as UNESCO Youth Representative and EU Environmental Policy as Biodiversity Coordinator at Generation Climate Europe. He is currently in China. 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves
• Kathrin Doppler, education specialist from Biosphere Reserve Lungau.
• Leslie Freeman, former Watershead protection coordinator, who integrates her passion and work with youth, the outdoors and community.
• Nate Wilbourne is a New Zealand-based youth and environmental advocate, speaker, and changemaker dedicated to protecting the planet and inspiring action. At just 17, he has spoken in across the globe in 3 continents, in countries including the United Arab of Emirates & Germany, addressing over 25,000 people.

The final questionnaire of the Conference showed that almost all the participans consider it is important to condcut another Youth Green Conference!

Max Rossberg, Chairman at the European Wilderness Society

Youth pass

All the participants received Youth Pass Certificates, that recognises participation in the international Youth Exchange activitiy, supported by Erasmus + programme and gaining new skills under non-formal educational activities.

Thank you for giving young people the opportunity to travel and meet people!

Conference young participant

Podcasts and video

With the support of expert from La Manchuela Por el Clima, youngsters were able to record and release two podcasts. In addition video, edited by talanted Nazarii Bondar from Ukraine, had been released.

Youth Green Conference main podcast is available here:

Youth Green Conference Podcast with Nate Wilbourne can be listened and shared: here.

Youth Green Conference 2025 will be remembered not just for its activities but for the friendships, discoveries, and commitment to a greener future it inspired.