International Young Naturefriends (IYNF) has the pleasure to invite you to this year’s Planning Weekend, the annual meeting where representatives of IYNF member and partner organisations meet to exchange ideas, network and brainstorm on the upcoming projects and future developments of the Young Naturefriends network.

The year 2014 is announced as IYNF Year of Urban Outdoors, aimed to foster youth making urban spaces more liveable, enjoyable and green through creativity, environmental and social action.

Resilient youth, resilient planet is the main theme of this meeting, that will motivate participants to explore ways in which youth can address urban outdoors to make a positive impact on a global scale. We will look at the case studies of city activism, see the work of transition movements, and explore the cultural barriers and opportunities in organising city initiatives, as well as seeing how holistic approaches and outdoor activities could be used as powerful tools for empowering youth towards community building.

The core of the programme will be based on project planning and guided networking of the member organisations – mainly intended to promote cooperation and strengthen the relations among the IYNF partners and members – and it will be complemented with information of possibilities offered by the different European funding opportunities and IYNF network as well.

This meeting is also the close follow-up of the Networking Conference 2014, which took place last May in Volterra, Italy. Therefore, we want to evaluate how participants are making use of the skills and knowledge gained during the event, and also to stimulate continuity to the ideas previously discussed.

The IYNF Planning Weekend 2014 will also provide space to develop project and event ideas related to the 40th anniversary of IYNF, which we will proudly celebrate in 2015.

The networking conference will gather up to 35 young participants. Delegates of IYNF member and partner organizations, volunteers and representatives of various youth organizations that share the values of IYNF and are willing to join the network are welcome to apply. The priority in selection procedure will be given to applicants who are currently active in the Naturefriends movement.

The IYNF Planning Weekend will be based on non-formal education methods like group-building activities, presentations, facilitated discussion through Open Space approach, action planning and evaluation.

The meeting will be kindly hosted in the Naturefriends’ House Felberg, located near Freiburg, Germany, in a protected natural area at 1350 m altitude, on the limit of the Alps. The venue, owned by a local group of Naturefriends, is perfectly suited for sustainable, cultural and recreational events, offering regional and organic food, as well as fair trade products. Electricity and hot water are generated through renewable methods, which makes the place the ideal eco-venue for the Naturefriends.

Thanks to the kind contribution of the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe and the Youth in Action / Erasmus + Programme of the European Union, IYNF will be able to fully cover accommodation, food and educational materials. Participants will be reimbursed 70 % of their travel costs to the meeting. No participation fee applies.

This activity is open to: Representatives of IYNF Member and Partner organizations, volunteers, representatives of various youth organizations that share the values of IYNF and are willing to be engaged within the network

Date and Place: 21-26/10/2013, Naturfreundehaus Feldberg, nearby Freiburg, Germany.

Costs: No participation fee, 30% of travel costs. (IYNF expects you to choose the most sustainable way of transportation, only 2nd class/economy class tickets can be reimbursed. For flights and travelling by car prior approval of the Secretariat will be needed)

Participation Rules: Participants are expected to be present at least 80% of the working time. If you are not able to fulfil this condition, please discuss with the Secretariat prior to your application. Violation of this rule might result in IYNF not being able to reimburse your travel costs.

Apply:  Please fill in this application form.

Deadline: 31 August 2014

Eligible Countries: Europe (Council of Europe member states)

If you have any questions, please write to henrique@iynf.org.