Hiking clubs, youth organizations, and eco-camps active in hiking and sports allow hiking to offer invaluable experiences and personal growth. Going to the mountains will enable people to explore nature and natural beauty, face certain challenges, become physically active, enhance fitness and well-being, and enjoy the peace and tranquility that only the mountains can provide.
We live in a time when the world, nature, and environment are changing drastically. The planet’s appearance is changing, driven by the needs of modern human life. The race for success, well-being, and work responsibilities increase mental and physical fatigue. Hiking represents relaxation from the mental efforts that a person experiences at the workplace and the city noises caused by the fast pace of life.
Aside from that, the world and humanity are facing several social challenges. Active aging in Europe is causing intergenerational gaps and a lack of dialogue and understanding among citizens of different generations with much to learn about each other. This gap is bringing marginalization and mistreatment of elderly people, a rise in stereotypes and mistrust among generations, the breakup of intergenerational communication, reduced community cohesion, a rise in exclusion of vulnerable groups, further reduction of youth participation in the democratic process, etc.
Therefore, supporting inclusion and intergenerational dialogue made their way to the forefront of societal needs. There is evidence that intergenerational dialogue is most effective when intergenerational groups work together as a team to address common challenges. No more critical topic combines different generations and hiking than environmental protection and climate change. Issues becoming critical in recent times have managed to unite diverse socio¬demographic groups in working together to address climate change and protect the environment where we live.
This manual is created to serve that purpose. To bridge the gap, the citizens of different generations are involved in the educational hiking programs of mountain clubs, youth organizations, and eco camps that promote environmental protection and engagement. It is designed to strengthen intergenerational dialogue, solidarity, and understanding, inside and outside of formal hiking practices, connect problems with solutions, develop exploratory curiosity, and guide hikers towards a sustainable, protected, and healthy environment.