Completed · April 2026

Path2Wellness: Enhancing physical and mental well-being through outdoor education activities and mindfulness practices

Gunzenhausen, Germany
April 12–18, 2026
24 participants
Erasmus+ Youth Exchange
Coordinator · Highlights e.V.

About this exchange

Path2Wellness was an Erasmus+ youth exchange in Gunzenhausen, Germany, coordinated by Highlights e.V. with partner organisations in Norway, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Poland. The programme brought young people together to explore mental and physical well-being through outdoor education, mindfulness, and intercultural learning in a nature-based setting.

Over seven days, the mobility combined non-formal methods: outdoor mental health workshops, hiking and team challenges, mindfulness and breathwork, forest bathing, intercultural sharing, youth-led sessions, daily reflection, and an Erasmus+ information session. The group stayed at a countryside training venue surrounded by forests and trails, with shared community living and periods of digital detox alongside the learning programme. Youthpass recognition documented learning during the exchange.

Participants came from Germany, Norway, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Poland, including young people with fewer opportunities and many first-time Erasmus+ participants.

OBJECTIVES

What we set out to achieve

Create a supportive space to explore mental well-being strategies and bring useful practices into daily life
Strengthen communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving through outdoor collaboration
Foster intercultural exchange and cooperation among young people from six European countries
Encourage healthier lifestyles and environmental awareness through nature-based activity
Introduce first-time participants to Erasmus+ and further non-formal learning opportunities

ACTIVITIES

What we did

Outdoor mental health workshops
Non-formal sessions explored how nature-based activity can support stress reduction, resilience, and emotional well-being.
Hiking and team challenges
Outdoor challenges built teamwork, leadership, and confidence through shared physical and problem-solving tasks.
Mindfulness and relaxation practices
Meditation, breathwork, and related practices supported emotional regulation and everyday well-being habits.
Forest bathing and nature immersion
Guided time in natural surroundings helped participants reconnect with place, presence, and physical well-being.
Intercultural exchange and youth-led sessions
Cultural sharing, storytelling, and participant-led workshops encouraged peer learning across country groups.
Daily reflection and Youthpass recognition
Daily reflection, journaling, and peer feedback documented learning, with Youthpass recognition for competences developed.
Erasmus+ information session
A dedicated session introduced further Erasmus+ and international youth opportunities after the exchange.

KEY RESULTS

What we achieved

24
youth participants from six country groups
The mobility brought together 24 youth participants from Germany, Norway, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Poland, with six group leaders (30 people in the mobility group).
13
participants with fewer opportunities
Thirteen participants faced fewer opportunities linked to education, culture, social, economic, discrimination, disability, health, or geographic barriers addressed in the project design.
Practical well-being tools in nature
Participants practised stress-management, mindfulness, and outdoor well-being strategies they could continue using after the mobility.
Intercultural skills and peer networks
The exchange strengthened interpersonal skills, intercultural understanding, and peer connections across six European countries.
Follow-up engagement
Participants were encouraged to share learning at home, continue outdoor well-being habits, and stay engaged with Erasmus+ opportunities after returning.