Adventure that educates
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Learning Without Walls, Growing Through Exploration—of Ourselves and the World
OUR STORY
OUR STORY
ARAO is a non-profit organization headquartered in Miercurea Ciuc, Harghita County. Our mission is to use grassroots sports and outdoor activities as non-formal learning tools to foster skill development among youth and promote solidarity across diverse communities.
At ARAO, we are passionate about nature and believe in its power to teach, challenge, and inspire. By engaging young people in health-enhancing physical activities in the great outdoors, we create meaningful experiences that build confidence, resilience, and social connection.
This is what we call "adventure that educates"—an approach where every hike, game, and shared moment becomes an opportunity for growth.
Where borders blur and trails begin, youth connect, grow, and learn—not by being told, but through the kind of wisdom only experience can teach.
NEWS
NEWS
PROJECTS
PROJECTS
Wired for Wonder
Wired for Wonder
Youth Exchange
This youth exchange offers 40 young people from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia, and Serbia the chance to try out via ferrata, a new and exciting sport. Beyond adventure, participants will build new skills, strengthen teamwork, and engage in intercultural dialogue, fostering mutual understanding and European solidarity.
Embark on the Cultural Express
Embark on the Cultural Express
DiscoverEU Inclusion Action
The project gives 18-year-olds—who might not otherwise have such opportunities—the chance to explore Europe by train. Over the course of three thematic journeys, 15 young people and 3 group leaders will discover new cultures, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen their sense of belonging to a shared European community.
Explore the World on two Wheels: The Learning Power of Bikepacking
Explore the World on two Wheels: The Learning Power of Bikepacking
Small - Scale Partnership in the filed of Sport
The project brings together five NGOs from Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, France, and Czechia to promote equality and European values through grassroots sports—especially bikepacking. Over two years, it will show how exploring the world by bike helps young people discover Europe’s cultural and natural richness while embracing shared values like inclusion, respect, and diversity.
The Outdoor Toolkit
The Outdoor Toolkit
Small - Scale Partnership in the filed of Sport
The project brings together four organizations from Romania, Hungary, Czechia, and France with the goal of creating a mobile app that generates checklists of essential equipment for different types of hikes—in swamps, flatlands, hills, and mountainous regions. At the same time, it aims to encourage young people to adopt an active lifestyle by raising awareness of the app and helping them prepare their hiking backpacks more effectively.
Including Via Ferrata
Including Via Ferrata
Mobility of Staff in the field of Sport
The project included one preparatory visit and one job-shadowing experience for six ARAO members and volunteers at our French partner organization. This mobility proved exceptionally valuable, as it allowed us to learn directly about their methodology and innovative approaches for developing Via Ferrata activities. The knowledge gained has greatly strengthened our capacity to engage the community and make our activities more accessible to all.
The Mountains are Calling and We must Go
The Mountains are Calling and We must Go
Youth Exchange
The project brought together 41 young people from Romania, Hungary, Czechia, and Portugal to experience the benefits of hiking while engaging in intercultural dialogue. Through this exchange, participants developed openness and understanding toward other cultures, gained practical knowledge and skills for safe hiking, and deepened their awareness of the balance between people and nature. The project also promoted the value of hiking within the four partner communities.
Nonformal Learning by Sport
Nonformal Learning by Sport
Youth Exchange
The project brought together 48 young people from Romania, Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia to tackle the lack of interest in non-formal learning through sports. By practicing mountain biking, hiking, and archery, participants gained hands-on skills while exchanging values and attitudes in an intercultural setting. They also discovered how these sports can foster teamwork, responsibility, and learning across cultures.
GET IN TOUCH WITH US!
GET IN TOUCH WITH US!
If you find our projects interesting, we may be able to collaborate regardless of your location!
If you're keen on volunteering with us, you can find us on social media or reach out to us via email.
If you find our projects interesting, we may be able to collaborate regardless of your location!
If you're keen on volunteering with us, you can find us on social media or reach out to us via email.
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