. 

The Outdoor Toolkit

The Outdoor Toolkit for all smartphones and tablets is the easiest-to-use checklist to help you prepare when hiking. The mobile App for iOS and Android aims to support casual hikers, young people and anyone interested in preparing better when hiking by providing a checklist with the equipment needed to pack for different types of hikes.

 

The app renders a checklist with the necessary equipment for a day or overnight hike in swamps, flatlands, hills, and mountain areas. The checklists are at the core of this mobile app. They are categorised according to terrain (mountains, hills, flat lands, swamps) and duration (day hike, overnight stay). Each checklist will allow for multiple items.

 

The Outdoor Toolkit App offers top-down navigation, first by terrain and then by duration, before displaying the corresponding checklist. 

The application is available for IOS and Android and it can be downloaded from below: 

T

Please give us your feedback!

DEOR events

ARAO organized participatory events at two schools in Miercurea-Ciuc—Marton Aron High School and Marin Preda High School in Odorheiu Secuiesc. The events began with a comprehensive overview of our organization, outlining our mission, project goals, and the benefits of the Erasmus+ program. We then introduced The Outdoor Toolkit mobile application, showcasing it through an informative video that highlighted its features and usability.

At the end of the presentation, we invited the students to take a few minutes to explore the mobile application and fill out a feedback form. The young attendees expressed great interest, particularly in the app's English language component, which provided them an opportunity to expand their vocabulary related to hiking and outdoor activities. Overall, the events successfully engaged approximately 100 young people, sparking enthusiasm for safe outdoor exploration and learning.


Youth for Youth organized engaging events at three schools: Obchodní akademie a SOŠ logistická in Opava, Manažerská akademie in Beroun, and Soukromá střední odborná škola START in Prague. The presentations began with an introduction to the team and an overview of the project, followed by a video tutorial demonstrating the mobile application designed for safe hiking.

Participants expressed interest in getting involved in project activities, with several deciding to volunteer with Youth for Youth. They even established plans to organize regular hiking events, marking a significant development for the organization, which had not previously been active in hiking initiatives. Overall, approximately 100 young individuals attended these informative sessions.


Légáramlat organized two engaging events, the first in Mezőberény with students from Mezőberényi Sándor Petőfi School. They gathered pupils from various classes at a nearby venue to join our presentation after school hours. In Budapest, the team presented the mobile application focused on safe hiking practices to students at Klebelsberg Kuno Általános Iskola és Gimnázium.Attila Pulai introduced the application, highlighting its benefits and encouraging participants to better prepare for hikes. At the conclusion of the event in Mezőberény, many students expressed interest in using the app in the future. Meanwhile, students at Klebelsberg Kuno Általános Iskola és Gimnázium requested more time to explore the application before providing final feedback. Notably, three students decided to volunteer and became actively involved in subsequent hikes organized by Légáramlat, marking a significant step toward fostering a culture of outdoor activity among their peers. In total, 100 young participants attended the events.


ASCU hosted two engaging events at the Maison des Associations in Grenoble, attracting young people aged 16-19. Promoted through the association’s network of youth leaders and youth workers, these events began with introductory presentations and warm-up games designed to build a welcoming atmosphere. After these icebreakers, we introduced the project and The Outdoor Toolkit mobile application, sharing a demonstration video and inviting attendees to download the app and offer feedback. The young participants, many of whom are active hikers familiar with essential hiking preparations, appreciated the app’s practical features. They found the social sharing function especially helpful, as it allows them to share the checklist with friends on social media—ensuring no one forgets essential equipment for future hikes. This interactive element resonated with the group, making the app not only a tool for individual preparation but a way to enhance group safety and coordination. The event highlighted the app’s value to the region’s outdoor enthusiasts and fostered a sense of community among young hikers.

Hiking workshops

Hike at the Lonely Rock with overnight stay

ARAO organized an adventurous hiking workshop on 15-16 March 2024 with an overnight stay at a mountain cabin located at Lonely Rock in Balan, Harghita County. The event attracted ten enthusiastic participants, all eager to experience the beauty of the surrounding nature. The hike commenced in Balan, near the Catholic Church, and featured a challenging route that involved over 600 meters of elevation gain, taking approximately 2.5 to 3 hours to complete.Participants were well-prepared, bringing sleeping bags and gear for the overnight stay. Upon reaching the cabin, our team prepared a traditional gulyás, a special recipe popular in the region, to warm everyone up after the hike. An adventure worth mentioning occurred when some locals reported seeing a bear nearby; fortunately, there were no incidents during our stay. Given that this area is renowned for its large bear population, we took precautionary measures by carrying bear spray, and the cabin was equipped with an electric fence for added safety. The weather presented its challenges, as the entire day was marked by rain and fog. As a result, we had to dry out our clothes to ensure everyone would be comfortable for the following day. The next morning, we packed up and returned to Balan, where all participants headed home, enriched by the experience and the memories created during this unforgettable hiking adventure.

One-day hike to Velká Amerika

On 20th April 2023, Youth for Youth organized a scenic one-day hike to Velká Amerika, located about 15 kilometers from Prague. The hike, led by volunteer Alena, took the 8 participants through the striking Velká Amerika quarry, a limestone quarry dating back to the early 20th century. With the quarry abandoned for decades, natural water has filled its base, creating a stunning lake up to 18 meters deep in some areas.

The hikers approached from the east, exploring the quarry’s rugged landscape, enjoying a picnic in the peaceful surroundings, and taking photos. They were careful to leave no trace, ensuring the area remained clean. The weather was mild, making it ideal for the group to fully appreciate their time outdoors and enjoy the physical activity in the fresh air. After a rewarding day at Velká Amerika, the group returned safely, enriched by the experience.

One-day hike in Kunbarcas

On 20th April 2024, Légáramlat organized a 13-kilometer, one-day hike near Kecskemét on April 20th, led by Attila, the organization’s sports volunteer. Twenty-five young participants traveled by bus from Kecskemét to Kunbaracs, where the hike began. The area’s flat terrain presented a relatively easy challenge, though it still tested the group’s endurance. The group maintained a relaxed pace to allow everyone to enjoy the sunny spring day fully. During the hike, participants were delighted to spot deer near the forest, though they were too swift for photos. Attila had previously shared a checklist from The Outdoor Toolkit app, so everyone was well-prepared with sandwiches and other essentials for a picnic break along the way. The day was both a relaxing and invigorating outdoor experience, blending nature, teamwork, and physical activity.

One-day hike in the Vercors Regional Nature Park

On March 29th, a beautiful spring day, ASCU organized a one-day hike in the Vercors Regional Nature Park, above the charming village of Gresse-en-Vercors in the Isère department. The route led the group of twelve young hikers, coordinated by Syuzanna, alongside the Gresse River and through lush pastures and woods, with scenic views of Mont-Aiguille and the Vercors peaks.

Before the hike, Syuzanna sent them The Outdoor Toolkit app and a checklist of essentials, ensuring everyone was well-prepared with items like SPF cream and sunglasses. The group enjoyed meeting new people, socializing, and the practical support of the checklist, with one participant inspired to begin volunteering with ASCU to help organize more hikes and share the app with future groups. This hiking event highlighted not only the natural beauty of Vercors but also the enthusiasm for outdoor activities and community building.


Final Closing Event

To share the success of our project and promote The Outdoor Toolkit mobile application, we organized a final closing event on June 29th. This gathering attracted youth workers, volunteers from partner NGOs, and representatives from sports clubs, totaling 30 stakeholders—15 from Romania and 15 from our partner countries (5 from each).

Event Timeline

Some participants arrived a day early, while others joined us that morning, ensuring a balanced gender representation among attendees. Each organization selected its participants, and ARAO specifically invited our volunteers who were interested in making connections with counterparts from the other three countries. The event took place in Izvoare, a mountainous area in Harghita County where our organization is headquartered, making it a fitting location close to nature. The atmosphere was casual, with temperatures soaring on an extremely hot day. Many attendees were volunteers from partner organizations eager to learn more about the app for their activities.

In terms of logistics, each partner organization guided their respective groups in purchasing tickets for travel. ARAO ensured local transportation, facilitating smooth travel arrangements for all participants. Additionally, the groups from Czechia, Hungary, and France took the opportunity to explore the beautiful surroundings, enhancing the experience by blending nature with networking. This event served as an excellent opportunity for stakeholders from the four countries to meet and plan joint hiking initiatives.

Outputs

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.