Children’s and Youth Camp – Gaining Basic Knowledge on Reducing the Consequences of Climate Change Lunca Joasă și Siretului Four days, July 15–18, 2025
From July 15 to 18, 2025, in the picturesque areas of Lunca Joasă si Siretului, a four-day children’s and youth camp was held, dedicated to sustainable development, healthy lifestyles, and coping with the consequences of climate change. The event brought together over 145 children and young people in a dynamic, educational, and inspiring environment, where participants had the chance to learn through experience, active participation, and teamwork.
The camp began with a warm welcome for the participants, the distribution of informational materials, name tags, the program, and the camp rules. In the first hours, the main theme of the event was presented – healthy living, sustainability, care and responsibility for the environment. An engaging discussion followed on the importance of healthy habits. Ice-breaking activities and games helped create an atmosphere of friendship and openness right from the start.
One of the highlights of the camp was the “Green Challenges” module, which combined sports competitions with ecological content. Through team games and physical activities, participants developed a sense of teamwork while also learning important facts about human impact on nature. The theme expanded into a discussion on the importance of water resources and included a riverbank clean-up activity along the Siret River, in which children and young people enthusiastically took part.
The creative workshops proved especially inspiring, showing participants how waste materials can be turned into fashion items with a message. By designing clothes from recycled materials, children developed their imagination while reflecting on the idea of reusing resources in a creative way. The creative module continued in the following days with eco-themed T-shirt painting, eco-photography, and local gastronomy workshops, where participants discovered traditional recipes prepared with sustainable products and approaches to food.
The camp also included an important practical aspect during the evening campfire – learning basic first aid techniques in nature, where children acquired essential knowledge on how to react in case of accidents in the forest or during a hike.
In a special session (group brainstorming + short presentations with innovative ideas), participants were introduced to the basics of climate change – how it happens, what accelerates it, and how each person can contribute to its mitigation. This module included discussions, quizzes, and role-playing games, which made the topic understandable and exciting even for the youngest participants.
The cycling tours were especially anticipated and loved by the children, combining physical activity with environmental observation. During the rides, participants learned how to navigate in nature, how to observe plants and animals without disturbing them, and how to move sustainably without leaving traces. The sports activities further strengthened the sense of community and kept the good mood high. Outdoor explorations were paired with talks on alternative, non-polluting transport, along with spontaneous team games that developed communication and leadership skills.
A very pleasant and bonding experience was the final open-air cinema evening, when, besides enjoying an educational film on the environment and climate change, the young people discussed various ecological issues, sharing their own observations and experiences, and forming unforgettable friendships and memories.
At the end of the camp, an open discussion was held where participants shared their impressions, favourite moments, and lessons learned. Children and young people presented innovative ideas for tackling climate change in everyday life – from reducing waste and conserving water to changing eating habits. The closing session was emotional – filled with acknowledgments, gratitude, smiles, and new friendships.
The camp in Lunca Joasă si Siretului turned out to be not only an entertaining event but also an effective educational platform, where young people gained knowledge, skills, and a personal commitment to protecting nature. Through active, practical, and creative methods, they learned what sustainability truly means and how they can be agents of change in their communities. The strong connection to nature, new friendships, and the rich program made these four days unforgettable.
This publication was produced with the financial assistance of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development in connection with Administrative Agreement No. BG06RDNP001-19.607-0009-C01/РД 50-183 of 14.09.2023 for the provision of grant aid under procedure No. BG06RDNP001-19.607 for the selection of project proposals for intra-territorial and transnational cooperation under sub-measure 19.3 "Preparation and implementation of cooperation activities of local initiative groups" of measure 19 "Community-led local development" of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.