Green Routes

In today’s rapidly changing world, the need for sustainable solutions and practices in urban areas has become increasingly evident. Recognizing this urgency, the Green Routes project set out on a mission to create a comprehensive toolkit that promotes sustainable trends and solutions in cities. Through a combination of intellectual outputs and innovative training methodologies, Green Routes aimed to empower educators, individuals, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources to drive green education and foster local green innovations.

One of the key components of the toolkit is the Promenade theatre and storytelling Input Training. This component focuses on creating engaging scenarios for both live and virtual augmented reality (AR) educational tours, all centered around sustainability-related topics. Educators can utilize these scenarios to conduct informative tours, with detailed training plans documented in a handy guidebook. Additionally, virtual tours can be experienced through an AR app, which will seamlessly interact with the guidebook. All educational guidelines, practices, and experiences gathered throughout the project will be consolidated in the Green Routes Online Tour and Learning Hub. This hub will serve as a centralized platform, providing a wealth of information for anyone interested in green education in the selected cities.

The approach adopted by Green Routes aligns with the concept of educational tours, a method that has long been recognized in pedagogical science. However, the notion of “educational tourism” is not yet well-established in Europe, and its optimal utilization for building learners’ professional competence remains underexplored in the pedagogical literature. Therefore, the project aims to define and outline the concept of educational tourism, develop a classification structure, and establish criteria for its efficient use in adult training. This is particularly relevant in the context of sustainable recovery following the COVID-19 crisis, as emphasized by the European Commission.

Adult education plays a crucial role in achieving the three dimensions of sustainable development (economic, social, and environmental) and contributes to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. There is an undeniable need for education for sustainable development, with non-formal education demonstrating significant impact. Green Routes addresses this gap by providing an innovative, digital toolkit that focuses on an important topic at the heart of the European Union’s priorities—environmental and climate goals through inclusive green education.

The project activities are designed to have a significant impact in terms of acquiring new skills, knowledge, and experiences related to promoting and valuing environmental education. Participants in the project will gain a broader perspective on sustainable methodologies applied at a European level. The impact of the project will be monitored and guided through carefully implemented evaluation tools and measures.

The Green Routes project expects all participants to develop a heightened awareness of sustainability as individuals, organizations, and communities. They are encouraged to share their newfound knowledge, teach and inspire others, and actively engage in the pursuit of a greener future. By embracing the principles of green education and local green innovations, the Green Routes project aims to create a lasting impact and contribute to the collective effort toward a more sustainable and inclusive society.