To assure successful international cooperation, ALPARC relies on its numerous partners at the regional, national and international level. Concerted action is the key for making a difference in nature conservation and promoting sustainable development in the Alps.

Discovering the power of witches, outsmarting evil spirts and finding magical remedies in the mountain wilderness… Mountain educators and guides used these elements of fantasy to immerse the almost 600 young participants across 40 destinations in the Alps and Carpathians in an imaginary world to reconnect them with nature. This was all part of the 5th edition of Youth at the Top’s common theme “Myth and Mountain Legends”.

From July 11th-12th, hundreds of Alpine and Carpathian youth went out to discover the mountains under the framework of the international project, Youth at the Top. This year’s edition brought about a completely new way to discover nature as organizers, associated with the protected area, planned exciting and artistic activities around local myths and legends. By using their natural surroundings, kids discovered more about their heritage by plunging into a world full of mystery and wonder. These stories transcend borders and language barriers, as seen with a group of French and Italian youth who met up at the top in Mont Avic Nature Park. The young participants, averaging around 12 years old, left behind their smartphones and computer screens to reconnect with the mountains through an overnight stay either in a tent, hut or by sleeping under the stars.

Myth and Mountain Legends 

Myths and legends are part of the Alps’ and Carpathians’ natural heritage. The 5th edition was marked by this common theme as activities were organized such as storytelling, theater and painting. Learning about myths and legends within a local context helped reconnect the young participants to their mountain identity. This was done in unique ways as seen through the example of the Parc naturel régional de Chartreuse who hired an actress to dress up as magical beings. This theme was a hit with the young participants.

Discovering Fauna and Flora 

Hiking in the mountains was a great opportunity for the young participants to discover the fauna and flora unique to the Alps and Carpathians. Some highlights include seeing herds of Ibex scaling cliffsides and marmots coming out of their holes. Some participants even tasted edible local plants. In the Naturpark Ötztal in Austria, the young participants were pleasantly surprised during their hike to discover that a bearded vulture was following them. French youth with the Parc naturel régional de Chartreuse even had a hands-on experience as they walked through the forest barefoot and blindfolded, to feel nature through their senses.

Cultural Exchange between Italian and French Parks 

This year, a group of French youth, associated with the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges, headed to Italy to meet up with youth from the Parco Naturale Mont Avic. The kids from the two countries took part in an artistic activity on the common theme, where they worked together to illustrate a mountain myth. The youth from Mont Avic also helped the French group create a video on a legend focused on the game loups-garous or ‘werewolf’ which came to life. There was a great exchange between the two groups as they bonded over the mountains and it was positive experience for the two parks who cooperated for the first time on an educational project. Both protected areas are already thinking of repeating the activity next year.

The international project Youth at the Top Project gives the younger generations a chance to experience the mountains by meeting up for one day and one night on a common date in several destinations throughout the Alps and Carpathians. This initiative is open to all the protected areas of the Alps and the Carpathians as well as to all the organizations working in the educational field. Each action set up by local actors aims to reinforce the links between young people and nature and to raise their awareness about the protection and conservation of the mountain environment.

The 5th edition of the project is led by ALPARC – The Alpine Network of Protected Areas, with the financial support of the German Ministry of the Environment, the Principality of Monaco and the CGET - Commissariat général à l’égalité des territoires (France).

The official press release is available here in English, French, Italian, German and Slovenian. 

Photo Credit: Gesäuse National Park @ Raimund Reite

The 5th Edition of  Youth at the Top   will take place on 11th - 12th of July 2019 all over the Alps & the Carpathians.

The common topic of the 5th edition will be: Myths and Legends in the Alps

Further information and the registration form will be available soon at:  http://youth-at-the-top.org

Youth at the Top is an international event adressed to young people in the Alps and the Carpatians. On the 12th and the 13th of July 2018, the 4th edition of Youth at the Top brought together more than 530 young people in 44 destinations all over the Alps and the Carpathians. The youngsters experienced two days hiking and spent the night in the mountains.

During winter in the Alps, the life functions of animals slow down. To save energy, the black grouse spends most of its time in a snow burrow. In this way, it also protects itself against predators. This winter, it's up to you to choose your track.

Want to know more? Check out the official website: https://bepartofthemountain.org/en/ 

GaYA aims to increase the quality of democratic processes in the Alpine space by enhancing the involvement of young people in regional governance and by developing new approaches for decision makers.

GaYA project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Interreg Alpine Space programme and by the German Ministry for the Environment (BMUB).

For two years, eight partners collaborated under the framework of the Interreg project GaYA in order to promote the participation of young people in the local political life of their territories. For the occasion, fifteen pilot sites in the Alps received support and encouragement to set up actions in order to develop dialogue between young people and political actors. 

The GaYA project is co-financed by the Interreg Alpine Space project.

Ecological connectivity is needed on land, under water and in the air to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. The Danube floodplains link the Alps with the Carpathians. One river, two mountains... Connected life! This video completes the series "Life needs connectivity. Three love stories".

The video was produced with the support of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (Germany ) in partnership with ALPARC and the Alps-Danube-Carpathians Network (ADCNET).

Video produced by Mischief.

Ecological connectivity is needed on land, under water and in the air to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. The video "Life needs connectivity.Three love stories- Part 3" is part of a series of 3 videos made by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (Germany) in partnership with ALPARC, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna and Blue! Video produced by Mischief.

Ecological connectivity is needed on land, under water and in the air to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. The video "Life needs connectivity.Three love stories - Part 2: Ibex" is part of a series of 3 videos made by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (Germany ) in partnership with ALPARC, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna and Blue! Video produced by Mischief

Ecological connectivity is needed on land, under water and in the air to safeguard biodiversity for future generations. This video is made by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (Germany ) in partnership with ALPARC, University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna and Blue! and produced by Mischief.