What is Ecological Leadership?

Ecological leadership is relational, embodied and place-based.
It begins with belonging.
Membership comes before leadership.

Participants explore their ecological identity, roles, power and responsibility within living systems, and learn how to create spaces of belonging and agency for young people.

Welcome to our Learning Community on Ecological Leadership

We are developing ecological leadership as a living practice in youth work.

This journey unfolds through
– six days in nature
– a learning community in practice
– piloting activities with young people
– reflection and follow-up

Together, we explore what it means to take our place in Earth’s community.

Follow the journey and read more in our Infopack.

Living as a Tribe

For thousands of years, humans lived in small communities closely connected to nature.

In this training, we live and learn as a tribe.

We make roles and power visible.
We practice shared responsibility.
We experience leadership as relational and ecological.

Our Guiding Framework

The training is inspired by Joanna Macy’s ‘Work That Reconnects’.

We move through:

Gratitude
Honouring our pain for the world
Seeing with new eyes
Going forth

This cyclical process supports resilience and meaningful ecological action.

Why Nature?

Nature supports the parasympathetic nervous system, creating safety and groundedness.

Learning outdoors allows participants to experience themselves as part of a living ecosystem.

From Training to Practice

Ecological Leadership is more than a training week.

Participants:

pilot activities in their own youth work practice
reflect in an international learning community
contribute to the development of a Learning Journey Guide

This ensures ecological leadership becomes embedded in youth work.

AI-supported learning

Within this project, participants are supported by an AI-based Ecological Leadership Tutor, helping reflection and integration between training and practice.

Learning Journey Guide (coming soon)

A practical guide supporting youth workers in implementing ecological leadership in their daily work.

Meet the Project Team Ecological Leadership from all over Europe

Oda Salomons

Ecopsychologist working with nature-based experiential learning and systemic processes in groups and communities. She develops learning journeys that support resilience, belonging and ecological awareness.

Lia van Loo

Nature trainer and youth worker with over 40 years of experience. She works with principles of natural leadership, cyclical thinking and care for the group, supporting learning processes rooted in nature.

Cooks Around - Ecological Kitchen Team

An international community of cooks who see food as a practice of care, connection and ecological responsibility. They prepare seasonal, vegetarian meals that nourish both people and the living systems we are part of.