From the 4th to the 12th of September 2026, participants came together in Iceland for Inside Out 3, an Erasmus+ project exploring outdoor education and developing competences such as leadership, communication, trust, wellbeing and team-building. We were 4 countries during this project : Germany (Culture Goes Europe e.V), Iceland (The Opportunity), Spain (Fedelatina) and Portugal (Dinamo).
The project started in Reykjavík, where the hosting team welcomed us at the Peace Center with a shared meal. It was our first opportunity to meet everyone, exchange and start getting to know each other. We continued with team-building activities, including the Impossible Mission and name games, before heading towards the place where we would stay for the week.
On the way, we stopped for a walk, getting our first real taste of the Icelandic landscape. We discovered the geothermal activity of the area and some of the naturally hot water around us. After arriving at our accommodation, we were introduced to the project programme and reflected together on our fears, expectations and contributions. The day ended with an incredible surprise: we looked up at the sky and saw the Northern Lights for the first time.
Exploring Iceland through outdoor activities
The next days were a mixture of workshops and discovering the Icelandic outdoors. We started with a session about the comfort zone, stretching zone and panic zone, reflecting on how far we are willing to push ourselves and how we can support others when they are outside their comfort zone.
Later, we went on our first hike, which took us to a cave with a beautiful view over the lake. The hike itself became part of the learning experience, as some of the activities required us to communicate and trust each other to find our way through the challenges.
We also had the opportunity to visit the local Rescue Team, discovering how they help people in difficult situations and support the local authorities. It was interesting to see how important volunteering and helping others are within Icelandic communities.
And, of course, being in Iceland meant making the most of the geothermal water. We ended the day by going to an outdoor pool, relaxing together after the activities. We also went berry picking, which is a popular activity in Iceland during this time of year.
Hiking, hot spots and Northern Lights
The third day started with the World Café methodology, where we discussed leadership and some of the challenges connected to outdoor education. In the afternoon, we went on our second hike. This time, we were divided into teams and had to create activities for the others. Some involved being blindfolded, others involved ropes and different trust exercises. Being outside and moving through the landscape made these activities even more challenging and fun.
After the activities, we had time to relax at the top and enjoy some of Iceland’s natural hot water. Sitting in warm water surrounded by the landscape was definitely one of those moments that reminded us how different the learning environment was compared to a classroom. And Iceland continued to surprise us: that evening, we were lucky enough to see the Northern Lights once again.
From leadership to the Golden Circle
The fourth day started with some physical and team-building activities, followed by a reflection on what we had experienced so far. We then explored leadership through the 5Ps: Participants, Passengers, Pilot, Protesters and Prisoners, thinking about the different roles people can take within a group.
In the afternoon, we went to the Golden Circle, one of the most famous areas to visit in Iceland. Our first stop was Þingvellir National Park, where we discovered an area that is important not only for its incredible landscape but also for Icelandic history. We then continued towards the geysers, watching the geothermal water erupt from the ground before heading to Gullfoss waterfall, one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls.
Instead of simply visiting these places, we had to research them and present their history and cultural importance to the rest of the group. It gave us the chance to experience some of Iceland’s most famous tourist sites while also learning more about the country and its people.
The big hike: taking care of each other
The fifth day was the biggest outdoor challenge of the week: the big hike. We were divided into four teams: Navigation, Food, Materials & SOS and Well-being. Everyone had a specific role to play during the day.
The navigation team studied the route beforehand and led us through the landscape, adapting when the weather conditions changed. The food team prepared our packed lunch, brought fruit and made sure everyone had enough water. The Materials & SOS team carried the necessary equipment and helped people through some of the more difficult parts of the route. The well-being team paid attention to how everyone was feeling, organised breaks and kept the group motivated, especially when the rain became heavier.
It was a long and sometimes difficult hike, but it was also one of the best examples of what we had been learning all week. Everyone had to rely on someone else. No single person could manage everything, and the success of the hike depended on the whole group working together.
Looking back on the week
After the big hike, we took time to reflect on the whole experience. We went back to the fears, expectations and contributions we had shared at the beginning and discussed how they had changed throughout the week. We also had a final round where everyone could express how they felt after spending so many intense days together.
One of the main things we took away from the project was how easily nature can become a learning space. A hike, a cave, a natural hot spot or even a rainy afternoon can create opportunities to work on communication, leadership, trust, wellbeing and teamwork.
The experience also showed us how outdoor education can be combined with simply discovering and enjoying a place. We were not only learning about Iceland, we were walking through it, swimming in its hot water, watching its Northern Lights, visiting its waterfalls and experiencing its landscapes together.
Ending the project in Reykjavík
For the final day, we cleaned the accommodation and returned to Reykjavík. We had some time to explore the capital, walking through the colourful Rainbow Street, visiting the church and enjoying the city before our final evening together.
We finished the project at Björk’s home, the head of The Opportunity. Being invited into an Icelandic home was a special way to end the week. Her husband shared stories about his life and about Iceland, we played Icelandic music and shared food together.
After a week of hiking, travelling, learning and spending time together, this final evening captured one of the most important things we had discovered during the project: the importance of community and sharing experiences with others.
Inside Out 3 gave us the opportunity to experience Iceland in a very particular way — not only as tourists, but as a group learning through the places we visited. From our first hike and the Northern Lights to the Golden Circle, hot spots and the big hike in the rain, every day brought something new.
It was a week of outdoor education, adventure, challenges and unforgettable memories and a reminder that sometimes the best classroom is simply the world outside.
Inside Out 3.0: From Training to Practice Outdoor Education for the Inclusion and Skill Development of NEET and Disengaged Young People is an Erasmus+ project (2026-1-IS01-KA152-YOU-000391675) in partnership with Germany (Culture Goes Europe e.V), Iceland (The Opportunity), Spain (Fedelatina) and Portugal (Dinamo) co-funded by the European Union
