Exploring outdoor initiatives as tools for youth engagement, inclusion, and environmental awareness: a multi-case study from Italy and France

Outdoor experiences are increasingly recognized as effective tools for promoting young people’s well-being, social inclusion and sustainability. However, integrated frameworks that address these dimensions simultaneously are still scarce in youth policy and research. This qualitative multi-case study fills this gap by analysing seven outdoor initiatives implemented over the last three years in different contexts in Italy and France, specifically targeting Generation Z (12–25 years old). Through a cross-case analysis, the study examines how these activities promote environmental awareness, cultural immersion, connection with nature and protagonism among young people. The findings highlight the transformative potential of multidisciplinary initiatives that combine physical activity, ecological education and participatory design. Programs that positioned youth as active co-creators were associated with stronger expressions of belonging and responsibility for the environment. Structural constraints, such as funding discontinuity, limited accessibility and fragile infrastructures, proved to be key challenges to long-term impact. These findings have practical implications for the design of inclusive and sustainable youth programs and provide valuable guidance for educators, practitioners and policy makers.