How can collaboration make outdoor recreation more inclusive while supporting nature conservation? CONNECT continues to explore this question through its pilot exchanges, with the recent Tyresta workshop focusing on accessibility. The project will also host a new online webinar on 25 November 2026 at 15:00 CET.
CONNECT – Connecting Outdoor Sports and Protected Areas in Europe is an Erasmus+ Sport project developing practical guidance for stronger partnerships between protected area managers and outdoor sports organisations. Research and experience from five pilot sites will inform tools that help both sectors work together.
Tyresta pilot exchange: turning dialogue into shared priorities
On 3–4 September 2026, Tyresta National Park in Sweden welcomed CONNECT partners, park staff, experts and representatives bringing the perspectives of people with disabilities. The workshop explored access to nature and tested a structured approach to collaboration.
Participants built a shared understanding of their challenges before developing solutions. Discussions covered expertise, staffing, funding, visitor information and maintenance, showing that accessibility requires coordinated decisions as well as suitable infrastructure.
Five priorities emerged:
- Make accessibility part of the park’s governance and planning.
- Build enduring partnerships with users and experts.
- Provide reliable information about accessible visitor experiences.
- Secure funding and the capacity to deliver improvements.
- Develop a joint pilot to put proposals into practice.
A concrete outcome was the agreement to continue working together and link this cooperation to Tyresta’s future planning. An autumn follow-up meeting was planned to review progress and identify further actions. The experience will also inform CONNECT’s European guidance.
Save the date: CONNECT online webinar — 25 November
The next opportunity to engage with CONNECT will be a new online webinar on Wednesday 25 November 2026 at 15:00 CET.
Under the title CONNECT Project Webinar – Collaboration between Outdoor Sports and Protected Areas, the session will focus on sharing the preliminary findings from the research phase, along with documents, best practices and other key resources. The programme will include presentations and case studies with contributions from the project partners – EUROPARC Federation, IMBA Europe, Surfrider Foundation Europe, Mid Sweden University, European Ramblers Association, Leave No Trace Ireland and ENOS.
Interested in strengthening collaboration between outdoor sports and protected areas? Save the date and join the conversation.
- Date: Wednesday 25 November 2026
- Time: 15:00 CET
- Format: Online
- Duration and language: 1h – English