 At the end of April, GeoCamp Iceland participated in the second Learning, Teaching, and Training Activity (LTTA) of the Erasmus+ Green STEAM project, hosted in Sitia, Crete. The meeting brought together partners from across Europe to further develop a shared approach to interdisciplinary education that connects environmental awareness, scientific inquiry, and cultural understanding. The programme combined school visits, field-based learning, and project working sessions, providing a well-balanced framework for both inspiration and practical development. The LTTA began with a visit to the 3rd Primary School of Sitia, where partners were welcomed by students through a programme of music, dance, and local traditions. The visit highlighted how cultural heritage can play an important role in education, supporting engagement and providing meaningful entry points into environmental and scientific topics. The school’s outdoor learning facilities, including a geological rock garden, demonstrated how school environments can be effectively used to support hands-on learning and observation. Field visits formed a central part of the programme. At Toplou Monastery and through the LIFE AgrOassis initiative, participants explored the connections between landscape, sustainable land use, and local production systems. These examples illustrated how environmental education can be linked to real-world practices, including agriculture, water management, and local economies. Outdoor Learning in Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark A full day was dedicated to the Sitia UNESCO Global Geopark, with activities in the Zakros area. Here, partners engaged with educational approaches that integrate geology, biodiversity, and cultural history. Site visits to springs, watermills, and the Minoan Palace of Kato Zakros provided a broader perspective on how natural resources have influenced human activity over time. The use of digital tools in outdoor settings also demonstrated how technology can support data collection and interpretation in educational contexts. The programme was complemented by a guided visit to Sitia, including the archaeological and folklore museums and the Kazarma fortress. These activities reinforced the importance of local narratives and identity as part of educational content. How did the LTTA benefit Green STEAM? In addition to the field programme, partners held dedicated working sessions to advance the project. Discussions focused on the development of Green STEAM lesson plans, including the integration of outdoor learning, environmental data collection, and creative elements. Partners also agreed on common approaches to data collection, ensuring that results from different countries can be compared and shared. The final part of the LTTA was devoted to reflection and consolidation. Partners reviewed key insights from the week and worked on translating these into practical next steps. This included refining lesson plan concepts, aligning on methodology, and confirming responsibilities for the upcoming implementation phase. Next steps in the project The meeting in Sitia marked an important transition in the project, moving from initial concept development towards practical application. In the coming months, partners will develop and pilot lesson plans in their respective countries, with a focus on engaging students in meaningful, context-based learning. GeoCamp Iceland values the opportunity to collaborate within this partnership and to contribute to the development of innovative approaches to education that connect science, environment, and society. The experiences from Sitia will directly inform our work in Iceland, where similar principles can be applied across diverse natural environments. We would like to thank our partners in Sitia for their excellent organisation and warm hospitality, and all participants for their active engagement throughout the meeting.  The Green STEAM – Environmental Literacy and Climate Change in Vulnerable Areas project officially began in autumn 2025 with its kick-off meeting in Iceland, bringing together partners from seven European countries. Coordinated by GeoCamp Iceland, the project aims to strengthen environmental and scientific literacy through outdoor, hands-on learning and innovative STEAM education. Although the opening meeting was adapted to Icelandic weather conditions, partners were able to connect both online and in person for discussions, planning sessions, and field visits across the Reykjanes Peninsula and South Iceland. The meeting established the foundations for a two-year collaboration focusing on education, sustainability, and climate awareness through practical, field-based learning. A European Partnership for Green Education Green STEAM brings together schools, universities, and educational organisations from Iceland, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Italy, and Poland. The project is funded through the Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships in School Education programme and runs from September 2025 to February 2028, with a total budget of €250,000. As project coordinator, GeoCamp Iceland leads the partnership and oversees the development of teaching materials, training activities, and digital tools that will help educators across Europe bring learning outdoors. Partners will work together to create field guides, lesson plans, and data-driven learning activities that use environmental sensors and local case studies to monitor and understand change in natural and human environments. At the heart of the project is a simple idea: to help students and teachers learn directly from the environment around them – by observing, measuring, and analysing real-world phenomena through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. Why Green STEAM Matters Across Europe, schools are increasingly seeking practical ways to address climate change education and sustainability within their curricula. Green STEAM responds to this need by linking outdoor learning with data literacy and environmental responsibility, helping students not only to understand the science of climate change but also to develop the skills to respond to it. By combining classroom learning with field experiences, the project enables young people to connect theory with observation and to see their local surroundings as part of a larger European and global system. The approach supports the European Green Deal and EU goals for climate-neutral and resilient education systems. Reykjanes as a Living Classroom For GeoCamp Iceland and the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, Green STEAM represents an important opportunity to expand educational collaboration and research in a region shaped by dynamic geological and environmental processes. The Reykjanes Peninsula, where volcanic and geothermal forces meet the Atlantic Ocean, offers a unique setting for studying earth systems, sustainability, and energy transition. Through Green STEAM, Reykjanes becomes not only a natural laboratory for Icelandic students but also a European classroom for teachers and learners from across the continent. The project will develop new educational materials, workshops, and digital resources that connect local knowledge with global scientific understanding, supporting the area’s ongoing efforts to link education, tourism, and community engagement. Looking Ahead In the coming months, the consortium will complete the project’s setup and communication framework, develop the first draft of educational field guides, and launch its website (www.projectgreensteam.eu). The first international training activity (LTTA) will take place in Sitia, Crete in spring 2026, followed by a second in Liberec, Czechia later that year. The partnership’s work will continue to promote practical environmental education through collaboration, creativity, and shared learning—ensuring that the next generation of students is equipped to understand and care for the changing world around them.
 Olafur Jon Arnbjornsson, founder of GeoCamp Iceland, received the grant from the Icelandic National Agency. Here pictured (far right) with other recipients within Erasmus+ School Education (SCH) projects.
GeoCamp Iceland is happy to announce the launch of the Green STEAM: Environmental Literacy & Climate Change in Vulnerable Areas project under the Erasmus+ programme. The project officially started on 1 September 2025 and was formally introduced at the RANNÍS award ceremony last week, where Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson, founder of GeoCamp Iceland, accepted the recognition on behalf of the consortium. The Green STEAM project has been in development for several years, shaped through close collaboration with European partners who share our commitment to sustainability and education. Now, with the support of Erasmus+, this vision will begin to materialise. Together, we will create opportunities for teachers, students, and local communities to explore and respond to climate change through innovative outdoor STEAM education. At its heart, the project focuses on vulnerable landscapes—places where the effects of climate change are already visible and tangible. These include geoparks, coastal regions, forests, and post-industrial areas. By engaging primary school students and teachers in field-based learning, Green STEAM will help build environmental, scientific, and data literacy. Students will not only learn about climate change in theory but also measure, observe, and analyse its impacts in real-world settings. Activities will include the use of environmental sensors, AI-supported data analysis, and digital storytelling. This hands-on approach will make climate science both accessible and actionable, empowering young learners to connect global challenges with local realities. Green STEAM brings together a diverse consortium of partners across six European countries:
This partnership brings together schools, universities, NGOs, and geoparks in a unique cross-sector collaboration, all committed to advancing outdoor STEAM education and inspiring young people to become active contributors to climate action. Over the next 30 months, the consortium will develop field guides for teachers, hands-on student projects, and an open digital platform for sharing environmental data across Europe. Activities will take place in some of the continent’s most fragile landscapes, including Iceland’s volcanic terrain, coastal areas in Ireland, rewilding sites in Central Europe, and Mediterranean ecosystems in Greece and Italy. By connecting educators, students, and local communities across borders, Green STEAM aims not only to strengthen education but also to foster a sense of environmental stewardship and collective responsibility. Learn more about the announcement from Erasmus+ Iceland. |
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GeoCamp Iceland is an educational project and travel agency dedicated to increasing knowledge and understanding in natural sciences with practical and active learning. We develop educational content, student and teacher guides and curricula, organize and receive international study groups focusing primarily on natural sciences, environmental challenges, climate change and STEM education.
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