The “Hiking for Peace” youth exchange, held from April 15 to 21, 2024, in Łódź, Poland, was an inspiring project aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle as a source of vitality, strength, and positive energy. This initiative served as a wake-up call to local communities to pay more attention to the mental health of young people and to better support their well-being, followed by the general population’s mental health. We began with the premise that good stress management improves the quality of life and mental health, and what better stress management than contact with nature? We found that hiking, as a total-body workout, combined with healthy food, offered a powerful combination from which we could derive vital energy and creative ideas for facing everyday challenges.
Hiking proved to be a natural medicine for both body and mind. It stimulated the feel-good hormones adrenaline and endorphins, boosting our mood and energy levels. There was a real sense of peace and composure we experienced from being outdoors, more connected with nature, and sharing those moments with others. This feeling of relaxation and enhanced well-being was palpable throughout the project. To enhance the hiking adventure, we created different hiking games that included more participants, which also helped persuade friends and family members to get outdoors together. The project successfully fostered a sense of community and encouraged a healthier, more connected way of life.
