The Erasmus+ BIP course The Great Outdoors: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, organized by the Department of Ethnology and Anthropology at the University of Zadar from 5–10 May 2025, (virtual part from 9-23 April, 2025) brought together participants from three European universities — the University of Ljubljana, the University of Eastern Finland (Joensuu), and the University of Zadar.

Funded by the Erasmus+ programme (project 2024-1-HR01-KA131-HED-000221383), the program invited students to reflect on the question of what constitutes the outdoors today and how our perceptions are influenced by environmental challenges, sensory engagement, and digital aestheticization.

During the course, students and mentors examined how fragile landscapes are experienced and represented in the contemporary world. Field visits to Paklenica National Park and Telašćica Nature Park on Dugi otok island offered participants the opportunity to directly engage with natural environments and discuss how they are perceived, interpreted, and mediated through digital and cultural lenses.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their enthusiasm and valuable contributions, which opened new perspectives on outdoor experiences in today’s world. Special thanks go to the mentors from all three universities for guiding the research groups, and to our partners for their essential support: the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research in Zagreb, Paklenica National Park, and Telašćica Nature Park. We also thank the International Relations Office of the University of Zadar for their continuous assistance."

This course was inspired by insights gained through the DigiFREN project (Digital Aestheticization of Fragile Landscapes), whose research laid the foundation for our discussions.

We look forward to continuing this collaboration and hope to recreate this inspiring experience in the near future!