From 24 to 26 April 2026, the first GreenCLIMB international training took place in Hohe Wand, Austria. The training brought together 15 participants from Austria, Slovakia and Cyprus for a weekend of climbing, learning and international exchange in the Austrian mountains.
Hosted by ACTIVE Austria, the training combined practical outdoor climbing with discussions on sustainable and responsible climbing practices. Participants came with different levels of experience — from less experienced climbers to advanced climbers and instructors — which created a supportive learning environment where everyone could learn from each other.
Training Programme
The programme started with an introduction to the GreenCLIMB project, team-building activities and a safety presentation by the instructors. Participants were introduced to outdoor climbing safety, climbing gear, warm-up exercises and route preparation before moving into practical climbing sessions at Hohe Wand.
Throughout the weekend, participants explored how climbing can be practised in a way that respects nature and reduces environmental impact. Discussions and group reflection focused on topics such as responsible behaviour at climbing sites, waste reduction, protection of natural areas and the role of climbers in promoting more sustainable outdoor sport.
A special focus was also placed on gender equality in climbing. The training created space to discuss women’s participation in the sport, inclusive climbing communities and the importance of mutual support. During the climbing sessions, participants encouraged each other, shared experiences and built confidence in a safe and motivating environment.
What Participants Explored
During the training, participants learned more about:
- sustainable and responsible climbing practices;
- safety, climbing gear and route preparation;
- reducing environmental impact in outdoor sport;
- inclusion and women’s empowerment in climbing;
- teamwork, peer support and intercultural exchange;
- how to contribute to more supportive climbing communities.
The training ended with a final reflection and certification session. Participants left Hohe Wand with new climbing experiences, stronger awareness of sustainable outdoor practices, and fresh motivation to support inclusive climbing communities in their own countries.
The Austrian training marked an important first step for the GreenCLIMB project. It showed how climbing can bring people together across countries while promoting sustainability, inclusion and respect for nature
