SoilSparks

SoilSparks 

Location of activities and scope

Transnational

Strand 1 – Innovative communication campaigns

Executive Summary

SoilSparks empowers 1,000+ young Europeans (aged 14–30) to champion soil conservation through EUROPARC’s junior ranger and youth+ networks across 23 countries. Co-creating with youth at every stage, the project transforms soil science into engaging micro-learning and real-world action.

Through consultation and an EU SoilSparks Camp, young people design campaign messaging and peer content linking soil protection to daily life. A campaign journey features digital badges and youth-designed challenges spanning arts, citizen science and advocacy. Eight micro-learning modules address all EU Soil Mission objectives, supporting learners to implement concrete soil actions.

Combining EUROPARC’s youth work expertise, Bantani’s pedagogical innovation and systemic reach through associate partners (EIT Food, ECHOSoil and University of Hohenheim), SoilSparks delivers: a campaign website with action challenges, multilingual micro-learning, an educational toolkit and a train-the-trainer programme ensuring sustainability.

Expected impact: 1,000+ registered learners, 250+ SoilSparks Champions taking measurable conservation actions, creating a sustainable youth movement making soil protection personally relevant for Europe’s next generation.

Motivation Statement

Soil is so important to life on land that we use a synonym ‘earth’ to name our planet. It plays an essential role in biological, chemical, physical and hydrological processes.

Soil itself is so multifaceted that a diverse group of people will have completely different relationships with it. A farmer would be concerned with soil health and its impact on plant nutrition. A nature conservationist would be concerned with natural processes by macro and microorganisms. A municipality would be concerned with permeability as it affects hydrological processes. A child might enjoy feeling it, tasting it, wiggling their bare feet in it. A scientist may create categories to classify soil and sediment types.

To our consortium partners, soil is a topic not often covered in youth work and awakens a sense of curiosity and purpose as we plan this project and consider the interlinkages between youth, soil, nature conservation and food systems.

Sub-project objectives

Co-create and launch a youth-created European soil literacy campaign engaging 1,000+ young people aged 14–30. 

Mobilise concrete soil protection actions relevant to all eight EU Soil Mission objectives, via youth-designed challenges spanning arts, citizen science and advocacy. 

Empower 250+ SoilSparks Champions through challenges and micro-learning journeys addressing all EU Soil Mission objectives. 

Build sustainable capacity through an educational toolkit and train-the-trainer programme for 40+ rangers and educators

Challenges and how they will be addressed

Accessibility: Content will be available in 10+ languages with varied formats and platforms to accommodate different digital access levels and learning styles.

Relevance for youth: A co-creation approach (by youth, for youth) ensures clear connections between soil health and issues young people care about. The International SoilSparks Camp and Youth Panel ensure messaging resonates authentically.

Scientific accuracy: A three-step validation process involving soil scientists at design, review and final sign-off stages ensures rigour. A Scientific Panel comprising experts from EUROPARC, University of Hohenheim, EIT Food and ECHOSoil oversees all content.

Engagement beyond the project: Sustainability is built in through integration of the educational toolkit and train-the-trainer programme into the European Nature Academy, partner commitments for 2+ years of platform maintenance, a youth alumni network and a replication toolkit.

Reaching underrepresented groups: Targeted recruitment in urban areas and communities with limited green space access, with diversity measured through the demographics of SoilSparks Champions.

Cultural sensitivity: Local youth co-creators ensure contextual relevance, with flexible challenges designed for implementation across different areas of Europe.

Expected outcomes

-100+ youth co-creators.

-Campaign website with challenges, micro-learning modules, digital badges (Supporter and Champion levels mapped to Soil Missions), engagement/impact analytics and a showcase of completed actions.

-8+ micro-learning modules addressing all EU Soil Mission objectives, delivered in 10+ languages.

-Educational toolkit (“SoilSparks in a Box”) with adaptable lesson plans, workshop guides and assessment tools.

-Online train-the-trainer programme integrated into the European Nature Academy, reaching 50+ educators.

-10,000+ website views; 1,000+ campaign sign-ups; 250+ SoilSparks Champions taking measurable conservation actions.

-50,000+ social media reach.

-Impact assessment mapping across soil literacy outcomes and EU competence frameworks (GreenComp, DigComp, LifeComp, EntreComp).

-Policy brief with EU-wide recommendations and a replication toolkit for adoption elsewhere.

Meet the Project Team

EUROPARC

EUROPARC Federation brings 50+ years of protected area management expertise with established networks spanning 400+ member organisations across 38 countries. EUROPARC coordinates junior ranger and youth programmes across Europe through its Junior Ranger and Youth+ networks. The Federation works at the intersection of nature conservation, youth engagement and environmental education, with a strong track record of managing international camps, cross-border youth initiatives and capacity-building programmes for park rangers and educators.

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Contact:

Jessica Micklem-Kolenic (youth officer)

Michelle Herrmann (soil expert)

Lakshmy Ramanan (support staff)

EUROPARC

Bantani Education vzw

Bantani Education is a non-profit organisation based in Belgium and working internationally. The organisation has deep expertise in entrepreneurial learning, participatory methodologies, gamification, micro-learning design and campaign development, with a background in international skills projects across Europe, Africa and Asia. Bantani operates the EntreComp Community, an informal network reaching 3000+ people and organisations in 90+ countries.

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Contact:

Maria Kazarez (Soilsparks lead / E-learning Manager)

Hazel Israel (Education Lead)

Elin McCallum (Executive Director)

Bantani Education vzw