The 12th edition of Youth at the Top successfully took place on 16 and 17 July 2026, once again bringing young people together to experience, explore and reconnect with the mountains.
Around 450 children and young people took part in a total of 29 local events across the Alps and Carpathians. Through a wide range of outdoor activities, they had the opportunity to discover the mountain environment, learn more about local traditions, and reconnect with nature.
Under the common theme “One Mountain - Many Ecosystems”, participants explored the diversity and interconnectedness of mountain ecosystems. Activities and games encouraged them to engage - often in a playful and hands-on way - with local flora and fauna, different ecosystems, and the relationships between the many species and elements that make up these environments.
The diversity of the local events reflected the richness of the mountain regions themselves. At the event organised by the Polana Protected Landscape Area in Slovakia, participants explored nature through a lively Forest Bingo activity. In Italy, the organisers from the Alpi Marittime Protected Area offered excursions and activities focusing on the environmental monitoring of watercourses and caves, as well as interviews with livestock farmers and agriculturalists to explore ecosystem responses to climate change. Meanwhile, at the event organised by Beverin Nature Park in Switzerland, participants took part in activities on altitudinal zones and learned how to read and use maps.
Once again, this edition of Youth at the Top proved to be a great success. The positive feedback received from the organisers was matched by the enthusiastic responses of the young participants. Many expressed their wish to take part again next year, while even experienced hikers noted that the expert guides helped them see the mountains through fresh eyes, shifting their attention towards local history, flora and fauna.
Students also described the events as educational and motivating experiences that helped foster a responsible attitude towards nature and increased their interest in biodiversity conservation. Above all, they appreciated the opportunity to spend time outdoors, discover the beauty and biodiversity of the mountains, and experience nature in a meaningful and engaging way.
The 12th edition of Youth at the Top once again demonstrated the value of bringing young people together across mountain regions. Through shared experiences, exploration and discovery, “One Mountain - Many Ecosystems” became more than just a theme - it became an opportunity to better understand the diversity, complexity and beauty of the mountain world, and the importance of protecting it for the future.
© A. Häusler, Nationalpark Hohe Tauern Kärnten
Youth at the Top is coordinated by ALPARC and financially supported by the Principality of Monaco and ALPARC.
