Outdoor Facilitation: The Art of Facilitation in Nature 2026 in Nepal – 100% Scholarship Opportunity Available for ASEAN and SAARC Citizens

Applications are now open for Outdoor Facilitation: The Art of Facilitation in Nature 2026, an immersive eight-day professional development program designed to equip participants with essential facilitation, leadership, and outdoor education skills. The training will take place in a nature-rich environment near Kathmandu, Nepal, offering participants a unique opportunity to explore how learning, leadership, and personal development can unfold through nature-based experiences.

Organized by YEP Academy, this program is designed for individuals who aspire to facilitate meaningful learning processes in outdoor environments. Participants will learn how to guide groups through experiential learning, design impactful outdoor educational programs, and build the core competencies required to lead groups safely and ethically in nature-based settings.

In addition to professional training, the program offers 100% scholarships supported through donor subsidies from the German Government, specifically available for citizens of ASEAN and SAARC countries.

Program Overview

Outdoor Facilitation: The Art of Facilitation in Nature serves as a foundational training for individuals who want to develop skills in outdoor facilitation and experiential education. The program combines theory, practical training, and reflective learning processes to help participants become confident facilitators capable of guiding individuals and groups through meaningful learning experiences in natural environments.

The program focuses on helping participants understand how people learn individually and in groups, how facilitators can support these processes, and how outdoor environments can be used as powerful learning spaces.

Through experiential learning and reflective practice, participants will build confidence in their ability to design and facilitate safe, ethical, and impactful outdoor learning journeys.

Program Dates and Location

The training will take place in Nepal in a nature-rich setting near Kathmandu using a basecamp model that allows participants to immerse themselves fully in the outdoor learning experience.

Participants will meet at the training location on 19 April 2026 at 2:00 PM, giving everyone time to settle in and prepare their tents and equipment before the program officially begins at 5:00 PM.

The course will run for eight days and seven nights, concluding on 26 April 2026 around 2:00 PM.

Program Structure and Learning Experience

The training is structured as an immersive residential experience that blends facilitation theory, outdoor skills, group work, and reflective practice. Each day follows a rhythm that allows participants to experience learning processes directly while also reflecting on them from the perspective of a facilitator.

Typical daily activities include morning check-ins that help participants connect with themselves and the group while setting intentions for the day. Nature-based experiential learning sessions form a central component of the program, enabling participants to explore leadership, communication, and group dynamics through direct engagement with the natural environment.

Facilitation input sessions provide theoretical frameworks, tools, and models that help participants understand how learning processes unfold and how facilitators can guide them effectively. Participants also engage in guided group work and practice sessions where they apply facilitation skills and communication techniques in real learning scenarios.

Reflection and feedback sessions help deepen understanding and allow participants to practice giving and receiving constructive feedback. Evening circles and storytelling sessions provide space for participants to reflect on experiences, process emotions, and strengthen trust within the group.

The program’s flexible structure adapts to weather conditions, the surrounding environment, and the developmental stages of the group, allowing learning to emerge organically while simulating real conditions faced by outdoor facilitators.

Key Learning Topics

Participants will explore several important topics related to facilitation, leadership, and experiential learning.

The program covers how people learn across different life stages, including children, adolescents, and adults, and what these learning processes mean for outdoor education. Participants will also examine the ethical responsibilities and roles of facilitators, distinguishing between facilitation, training, and coaching.

Core facilitation skills are emphasized, including session structure, guiding group processes, asking powerful questions, and creating spaces where participants feel safe and supported.

Communication training includes active listening, nonviolent communication, feedback culture, and conflict awareness. Participants will learn how to recognize and respond to emotional dynamics within groups while maintaining respectful and constructive communication.

Group development processes are explored to help participants understand how groups evolve and how facilitation approaches must adapt accordingly. The program also introduces basic conflict awareness and de-escalation techniques.

Participants will develop awareness of outdoor safety principles such as risk perception, safety mindset, and basic field routines that help ensure safe group experiences in nature.

The training also emphasizes facilitator self-care and self-management practices, including grounding techniques, emotional resilience, and maintaining personal boundaries when leading groups.

Outdoor Skills and Facilitation Competencies

Participants will develop practical outdoor facilitation competencies, including camp management, risk awareness, and first aid considerations in outdoor environments. They will learn how to design and implement outdoor learning programs, prepare facilitation agendas, and co-facilitate learning sessions effectively.

The program also helps participants develop the confidence to navigate group dynamics, guide reflective learning processes, and evaluate educational experiences with professionalism and presence.

Facilitators

The program is led by experienced practitioners in outdoor education and facilitation.

The lead facilitator is Dirk Reber, a practitioner specializing in ecotherapy, outdoor education, and process facilitation. He has decades of experience designing and leading transformative nature-based learning programs across diverse ecological and cultural contexts. He oversees curriculum design, program leadership, safety coordination, supervision, and participant feedback. Full bio and links will be available on the Team Page.

The co-facilitator is Anu Rai, a seasoned trekker and educator with expertise in transforming outdoor adventures into transformative learning experiences. Her work focuses on sustainable trekking, environmental awareness, and experiential education in mountain and forest environments. Full bio and links will be available on the Team Page.

Participant Group Size

To ensure a safe and meaningful learning environment, the program maintains a small participant group size. A minimum of six and a maximum of twelve participants will be accepted for the training.

This small cohort allows facilitators to provide individualized support, foster deeper interaction among participants, and create a strong sense of community throughout the learning journey.

Certification

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

To qualify for certification, participants must attend all sessions and actively engage in group processes, reflective activities, and facilitation practice.

Participants who wish to pursue further professional certification can continue their training through additional programs offered by YEP Academy. Completion of further intensive training journeys and a mentored facilitation practice phase may lead to certification as a Certified Outdoor Youth Facilitator.

Participants who complete the full training pathway and develop their own outdoor learning program may receive the designation International Nature and Outdoor Youth Facilitator and Leader.

Safety and Risk Management

Participant safety and well-being are central to the program design. Comprehensive risk management procedures are implemented to ensure a safe learning environment.

Participants provide emergency contact and medical information during registration. Signed consent forms confirm understanding of safety procedures before the program begins.

All facilitators are certified in first aid, and accident insurance coverage of up to USD 5,000 is provided for each participant.

Location-specific risk assessments are conducted prior to the program to identify and mitigate potential hazards. The campsite environment is designed to provide a stable and secure basecamp where participants can focus on learning without exposure to high-risk adventure activities.

Program Fee and What Is Included

The program fee covers all facilitation sessions and training materials provided throughout the program.

Accommodation and campsite fees are included as part of the basecamp learning model. Accident insurance coverage is also included.

Food arrangements include daily lunches prepared and served during the program, as well as group-prepared dinners where ingredients are provided and participants cook together. Breakfast is organized independently by participants.

Participants will also attend a preparation meeting held online two weeks prior to the program.

What Is Not Included

Participants are responsible for arranging travel to and from the meeting location in Nepal.

Visa fees, vaccinations, and personal outdoor equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, clothing, and daypacks are not included in the program fee.

Accommodation before or after the training is also not included unless otherwise specified.

Optional equipment rental may be available through YEP Academy for tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping mats for an additional fee.

Scholarships

The program offers 100 percent scholarships funded through donor subsidies from the German Government.

These scholarships are available exclusively for citizens of ASEAN and SAARC countries.

Applicants who wish to apply for the scholarship must download the scholarship application form and submit it by email to info@yep-academy.org.

Scholarship Deadline

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is 5 April 2026.

Standard Ticket Registration

Participants who do not apply for the scholarship may register for the program through the standard ticket option.

The standard ticket costs USD 890, and ticket sales close on 14 April 2026 at 11:50 PM.

Contact Information

For further information about the program, applicants may contact YEP Academy via email at info@yep-academy.org.

Read more and apply for the Outdoor Facilitation: The Art of Facilitation in Nature 2026 HERE.

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