Green Games Lab is an Erasmus+ training course for youth workers that runs from 11 to 19 January 2027 in Tleń, Poland, with 11 and 19 January counted as travel days. It is open to youth workers aged 18 and above who want to learn how to design, prototype and test educational games that engage young people in environmental issues. Applications close on 15 November 2026, accommodation, meals and training activities are covered by the organisers, and travel costs are reimbursed up to a ceiling set by country. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full application call and the project infopack to put every condition of this training course in one place.
What Green Games Lab Is About
Green Games Lab is a seven day training course placed between two travel days, hosted by Fundacja "Leonarda" at the Perła Borów venue in the Polish village of Tleń. The course is built for youth workers, trainers, facilitators and educators who want to explore how educational games can be used to engage young people in environmental and sustainability topics. The programme is intensive and workshop driven: it involves a lot of practical workshop work, creativity, teamwork and active participation.
The Ecological Themes You Will Work With
During the project you will explore ecological issues such as these.
🌡️ Climate change
🛒 Sustainable consumption
🦋 Biodiversity
🌳 Environmental protection
The work of the course is learning how to turn these issues into engaging educational experiences for young people.
How the Learning Happens
The learning on this course happens through a combination of working methods.
📚 Non-formal education as the overall learning approach
🎮 Game-based learning applied to ecological content
🎨 Creative workshops where ideas take shape
🧩 Prototyping of your own game concepts
🧪 Playtesting of the games the teams create
You will work in international teams to create and test your own ecological games, which can later be used in youth work.
What the Project Aims to Achieve
The organisers set out seven objectives for Green Games Lab.
🛠️ Strengthen youth workers' competences in designing and facilitating educational games and in using game-based learning in youth work
🌱 Develop practical, youth-friendly educational games focused on ecology, sustainability, climate change and environmental protection
🙌 Promote experiential and participatory learning, where young people are active participants and co-creators rather than passive recipients
🚪 Make environmental education more engaging and accessible, especially for young people with fewer opportunities
🧠 Support creativity, teamwork, decision-making and systems thinking through game design and play
🤝 Build a transnational community of youth workers, encouraging exchange of methods, experiences and future cooperation
🏅 Increase the recognition of non-formal education and youth work by showing that games can be meaningful educational tools rather than "just play"
Who the Training Course Is For
The project is designed for youth workers, trainers, facilitators and active volunteers who work with young people and are interested in using educational games to explore environmental and sustainability topics. The call is open to participants aged 18 and above. A training course of this kind belongs to the Erasmus+ mobility of youth workers strand, which supports the people who work with young people in developing their practice.
The Profile the Organisers Are Looking For
The infopack is specific about the kind of applicant the team wants to select, and the list below is the full set of expectations.
🔞 You are 18 years old or above
🧑🏫 You are actively involved in youth work, non-formal education, training, facilitation, volunteering or community-based educational activities
🌿 You are interested in ecology, sustainability, environmental education and game-based learning
🎯 You are motivated to learn how to design and facilitate educational games
💡 You are open to experiential learning, creativity, teamwork and active participation
🌐 You are willing to work in an international and intercultural environment
🗣️ You have a communicative level of English
📣 You are ready to test the developed methods with young people and to share what you learn after the mobility through local follow-up and dissemination activities
Before and After the Mobility
Green Games Lab is not only the week in Tleń. The project includes preparation before the mobility and follow-up and dissemination activities afterwards, so that the games and methods developed during the training can continue to be used in local communities.
The Local Workshop You Commit To
The project does not end when the suitcases close: follow-up and dissemination activities after the training course are an essential part of the project. After the mobility, all selected participants will be asked to do the following.
🏘️ Organise at least one local follow-up activity, workshop or sharing session in their organisation or community
🔄 Apply and adapt the methods learned during the course to their local context
📢 Support the dissemination of project results and resources
📝 Contribute materials, reflections, testimonials or ideas to the shared online resource space
💻 Take part in a follow-up online session to reflect on implementation, challenges and next steps
The aim is that the knowledge travels further than the participants themselves, reaching more young people and strengthening local youth work practice.
Fundacja "Leonarda" and the Partner Organisations
The project is coordinated by Fundacja "Leonarda" in Poland, which is also your hosting organisation, and it is implemented together with partner organisations from seven other countries.
🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina: Centar za djecu, mlade i porodicu Laktaši
🇧🇬 Bulgaria: Sdruzhenie Balgarski Mladezhki Forum
🇮🇹 Italy: Sustainable Vibes APS
🇷🇴 Romania: Asociatia Amicus Humani Generis
🇷🇸 Serbia: Idejnet klub
🇪🇸 Spain: Asociación Motus Europa
🇹🇷 Türkiye: Egitim Girisim Dernegi (EGDER)
Meet the Trainers
Three trainers are listed for the course.
🧠 Marlena Jaszczak, psychologist and non-formal education trainer
🎲 Maciej Smrokowski, trainer and game designer
🔬 Grzesiek Pruszko, biology and geography teacher and author of workbooks for students
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🌍 All opportunities in Poland →
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Where You Will Stay: Perła Borów in Tleń
The venue is Perła Borów, ul. Dębowa 11, 86-150 Tleń, Poland. The venue provides comfortable facilities suitable for group activities and intercultural exchange, and there are forests nearby. Tleń itself is a small village, and the organisers note that this will be quite an intensive training course.
Rooms, Meals and Dietary Needs
Participants are accommodated in shared rooms for two, three or four people, and single rooms will not be available. Three full meals a day are provided, breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with coffee and tea breaks between sessions. If you have any special dietary needs or allergies, for example vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or lactose free, you need to state this clearly in the application form so that the arrangements can be made in advance.
Practical Things to Know About the Venue
A few details about the venue are worth knowing before you pack.
🧺 There is no possibility to do laundry at the venue, so pack enough clothes for the whole course
📶 Wi-Fi is available at the accommodation but the connection is quite weak, so arrange your own access, for example an e-SIM card, if you need to be reliably online
💨 Bringing your own hairdryer is recommended
🔥 Make sure you are genuinely interested in the topic and ready for active participation, creative work and plenty of hands-on workshops
What the Organisers Cover
All programme related costs, including accommodation, meals and training activities, are covered by the organisers. Travel costs are reimbursed up to the maximum amount set by the Erasmus+ distance bands applicable to your country, and reimbursement is paid after the project once you have submitted all travel documents and completed the required dissemination activities. How these ceilings are set is part of what Erasmus+ covers in youth projects.
Travel Reimbursement Ceilings by Country
The infopack publishes the ceiling for each participating country.
✈️ Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy, Romania: up to €309
🛫 Spain, Türkiye: up to €395
🚲 Poland: up to €50 for green travel
Booking Rules You Need to Follow
The reimbursement conditions include several rules about how tickets are bought.
🚫 Do not purchase any travel tickets before you receive official confirmation that you have been accepted to the project
💶 In line with Erasmus+ rules, choose the most cost-efficient and reasonable travel option available
🎫 Book tickets directly with the transport operator or airline, not through third-party booking platforms such as Kiwi, eDreams or similar services
❓ If you are unsure whether your planned journey is eligible for reimbursement, check with the organisers before booking
📅 Travel should be completed within two days before or two days after the official project dates, and during those extra days accommodation and meals are not covered by the project
🧭 Travel must be made directly to and from the project venue
How Reimbursement Is Claimed and Paid
To receive a reimbursement you must provide all original travel documents: bus, train or flight tickets, boarding passes for both ways, invoices, payment confirmations and receipts, for example a bank statement confirming the transaction. Lost or missing tickets cannot be reimbursed, and a booking confirmation on its own is not sufficient, because invoices and boarding passes are required. Payment is made by bank transfer after the mobility, so you are asked to prepare your bank details and bring them to the training course, including the full name and address of the account holder, the full name and address of the bank, and the IBAN and SWIFT (BIC) codes. If participants do not provide the required documents or fail to follow the travel rules, their travel costs cannot be reimbursed.
Arrival and Departure Windows
The arrival day is 11 January 2027 and you are expected to arrive before 6:00 PM. The departure day is 19 January 2027, with checkout at 10:00 AM. Participants are expected to arrive and depart on these indicated dates, and any change has to be discussed and approved in advance by the organisers. Because the accommodation is quite far from the airport, the earliest return flight for which the team can organise transport to the airport is at 11:00 AM, so do not book a departure before that time if you want to use their transfer.
Getting to Tleń
If you are travelling by plane, the organisers recommend flying to Gdańsk Airport, and if you land there before 6:00 PM they will arrange transportation for you. The nearest airports to Tleń are Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, Poznań and Warsaw, all in Poland, and from any of these cities you need to continue to Tleń by train or bus. Train connections and tickets can be checked at https://pkp.pl or https://rozklad-pkp.pl, and bus connections at https://e-podroznik.pl. If you travel by train, buy all tickets well in advance, as they may sell out.
Participation Rules and the 10% Attendance Limit
Full participation in the entire programme is mandatory and unauthorised absences are not allowed. If a participant misses more than 10% of the sessions, they will not be eligible for travel reimbursement. The project is based on active, non-formal learning, so full engagement is treated as a condition for a meaningful group experience and learning outcome for everyone involved.
Evenings After the Sessions
After the sessions the organisers encourage you to slow down, enjoy the sauna, play board games, spend time together or take a walk in the nearby forests rather than party.
Insurance for Your Stay
Valid travel insurance covering medical expenses, accidents and personal belongings for the duration of your stay in Poland is strongly recommended. EU citizens can additionally use their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for basic healthcare access. Keep a copy of your insurance details and emergency contact numbers with you during the trip.
A Few Practical Things About Poland
The infopack also lists a few practical things about Poland.
💳 The currency is the Polish złoty (PLN), but you probably will not need much cash, as card payments are widely accepted
🚰 Tap water is safe to drink, so bring a reusable bottle and refill it from the tap
🧣 The weather can be quite unpredictable, so bring warm clothes and dress in layers, choosing comfortable natural and breathable materials such as cotton or wool rather than polyester or other synthetics
🔌 Electricity is 230 V, 50 Hz with type C and E sockets, so bring an adapter if your plugs are different
🕐 Poland uses Central European Time (CET), and Central European Summer Time (CEST) during daylight saving time
🏪 Many shops are closed on Sundays because of Sunday trading restrictions, although some smaller shops, petrol stations and convenience stores may still be open
🆘 The general emergency number is 112 and it reaches the police, ambulance and fire brigade
How to Apply
Read the project infopack carefully before you apply, then complete the online application form. The form is also where you declare any special dietary needs or allergies, so that the organisers can arrange meals in advance. Before submitting, make sure you are genuinely interested in the topic and ready to participate actively in an intensive training programme. You can find more Erasmus+ opportunities like this one, checked and listed in one place, on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Green Games Lab?
Green Games Lab is an Erasmus+ training course for youth workers taking place from 11 to 19 January 2027 in Tleń, Poland. During seven training days participants design, prototype and test educational games that engage young people in environmental and sustainability topics.
Who can apply to Green Games Lab?
The course is open to youth workers, trainers, facilitators and active volunteers aged 18 and above who work with young people. You should be interested in ecology, sustainability, environmental education and game-based learning, and have a communicative level of English.
Do I need experience in game design?
The call does not ask for previous experience in game design. What it asks for is motivation to learn how to design and facilitate educational games, openness to experiential learning and readiness for active participation. The practical skills are built during the course through workshops, prototyping and playtesting.
Is there a participation fee?
No. All programme related costs, including accommodation, meals and training activities, are covered by the organisers, and travel is reimbursed up to the ceiling set for your country.
How much of my travel will be reimbursed?
The ceilings are up to €309 for participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, Italy and Romania, up to €395 for Spain and Türkiye, and up to €50 for green travel within Poland. Reimbursement is paid by bank transfer after the project, once all original documents are submitted and the dissemination activities are completed.
When should I buy my tickets?
Only after you receive official confirmation that you have been accepted to the project. Bookings also have to be made directly with the transport operator or airline rather than through platforms such as Kiwi or eDreams.
Which airport should I fly to?
Gdańsk Airport is the recommended option, and if you arrive there before 6:00 PM the organisers will arrange transportation to the venue. Bydgoszcz, Poznań and Warsaw are the other nearby airports, and from any of them you continue to Tleń by train or bus.
What time can I book my return flight?
Not before 11:00 AM on 19 January 2027. The accommodation is far from the airport, so that is the earliest departure for which the organisers can provide transport, and checkout at the venue is at 10:00 AM.
What happens if I miss sessions?
Full participation in the entire programme is mandatory and unauthorised absences are not allowed. A participant who misses more than 10% of the sessions loses eligibility for travel reimbursement.
Do I have to do anything after the training course?
Yes, and it is an essential part of the project. You will be asked to organise at least one local follow-up activity or workshop, adapt the methods to your local context, support dissemination, contribute materials to the shared online resource space and join a follow-up online session.
Can I get a single room?
No. Participants are accommodated in shared rooms for two, three or four people, and single rooms are not available at the venue.
Is there Wi-Fi at the venue?
Wi-Fi is available at the accommodation, but the connection is quite weak. If you need a reliable internet connection during your stay, arrange your own access, for example an e-SIM card.
Do I need travel insurance?
Valid travel insurance covering medical expenses, accidents and personal belongings is strongly recommended for the whole stay in Poland. EU citizens can also use their European Health Insurance Card for basic healthcare access.
Who can I contact with questions?
Marlena from Fundacja "Leonarda" answers questions about the project by email, and the address is in the links below. The organisers also ask you to read the whole infopack carefully before applying.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Training Course
📍 Location: Perła Borów, Tleń, Poland
🗓️ Activity Dates: 11-19 January 2027 (11 and 19 January are travel days)
🌍 Countries: Poland, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Türkiye, Serbia
🎂 Age: 18 and above
Deadline
⏳ 15 November 2026
Links
🔗 Application form: https://forms.gle/SNXZV35QwF6WbcPE7
📄 Infopack: https://canva.link/48c6d8ujg4qzdof
📧 Questions: fundacja@vinci.fm
