26. August 2025
What could a sustainable future look like – and what role can young people play in it? This was the question addressed by the holiday camp ‘FutureLab – Energy Meets Creativity’, which took place last week at the Blossin Youth Education Centre. With the support of Muriel Neugebauer and Matthias Laminski from the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU), young people aged 12 to 16 explored the topics of climate protection, energy and shaping the future in a creative, practical and participatory way.
The aim of the project was to give young people space to develop their own ideas for a sustainable future – and at the same time to enable them to experience how their own actions can make a difference. The focus was on combining interactive learning games, practical creative methods and shared experiences.
The programme included a climate rally, an interactive hands-on exhibition on the energy transition, a vision workshop for the artistic design of their own sustainable ideas for the future, and a sailing trip with the team cutter, where they could experience wind power first-hand.
At the bicycle cinema, the young people generated their own electricity – and playfully reflected on the connection between energy consumption and production. An excursion to the energy self-sufficient village of Feldheim rounded off the week and used a real-life example to show how sustainable energy supply can work.
Why is this important? Leisure activities not only strengthen young people’s environmental awareness, but also their self-efficacy: they experience first-hand that developing sustainable ideas and having the courage to take action can have an impact and make a difference.
Project supervisor Muriel Neugebauer emphasises:
“With FutureLab, we wanted to create a space where young people could think about their future in a playful, creative and collaborative way – while at the same time gaining concrete experience on issues of sustainable energy. The enthusiasm and commitment of the participants showed us how important and effective such formats are.”
In practical terms, the project shows that sustainability education works best when it is active, participatory and realistic, and that young people develop a deeper understanding of complex issues such as the energy transition when they learn through experience, creativity and reflection.
What happens next?
The positive feedback from young people, parents and the educational team shows that FutureLab has a bright future. A continuation of the holiday camp is already being planned for summer 2026.
