3HUTS
Erasmus+ Sport
Unlocking Women's Outdoor Potential: Hiking Reimagined
The 3HUTS project is an Erasmus+ Sport initiative designed to promote hiking as an accessible and inclusive outdoor activity. Its primary aim is to increase participation in hiking, particularly among women, by addressing the specific needs and challenges they face. The project also seeks to foster a broader mindset change in planning hiking infrastructure to ensure it accommodates diverse preferences and promotes gender equality.
The objectives of the 3HUTS project are:
- To increase participation in hiking and actively engage female hikers.
- To promote gender-sensitive and more convenient planning of hiking environments for women.
- To support equal opportunities in hiking and address gender discrimination in outdoor activities.
- To review and analyze gender-specific preferences concerning hiking, contributing to a deeper understanding of diverse needs.
- To strengthen international cooperation among organizations active in the field of hiking, creating a network for sharing knowledge and best practices.
- To raise awareness about gender equality in hiking at local, national, and international levels.
The success of the 3HUTS project is built upon the collaboration of experienced and diverse partner organisations from different European countries. Each partner contributes their unique expertise, networks, and approaches to promote female participation in hiking and advocate for more inclusive mountain infrastructure. Below is an overview of the organisations involved, beginning with the coordinating partner.
unique expertise, networks, and approaches
ACTIVE’s mission aligns strongly with the goals of the 3HUTS project. It strives to promote a healthy lifestyle and mental well-being through physical activity and outdoor sports, such as hiking, mountaineering, and cycling. The organisation also works to ensure equal opportunities for all, tackling discrimination, and supporting the development of non-formal education across Europe.
OTI Slovakia brings extensive experience and a robust network to the 3HUTS project, playing a key role in outreach, especially to women and marginalised groups, and contributing to the development of inclusive, safe, and environmentally friendly outdoor sport environments.
PHYSIS’s activities span a broad spectrum, including outdoor training, active mobility interventions, educational workshops, event and project management, injury prevention, infectious disease prevention, and sports safety and risk management. Since 2011, PHYSIS has maintained close cooperation with local and regional sports and mountain clubs, jointly promoting outdoor training and offering both winter and summer programmes such as hiking, climbing, canyoning, and canoe-kayak.
Austria
Rax-Schneeberg mountain region
Slovakia
Tribec mountain
Greece
Mount Olympus
Potential for mountain infrastructure to better address female preferences
This report, titled “Potential for Mountain Infrastructure to Better Address Female Preferences”, is a key output of the 3HUTS project. It seeks to explore how hiking infrastructure can better cater to the needs of women, increase their participation in hiking activities, and contribute to gender equality in outdoor recreation. Through a detailed analysis of survey findings, the report evaluates the current state of hiking trails and mountain huts in Austria, Greece, and Slovakia based on predefined criteria. It identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the existing infrastructure, highlights gender-specific preferences and barriers, and provides actionable recommendations to create a more inclusive hiking environment.
"Hiking is not just about reaching a specific summit. It is about the journey itself, about the movement and the experience of nature. Every step is a pleasure, every new bend brings new surprises. Hiking is an adventure that never ceases to amaze us."
Author unknown