OTI is a sports club that primarily aims to introduce outdoor activities to young people and to promote spending time outdoors with friends and family. Whether you are hooked on sports, a sports enthusiast or just want to try outdoor activities, with OTI you can experience your sports activities in a safe and mindful way. The topics we focus on are mainly hiking, sports, ecology, sustainability and social challenges. You can find all the activities and trainings we organize in our articles.
OTI Slovakia Mission
We believe that everything we do is an active part of social, cultural and environmental change:
- To help young people connect with each other through hiking events
- To promote outdoor education through active learning outdoors in a natural environment
- To enable everyone to discover amazing and unknown places in Slovakia and all over Europe
- To reconnect with nature and try to avoid everyday stress
- To promote traditional Slovak dances, games and sports and breathe new life into them
- Acquire new knowledge, skills and experience through an international environment
- Promote education and active lifestyles
- Promote digital skills and technologies such as apps, digital maps and compass, navigation and different types of digital communication tools
OTI’s goals for 2025:
OTI Tourist Club’s goals for 2025
As 2025 has approached, OTI is excited to announce new plans and projects. This year’s vision is full of initiatives aimed at getting more people involved in hiking, promoting trail marking among young enthusiasts, and undertaking ambitious adventures. Here’s a detailed look at what OTI Slovakia plans to achieve in 2025:
Invite more people to hiking and outdoor sports
One of our main goals is to get individuals engaged in hiking and outdoor sports. We believe that nature offers incomparable opportunities for physical activity, mental regeneration and community building. Through a variety of programs and events, we want to encourage people of all ages to put on their hiking boots and hit the trails.
Providing various educational opportunities for young people abroad
We are committed to creating educational opportunities for the younger generation and facilitating travel abroad for various training sessions. Through various exchange programs such as Erasmus+, Visegrad Fund and other partnerships, we want to broaden their horizons and expose them to different cultures and outdoor activities, thus enriching their personal and professional lives.
Improving the safety and hiking skills of OTI members
Safety is a priority in all our activities. Projects supported by the Erasmus+ Sport Program focus on improving the safety and hiking skills of our members. Through training and practical workshops, we intend to equip our members with the knowledge and skills needed to move safely and responsibly on the trails. The 3HUTS project promotes hiking by focusing on the needs of women and promoting inclusive infrastructure planning. The program specifically targets females and motivates them to be more active through hiking and to create a network of women hikers who support each other in these activities. In May, the participants will discover the beauty of the Greek Olympus Mountain and participate in several hikes.
Promoting trail marking among young people TRAILS
In the framework of the Erasmus+ Sport TRAILS project, we are committed to promoting trail marking among young people. This initiative is designed to educate young people about the importance of trail marking for safety and environmental protection. By engaging in practical activities, we want to foster a sense of responsibility and a love of nature. This year’s TRAILS study visit will take place in Serbia.
Women Walking for Health a Walking & Talking Therapy
The goal of the WW4H and WAT Therapy projects is to promote a healthy lifestyle through walking. Both projects want to encourage physical activity and improve mental wellbeing. WW4H focuses on supporting women during menopause and postmenopause. The program supports women in being more active and fulfilled at this time in their lives. The WATT program primarily focuses on Nordic Walking and offers instructors and sports coaches training focusing on Nordic Walking techniques combined with activities for psychological, emotional and relational deepening.
Support program on rural development for youth
The SPARK project aims to equip youth workers with skills in social innovation and entrepreneurship, enable them to conduct needs assessments for community development in rural areas and support them in planning and implementing projects. Through intensive training workshops and hands-on experience, the project will equip participating youth workers with practical knowledge and tools in social innovation and entrepreneurship, including methodologies such as Design Thinking. This project is divided into four parts, in addition to solving problems of local rural areas, the participants attend training sessions in France and Romania.
Educating young people about cyber violence against women and girls
The CyberEqual project, also implemented under the Erasmus+ program, aims to raise awareness about cyber violence against women and girls and to highlight its serious consequences. The main objectives of the project are to inform young people about the existence and manifestation of cyber violence, to provide education to youth workers and to motivate girls and young women to be able to protect themselves effectively.
Smart gardening for seniors
The SeniORGarden project is designed specifically for seniors and the 55+ age group. The program promotes an active lifestyle and psychological well-being through organic gardening, using modern technology to help make this activity more efficient. It also promotes education on new methods in gardening and mobile apps. The program provides opportunities to those who do not have regular access to gardening and is designed for those who like to participate in the improvement of community spaces and promote European values on sustainability.
Join us on our journey
OTI Slovakia kindly invites you all to join us on this exciting journey in 2025. Whether you are a seasoned tourist or a beginner, there is a place for everyone in our vibrant community. Let’s discover new trails, climb challenging peaks, learn new things and build lasting memories in the great outdoors together.