Highlights of this TRAINING
The WILDER NATURE training course is a collaborative training specifically designed for guides, together with our strategical partner EWES (European Wilderness Education School) and with local support of WeWilder in the Țarcu Mountains, the second bison rewilding site in Romania. Over the past decade, WWF Romania and the local community of Armenis, have been working together to create a stable free-roaming population of European bison in this area which forms one of the last remaining wilderness strongholds in Europe.
You will be hosted in an exceptional example of sustainable community development and introduce in the concepts of Nature Positive Tourism and Rewilding practices. It is also a unique chance to gain first-hand experience in community engagement and ethical wilderness guiding in an iconic rewilding area in Europe from the hands of Europe’s top Wilderness Instructors of EWES.
The course consists of an Online and a Field component. In the online webinar by MOYO Training Foundation, you will be given a broad introduction into nature positive tourism.
During the field visit you will sleep in self-made shelters, learn how to make fire, observe bison and track animals. By combining the necessary technical skills in the wilderness with the soft skills, you will be able to create memorable experiences.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Exploration out-of-the (personal) comfort zone in order to enhance personal growth.
- Deepen your own connection to nature and personal journey as a Wilderness Guide.
- Holding a positive and constructive attitude at all times
- Apply the Leave no Trace principle and transmission of sustainable practices
- Function as a key figure and communicator in socially and culturally sensitive situations
- Profound understanding of group processes and application of leadership techniques
- Nature Positive Thinking: Understanding the interdependence between tourism and biodiversity
- From Sustainability to Regeneration: How to shift from ‘doing less harm’ to actively restoring ecosystems.
- Enterprise & Sustainability: Developing tourism models that support local business and ecological goals
- Community Engagement: Co-creating value with local communities
- Designing Nature Positive Experiences: Crafting memorable, impactful travel products.
- Partnerships & Impact Measurement: Working with local communities and tracking your contributions.
- Wildlife Tracking, Situational awareness, birding, observation, camping, fire making and other outdoor skills relevant to this module
- Skills and knowledge building necessary to deliver meaningful experiences around rewilding and wild nature in the iconic Bison Hillock in the Southern Carpathians, Romania
- Interpretative guiding, rewilding practices, ecology and nature conservation.
- Learn about Nature Positive Tourism and Community development
Photogallery
what does thE WEEK look like?
Day 1 – ARRIVAL AT TARCU MOUNTAINS
Arrive at Campus (12:00) and lunch – Nature Positive Tourism – Welcome Dinner Revision of assigments / Go Prepared – Overnight at campus
Day 2 – COMMUNITY DAY
Community Learning programme – Embedding local realities in nature positive – Overnight at campus
Day 3 – WILDERNESS GUIDING
Ethics, Hospitality & roleplay – Start of expedition – Group management and nature experience design – Wilderness camp management, leadership, group dialogue, decision making – Nature landing
and connection – Sleep out (bivy+tarp)
Day 4 – NATURALIST SKILLS & GUIDE DEVELOPMENT
Morning sitspot – Group management, leadership, group dialogue, decision making – Nightwalk – Field observations and guided nature experience – Sleep out (bivy+tarp)
Day 5 – WILDLIFE TRACKING & OBSERVATION
Morning Sitspot – Tracking, Wildlife observation – Nightwalk – Campfire – Debrief – Sleep out (bivy+tarp)
Day 6 – GUIDING PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
Time for debrief, Feedback and Certificate ceremony – Sleep out (bivy+tarp)
Day 7 – PROGRAM END
Transfer back to Campus for shower – Farewell breakfast – Departures mid-morning
Practical information
Dates & Availability
25 till 31 May 2026. FULLY BOOKED. New dates for 2027 released soon.
Minimum 6, maximum 10 participants.
Costs (Included & Excluded)
€1500
Includes:
- Local accommodation, camping
- Local meals & and packed meals for field days
- Local 4 x 4 transport
- A local community experience
- Includes Equipment, Materials and instructors from EWES (online & field) & MOYO (online)
Excludes:
- Transport to/from Armenis
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Logistics / Transport
Our partner EWES will give you all necessary information. It is possible to book a transfer from Timisoara to Armenis.
Accommodation
You will be both camping, and sleep in local accomodation at the WeWilder campus & surroundings.
Food
Meals are communal and local.
Requests for vegetarian, vegan and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for: please do not forget to advise us of these preferences at the time of booking.
Health & Safety
Intermediate fitness level expected with maximum 10-15 km. hikes per day.
Carefully following your guide’s instructions is key -not only for safety, but also to increase your chances of a meaningful encounter. Moving quietly, keeping your distance, and leaving no trace allows for a truly authentic and respectful experience, with minimal impact on the environment and the animals.
We are working with WeWilder by supporting their programmes and ensuring the protection and restoration of natural environments outside protected areas.
Testimonials
Team & local guides
Georg Messerer
As a qualified Wilderness Trails Guide with extensive guiding experience in Southern Africa and Romania, Georg brings an international flare and passion to the guiding world in Europe. Spending the last few years guiding and training in the Tarcu Mountains, he has been instrumental in developing nature based experiences in the Bison Hillock region. With a love for wilderness turning into a passion for the conservation work around it he has dedicated his time and energy to contributing his share to what he believes to be a global responsibility. With a special interest in tracking, birding, rewilding and wilderness ecology, the guiding and training experience is diverse and forward thinking.
Oana Mondoc
A campaigner, communicator, and mobilizer, bursting with passion and determination, Oana is driven by the pursuit of justice for the vulnerable and inspiration for the masses—this is her work.
Innovating and creating spaces or moments for multidisciplinary communities to collaborate is what she thrives on. From hackathons to workshops, tourism programs, and bringing the WeWilder Campus to life, each initiative began as an idea and took shape through project management and relentless drive. These efforts continue to support bison rewilding in the South Western Carpathians.
Alina Floroi
Alina Floroi is passionate about finding treasures every day. Curiosity initially led her to journalism, but then exploration led to creating realities or helping other projects in this direction. She joined the WWF Romania initiative in Armeniș for several years in increasingly frequent collaborations, which turned into a full-time involvement in the WeWilder team.
On the WeWilder campus, she is "a good at everything", important skills to launch and keep the WeWilder Campus alive, a place dedicated to innovation and collaboration in the middle of nature.