What does it mean to truly welcome everyone into the outdoors? That question sat at the heart of a special experience during European Outdoor Week 2026 in Riva del Garda, and the answers that emerged were as powerful as the landscape itself.
On 18 May, the Kilian Jornet Foundation (KJF), It’s Great Out There Coalition (IGOT) and REMOOVE brought together outdoor industry professionals, operators, and enthusiasts for a unique edition of the Running Minds initiative. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Lago di Garda, participants laced up their shoes, many in NNormal footwear (the brand co-founded by Kilian Jornet), and set out on a 7 km route designed to do more than just cover ground.
Running as a Catalyst for Change
Running Minds is KJF’s flagship initiative, using movement in nature as a platform for deeper reflection on environmental and social challenges. This edition marked the first ever collaboration between KJF and IGOT, it wasted no time in tackling one of the outdoor sector’s most pressing conversations: accessibility and inclusion.
As the KJF team put it: “Running Minds reflects our belief that movement in nature can spark deeper awareness and meaningful action. By bringing people together to run, learn, and reflect, we create space to connect with the environmental and social challenges that shape our world. This collaboration with IGOT marks an important step toward a more inclusive and responsible outdoor culture.”
Along the route, participants stopped to hear from key voices across the sector, including representatives from KJF, IGOT, and local mobility organisation REMOOVE.
Seeing the Mountain Through Different Eyes
REMOOVE guided the group through a 7 km hands-on experience using dedicated mobility aids, giving participants a direct, embodied sense of the barriers and opportunities that many people encounter when accessing natural spaces.
How does our experience of the mountains change when we begin to see them from a different perspective? That was the question REMOOVE posed, and for many participants, the experience answered it in ways that a panel discussion never could.
Mattia Bonanome, Co-Founder of REMOOVE, captured the spirit of it well: “Solutions exist, but too often the problems are not recognised. Accessibility is not an issue that concerns ‘others’, but the way we make participation possible. Working on accessibility and welcoming practices also means contributing to a more sustainable model of outdoor experiences — creating the conditions for everyone to take part in a real and meaningful way.”
More Than Removing Barriers
What struck participants, and what the REMOOVE team was keen to emphasise, is that inclusion isn’t simply about dismantling obstacles. It’s about actively designing experiences that more people can share. Making the outdoors accessible expands opportunities for participation, encourages shared experiences across abilities and backgrounds, and helps build a mountain culture that is genuinely open to all.
These conversations, sparked on the trail and carried into the Outdoor Impact Summit, feel timely. The outdoor industry is increasingly recognising that who gets to enjoy nature is a question with real answers, and real responsibilities.
What’s Next
Events like Running Minds are proof that the outdoor sector can lead by example: creating spaces where movement, reflection, and action come together. We’re proud to have been part of this collaboration and look forward to continuing to push for a more inclusive outdoor world.
To learn more about the Kilian Jornet Foundation and the Running Minds initiative, visit kilianjornetfoundation.org. To find out more about REMOOVE’s work on outdoor accessibility, visit re-moove.it.
Image credit © Camilla Pizzini