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Using Minecraft for Increasing Environmental Awareness of Young People
Using Minecraft for Increasing Environmental Awareness of Young People
Teave
This example invites youth workers to explore how video games like Minecraft can be used to promote environmental awareness and climate literacy among young people.
Through engaging, hands-on digital activities, participants will learn how to use open-ended sandbox games to support young people’s understanding of climate change and encourage their creative thinking and problem-solving skills in response to real-world challenges.
By completing this activity, you will:
-> Understand how digital games can foster climate awareness and civic engagement
-> Learn how to set up and facilitate a Minecraft-based learning experience
-> Identify how youth work can harness popular digital platforms for meaningful educational outcomes
Get inspired
Minecraft and Minetest offer immersive, creative environments where young people can build their visions of a sustainable future. In this award-winning practice from Germany, youth were invited to take part in a virtual competition, designing their own climate-resilient cities and landscapes. Without direct instruction, participants learned about climate challenges, explored possible futures, and proposed innovative solutions — all while playing.
Explore this example
In the project led by Tobias Thiel at the Protestant Academy in Saxony-Anhalt, Minecraft and Minetest were used as digital tools to raise environmental awareness among young people. The initiative combined game-based learning with civic education, offering a creative and participatory approach to climate education.
The project emerged from a strategic decision within the academy to incorporate digital tools into youth work, recognising that many young people are already deeply immersed in digital environments. Minecraft, a popular sandbox video game similar to virtual Lego, was selected because of its widespread use among youth and its flexibility in educational settings. Later, Minetest—a free and open-source alternative—was adopted for broader accessibility and adaptability.
The core idea was to engage young people in thinking critically about climate change through a medium they enjoy and understand. Participants, ranging in age from 8 to 20, were invited to take part in an open competition. They accessed a server, played a short introductory minigame to learn about climate issues, and then received their own plot of virtual land. Their task was to design a future city or landscape addressing climate change, incorporating both personal and societal solutions.
The project was structured to encourage self-directed learning. While youth workers facilitated the environment—setting up the server, providing initial information, and defining the learning goals—they did not instruct the participants directly. Instead, young people worked in groups, researched climate topics, and applied their findings in the virtual world. This model empowered them to learn collaboratively, solve problems, and express ideas creatively.
How can you use Minecraft in youth work?
- Use Minecraft or Luanti (former Minetest) to explore topics like climate change, sustainability, or participation through creative digital building.
- Check resources in the Minecraft Education platform (you can choose your language/country in the bottom part of the page): https://education.minecraft.net/en-us
- Start with a clear question or theme to focus learning (e.g. “Design your ideal climate-friendly city”).
- Use creative mode and encourage group work (2–4 people) to support collaboration and peer learning.
- Act as a facilitator, not an expert. Let young people lead the technical side while you guide the educational focus.
- Choose Luanti (formerly known as Minetest) for free, low-barrier access. It works well on older computers and requires no licence.
- Connect digital creations to real life. Organise presentations, discussions, or meetings with local stakeholders.
- Provide optional resources, but let young people research and learn independently.
- Recognise participation with Open Badges or small prizes to celebrate effort and creativity.
With Minecraft, you can work on several topics, and we also use it to reflect social interactions. Minecraft is very versatile video game. You can use it with young people to:
- Tell stories (as live presentation or video)
- Create movies
- Create fantasy worlds
- Rebuild real worlds
- Do participation projects (your own youth club, taking part in public decisions, ...)
- And much more...
Claim Open Badge for recognition
Upon successful completion of the activity, you can claim the digital badge recognising your increased knowledge on how to:
- Use game-based tools for educational impact
- Use Minecraft or Luanti for exploring important topics in a participatory way
- Support youth-led climate action
Who created this resource?
This game-based approach to climate education was developed by the Protestant Academy in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, and recognised with a national award for civic education.
The activity and badge were adapted by the Cities of Learning Network to inspire wider use in digital youth work.
Who is behind this activity and badge?
Cities of Learning Network members developed this activity and badge to support digital youth work and environmental education:
- Awero, Lithuania (Project Lead)
- Protestant Academy of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
- Partner organisations from the Cities of Learning Network
Next steps
Try this approach in your own youth work setting. Start small — even a group of two or three young people can build a big idea. Use free tools like Minetest to make participation accessible. Then, explore more resources on digital and environmental learning at https://www.digitalyouthwork.net/
Resources
Get activity badge
Minecraft Digger Get this badge
This badge recognises youth workers and educators who explore and reflect on the use of Minecraft (or Luanti) as a tool for creative, participatory learning in youth work settings. The badge demonstrates your understanding of how sandbox games can support civic education, climate awareness, and digital collaboration among young people.
By earning this badge, you show that you are curious in using digital learning experiences and video games not only for fun, but for meaningful dialogue, skill development, and youth empowerment.
Cities of Learning Network partners value badge earners’ efforts and issue this badge after reviewing the provided evidence.
Ülesanded
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Reflect on your current or future youth work activities and share a short text (or audio) on this questions:
- Where and how could you use Minecraft or Minetest to engage young people in a learning process?
Think about the topic (e.g. sustainability, participation, local issues), the format (e.g. group work, competition, presentations), and the role you would take as a facilitator.
Organiseerijad
Digital Youth Work Resource Hub
Badgecraft käitab veebi taristut Õppimise linnade ja regioonide jaoks. Euroopa konsortsium arendab seda platvormi kaasrahastusega Euroopa Liidu programmist Erasmus+.
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