A UIAA member federation, the Fédération française des clubs alpins et de montagne (FFCAM) owns 120 mountain huts in France, managed by the affiliated local clubs. In 2022, FFCAM started the Flagship Shelters for the Environment (“Refuges phares pour l’environnement” in French) project, a label with the aim to transform mountain huts into beacons of sustainability and climate action.

The project’s vision is to place environmental education at the heart of the mountain experience, using huts as entry points to engage a wide audience – outdoor enthusiasts, recreational users, families, local communities – in a shared responsibility for protecting fragile alpine ecosystems.

Mountain huts are central to many outdoor activities such as hiking, climbing, ski touring and mountaineering, serving as essential rest stops. Their location in the heart of nature also makes them unique gateways for understanding the mountain environment. Due to their location in remote and sensitive areas, particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, they must face specific challenges in managing resources like water, energy and waste, while striving to minimize their environmental footprint.

The two main goals of the project are (1) to educate about how huts operate and how they sustainably cope with the challenges they face due to their remote locations; and (2) to foster environmental awareness by introducing visitors to the hut’s surrounding flora, fauna and landscapes.

One of the key educational tools developed by FFCAM under this label is a treasure hunt named “On the path to the hut”. This interactive game guides visitors on a discovery journey through the hut’s natural environment. Along the way, participants learn about local biodiversity, landscapes and sustainable solutions implemented to overcome the logistical challenges of isolated life. Each treasure hunt is tailored to the specific characteristics of the hut and its surrounding environment, making the learning experience more relevant and site-specific. This educational tool is already available in six huts with two more versions under development as of May 2025.

All FFCAM affiliated clubs that manage huts are encouraged to create and use the Flagship Shelters for the Environment label to develop their own environmental education initiatives (quizzes, study trips, etc.), built on the values and vision defined by the federation.

Since the project was launched, various initiatives have been organized in huts in order to promote the label. In 2022, over 700 people, including seven school classes (130 children) have participated in educational activities in huts. Since then, the project has continued to expand, developing new initiatives such as classroom visits and awareness activities in the valleys.

Through these various initiatives, the Flagship Shelters for the Environment project fosters a strong connection between outdoor sports and environmental responsibility, helping visitors enjoy the mountains while protecting them.