Learning Communities Camp – Designing Learning Spaces
A 7-day immersive Erasmus+ experience focused on community living, green skills, learning space design, creativity, and collective learning.
🎥Watch the Experience
🌿 About the Program
This Youth Exchange brought together 24 young people from different countries to live and learn together in a natural environment in Algarve, Portugal. The main focus was to explore how learning spaces can be designed in a more sustainable, creative, and community-based way. Throughout the week, we combined workshops, outdoor activities, teamwork, reflection sessions, and hands-on creation of learning environments.
Day 1 – Learning Culture & Community Building
The first day was focused on creating a safe and welcoming atmosphere for everyone. We started with icebreaking activities, name games, and trust-building exercises to help participants connect.
We also explored the learning space (the campsite), discovering different areas where activities would take place. In the afternoon, we discussed group agreements, expectations, and how we would live together as a community during the week.
The day ended with hands-on activities and a night game, which helped strengthen team spirit and cooperation between participants.
Day 2 – Open Day Preparation & Projects I
On the second day, we started working on group projects for the Open Day with the local community. Participants were divided into international teams and began developing creative ideas.
We focused on the first stage of project development (Project I), including brainstorming, planning activities, and defining how each group would contribute to the Open Day experience.
The afternoon included practical preparation sessions where we designed workshops and interactive spaces such as kitchen activities and creative learning corners.
Day 3 – OPEN DAY (Community Engagement)
This was one of the most important days of the program. We opened the space to the local community and hosted visitors, children, and participants from outside the project.
Each group facilitated workshops such as creative activities, eco-learning experiences, and interactive sessions. The goal was to share what we had been preparing and create a real learning experience for visitors.
The Open Day helped us understand how learning spaces work in practice and how education can be interactive, inclusive, and community-driven.
Day 4 – Evaluation & Next Steps
After the Open Day, we focused on reflection and evaluation. We discussed what worked well, what could be improved, and how participants experienced the activities.
We also started working on Project II, improving our ideas based on feedback and learning from the previous day. This helped us understand the importance of continuous improvement in project design.
Day 5 – Sharing Circle & Projects II
The fifth day was dedicated to deeper group connection and reflection. We held a sharing circle where participants expressed their feelings, experiences, and learning moments from the week.
After that, we continued Project II development, improving our ideas and preparing them for final presentation. The focus was on collaboration, creativity, and teamwork.
Day 6 – Project Finalization & Preparation
On this day, all groups finalized their projects and prepared final presentations. We worked on structuring ideas clearly and making them ready to present on the final day.
It was a very productive day focused on teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Everyone contributed actively to bring their project to completion.
Final Day – Celebration & Reflection ❤️
The final day was dedicated to presentations, where each group shared their project with the whole community. We celebrated the results of our teamwork and creativity.
We also had a reflection session, where we discussed our personal learning outcomes, skills gained, and experiences from the week.
The program ended with a celebration moment, marking the end of an unforgettable journey of learning, friendship, and collaboration.
🌟 Final Reflection
This Erasmus+ experience reminded me that learning is not only about workshops and activities, but also about collaboration, community living, and shared responsibility.
Beyond the structured sessions, this youth exchange created meaningful friendships, inspiring conversations, and strong connections with young people from different countries.