Families Are so Welcome at the Gathering!
The Gathering is a family-friendly event where people of all ages are welcome to take part in the experience. We warmly encourage you to come with your children — this is a space where kids can explore, connect, and grow alongside adults.
At Nature Community, you’ll find that many families live and gather here year-round, so there are lots of children and teenagers on site — your kids will have plenty of peers to play and share with!
Kids’ and Teens’ Space & Programme
Our amazing Kids & Teens team is putting together a beautiful Kids’ and Teens’ Programme that runs in the mornings parallel with the adult workshops, offering a space for your children and teenagers to create their own “Dare to Trust” experience.
Each morning, the workshop holders will be present in the kids’ and teens’ space offering activities such as movement/games, bushcraft, theatre, crafts and more. We allow space for emergence and ultimately the collective present decides which activities they want to participate in that morning.
Each year, the children create a skit for the closing ceremony, where we dare to trust each other in the act of co-creation. We co-create costumes, write songs, choreograph dances and/or express our creativity in other formats. This tends to be our favorite part of the Gathering!
In the afternoons, the kids & teens space will be open for you & your children to play. There will be volunteers around to support with holding the space.
Are you passionate about nurturing the next generation within our ecovillage network?
Do you have knowledge and skills in leading kids or teens in movement, co-creation, education, group building, arts, crafts, bushcraft, or any other form of experience that you would love to share with the younger community members?
We invite YOU to be part of our Kids’ or Teens’ Programme at the European Ecovillage Gathering 2026!
As a token of appreciation for your contribution, we offer a Gathering Ticket (you still have to pay for the membership and food and accommodation). A discount code will be provided upon acceptance into the programme.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something truly special! Send in your workshop proposal and join us in co-creating unforgettable memories for our younger community members.
Thank You for Your Offerings!
Let’s create magic together! Apply by 31st March here!
Common Questions from Parents
Can I leave my child at the Kids & Teens space while I attend a workshop?
Yes, only if:
- You inform the team there
- Your child feels safe
- Your child knows where to find you
- Your child is wearing a tag with their language, your name and your phone number
- You remain available by phone
We will never force a child to stay at the kids & teens space and we don’t follow them around if they leave.
Whilst we’ll do our best to offer support, the responsibility of your child always rests with you.
What kind of activities will my child be doing during the mornings?
For kids, we’ll offer workshops such as crafts, sport, theatre, games, outdoors, etc.
For teens, we offer dedicated spaces where they can spend time, exchange, explore and follow their interests. There will be a special workshop stream designed for them with facilitators creating together with them.
Is there any childcare for toddlers or younger children?
We are looking into the possibility to organise this and will update this page if we’re able to offer anything.
Will there be shaded or quiet spaces for rest and breastfeeding?
Yes, they will be marked on the site map.
How can I contribute a workshop or activity for the kids’ & teens’ programme?
See our call here.
What safety measures are in place at the site?
The venue is an open (as in: non fenced) area with small quiet roads around. It’s important that you keep an eye on your child at all times.
Are meals included for kids, and do you cater to specific diets (vegetarian, allergies, etc.)?
When you book your food & accommodation with the Gathering host, Nature Community, you’ll be able to book food & accommodation for your children too.
All meals served at Nature Community are vegan. There will be gluten-free options at every meal. Common allergens will be labelled but we can’t cater to specific diets/allergies.
How do family sleeping areas work — can we camp together or near other families?
Yes, we’ll have a small family-camping area that is closer to the site and showers & toilets.
Where can I connect with other parents before the Gathering?
In the Gathering Telegram group, in the Kids & Family channel.
I’m a single parent, do you offer any support?
We recommend that you come with fellow community members as coming alone to the Gathering with your small children as a single parent can be a challenging experience.
If that is not available to you, please reach out to gathering(at)gen-europe.org to explore potential support.
In terms of tickets, do you offer family-packages?
We are considering this option for future Gatherings, but have not yet managed to implement this due to the complexity of our registration system.
However, thanks to a small German grant, our host Nature Community is able to offer discounted food & accommodation for single parents coming with their children. Reach out to info(at)nature-community.de
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
We will hold an online introduction for families on Thursday, 2nd July from 17:30-19:00 CEST. In this meeting, we will review site & safety, introduce the Kids & Teens team, and introduce the programme. Join via this link.