A Spooky Start and The First 16 Meals
My workcamp experience actually began before the volunteers arrived. I had a sleepover at the Odolena Voda’s elementary school completely by myself. It felt like a horror game: empty corridors, strange noises, and just me trying to convince myself that everything was fine. I survived, although only on four hours of sleep.
Then my co-leader and the participants arrived, and suddenly the quiet preparation phase became something completely different. I’m not going to lie, the first day was stressful, especially because I had no idea how to cook for 16 people. But somehow, we managed. And not only did we manage, the food was actually really delicious.
That first successful dinner set the tone for the whole camp: even when something feels overwhelming at the beginning, you figure it out together.
Digital Detox and the Joy of Physical Work
One of my biggest personal discoveries was how much I enjoy hands-on work. Cutting grass, using tools, building things, painting, I truly loved all of it. (right after the workcamp I even went to a stage-building workshop, and enjoyed it more than any party!) There was something deeply satisfying about seeing a visible result after a day of physical effort. As someone who works with social media, I am usually expected to be constantly “locked in”: online, available, creating, posting, reacting. During the workcamp, I finally got to be locked out. I had a kind of digital detox. I only used my phone to communicate with the group, and it felt incredibly healthy.
Of course, the outdoor work came with consequences. We started working at 8 in the morning, the temperature these days was about 35 degrees, and the first 2 days we worked on a natural reservation without any sun coverage, so I got my first ever sunburn. Taking all these aggravating factors into account, I realised how much I like working with my hands and putting real physical energy into something. It gave me a sense of rest that scrolling or working behind a screen never could. And a nice tan 😉
Learning to Delegate and Trust My Team
Another important lesson was learning how to delegate. This has always been difficult for me. I tend to want to do everything myself, and asking for help or spreading responsibilities among people felt pretty unnatural for me. But in a group of 16 people, it is simply impossible to control everything. I had to trust others, give clear tasks, and let people take ownership. And I think I managed it really well.
Now, back in everyday life, I notice that I am better at receiving the support and sharing responsibilities. That is one of the most useful things the workcamp gave me, not just as a campleader, but as a person.
Leading Adults: Overcoming the Fear of Going Solo
Before this workcamp, I had been a campleader for children and teenagers for five years. Leading adults was a completely different experience. To be completely honest, when I found out that at some point of the camp I would be alone with 15 volunteers, because my co-leader will be away, I was scared. I had no idea whether I would connect with the group, whether they would like me, or whether I would be able to create the kind of atmosphere I wanted. But those days turned out to be some of my favourite parts of the whole experience.
In the end, I felt a really good connection with the volunteers. What made the group so special was how different everyone was. Each person brought a different personality, energy, and way of seeing the world. It almost felt like we had every possible MBTI type in one place. And maybe that was exactly why we matched so well: we complemented each other. I loved discovering everyone’s character day by day.
I also loved how proactive the volunteers were. When I worked with younger groups, I often had to initiate everything myself. Here, people offered ideas, took responsibility, helped each other, and genuinely wanted to be part of the camp. That made my role feel less like constant management and more like being part of a community.
A Blindfolded Walk and a Magical Farewell
One of the biggest highlights with the group was the final evening. My co-leader prepared the location – it was the hill in the back of the local church, offering a view of the city at night. The challenge for the participants was to get there – I was leading a line of completely blindfolded volunteers through the whole city. Just imagine how strange it must have looked from the outside. It was yet another test of their team spirit. When the group arrived and finally opened their eyes, we made a final reflection and exchanged private letters. Even though it was already cold, we could share our warmth with each other on paper. The combination of all these things was purely magical.
Discovering Odolena Voda and Our Local „Superman“
And finally, the place itself touched my heart a lot. Odolena Voda is a small town in Central Bohemia, only 30 minutes from Prague, and I would honestly recommend everyone to visit it. Despite its size, Odolena Voda has a very rich cultural life, and it is clear just how much collective effort has gone into developing this wonderful place.
Our local partner was the vice-mayor of the town, but we called him Odolena Voda’s superman, because of how much he did for us. He offered us activities from archery workshop and tasting of Czech cuisine to poetry evening, brought us ice cream on hot days, and made us feel welcome from the beginning. At some point, it felt like he was not only our local partner, but almost part of the group. The local community was amazingly inviting and open too. People were always happy to spend time with us. One of my favourite memories is our barbecue and fire together, the solar eclipse “watch party” and, of course, the food festival which allowed our volunteers to have a conversation with the locals through their national dishes.
More Than Just a Workcamp
This workcamp gave me more than I expected. It gave me confidence in leading a group of adults, a healthier relationship with my screen time, an unexpected ove for physical work, and a much better understanding of my leadership style. It was one huge detox from the everyday routine I used to have for several months. Someone once told me that “the best way to relax is to do something different” and Green Oasis in Odolena Voda was the best proof of this saying.
