Experiential Education Basics

In 2002 Sam Brüngger began to build treehouses with Outdoortech as a methode of EE. In 2009 the dutch YMCA implemented his methods. Out of this “Buitendoor” was founded. In 2013 the 1^st international treehouse camp took place during the YMCA Europe festival in Prague. As of 2021 there are more than 10 treehouse camp locations in Germany and Europe.

A treehouse camp is divided into two stages and takes between 7 and 14 days in total. 

1^st stage: Building a Treehouse
The goal is it to build a complete and habitable treehouse. During the building process the participants are challenged in many ways and can participate according to their skills and talents. This is also matched with their weaknesses and boundaries - there is a wide variety of work to choose between. The common goal of a finished treehouse helps the group to work together. In this stage the social skills of the participants are highly challenged. Besides good communication and teamwork, they get to know trust, independence and working methods. They are confronted with personal boundaries and wrestle with how to deal with them. This is facilitated during team reflection gatherings. 

2^nd phase: Living in a Treehouse
The participants make the treehouse as their own living quarters. After the “moving in” the treehouse is a home for the group. Cooking, eating, sleeping, and their community will be in the treehouse. During this phase participants can invent projects to improve the treehouse or build convenience items like benches. Creativity and self-discipline is required. What needs to be mentioned is that in this time is the limitation  and simplicity of room, that could be very challenging for some. The way of living together is now very different and requires a high amount of social competency.

Treehouse camps have developed over the years into a very efficient method of EE, because (physical and psychological) challenges don’t need to be simulated or created, as in training exercises. They naturally happen. A good reflection and transfer during the process facilitate participants in their learning and long-term personal development.