Four summers on: VitaCampus bids farewell to one generation and welcomes the next
This summer, one group of young people completed their four-year journey through the Vitamina Programme after taking part in every VitaCampus held in Batet de la Serra. Their story is one of the highlights of this year’s edition, which also strengthened partnerships with local initiatives across La Garrotxa. Since the first edition, more than 250 teenagers and young people have taken part in VitaCampus.
When the Besòs i el Maresme group arrived at Mas Comademont, in Batet de la Serra, this summer, it was not the first time they had walked across its volcanic meadows. It was their fourth visit. Four years earlier, they had been the first group to experience VitaCampus at this location. Now they returned to complete their journey through the Vitamina Programme, becoming the first cohort to take part in every edition held there.
From 30 June to 2 July, around thirty teenagers and young people from the Vitamina groups in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Sant Adrià de Besòs and the Besòs i el Maresme neighbourhood of Barcelona spent three days together learning, sharing and building community during a new edition of VitaCampus, the annual gathering that brings each Vitamina Programme year to a close. Once again, the event received support from the Girona Provincial Council.
La Batecada and the territory as a common thread
Each year, VitaCampus revolves around a different theme. In 2026, it was La Batecada, a story inspired by the history and volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa that encouraged participants to explore cooperation, collective decision-making and care for both people and the environment.
The main new feature this year was the strengthening of partnerships with local initiatives. One of the highlights was a nest box building workshop led by Roureda Mas Tarut, a youth-led project from Olot dedicated to restoring the meadows and oak forests of La Garrotxa.
As they built the nest boxes, participants also discovered how small actions can contribute to biodiversity and environmental conservation. The collaboration opens the door to new partnerships between the Vitamina Programme and local organisations.
Bonds that last
One of VitaCampus’ distinctive features is that some former participants return as AlumniVita, supporting new generations throughout the camp. Their closeness helps build relationships of trust that are difficult to create in other settings and is perhaps one of the clearest signs of the programme’s long-term impact.
One of the four young alumni who took part this year, who has been involved with the Vitamina Programme for almost a decade, explained that returning to VitaCampus allowed her to “see herself reflected in other participants”, realise how much she had changed and feel “very proud” of the journey she had made.
The experience also leaves a lasting impression on first-time participants. Asked what they take away from VitaCampus, their answers rarely focus on activities. Instead, they speak about “being able to express myself freely and without fear”, “meeting new people”, trying things they had never done before and learning the importance of communication and respect.
Perhaps that is the best way to understand what VitaCampus is. A place where some young people arrive for the first time, others complete a four-year journey, and some choose to return later to accompany new generations. A space to grow, build community and discover that cooperation is something best learned by living it.
