StuDEC 2026
9-13 of March
Poland
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StuDEC
Welcome to the official website of StuDEC 2026 in Poland. StuDEC is an international gathering of students from democratic schools.
Come join us if you want to:
- Meet great people
- Learn from each other
- Gain interesting experiences
- Learn English
- Participate in creating the history of democratic schools
Registration Fees:
EARLY BIRD
until 10.01.2026
830 PLN / 200 EUR
REGULAR
from 11.01.2026
950 PLN / 230 EUR
SPECIAL DIETS
meat-based, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free
+140 PLN / +35 EUR
Registration closes
on 28.02.2026
💜 We want StuDEC to be accessible to everyone. If the cost is a barrier, please contact us before January 7, 2026 at [email protected]. We’ll let you know by the end of January if we can support your participation.
Practical info
✅Dates: 9-13 of March 2026
✅Location: Ośrodek Wypoczynkowy MIKOMANIA
✅Surroundings: We will be surrounded by the stunning nature of Bory Tucholskie, one of Poland’s largest forest areas. Tall pines, clear air and the nearby Charzykowskie Lake create a peaceful setting perfect for walks and relaxing time in nature.
✅ Accommodation
We will stay in large hotel pavilions, in 2-, 3-, and 4-person rooms with private bathrooms. Bed sheets, towels, and electric kettles are provided in each room.
Please indicate your accommodation preferences on the registration form.
✅ Facilities
The venue has football, volleyball, basketball, badminton and tennis courts, trampolines, a playground, and a bonfire circle. There is some Nordic walking equipment. Indoors, we can play billiards, table tennis, and “table football”. There are several spaces for meetings and activities. Fishing is permitted in the lake, but you must bring your own equipment. There is WiFi at the venue — although it may not be very strong, as we will be in the middle of a big forest!
✅ Meals
Vegetarian meals are served three times a day in a buffet style. Other options are available — including vegan, lactose-free, gluten-free diets or a traditional (meat-based) option. Just let us know your needs in the registration form.
Please note that these special dietary options require an additional fee of 140 zł / 35 euro (for the entire event, paid together with the conference fee, regardless of how many diet options are selected).
✅ Weather
In Poland in March, the weather is still quite cool and changeable (W marcu jak w garncu – “March is like a pot of mixed ingredients”) — it’s the transition from winter to spring. Average daytime temperature: 3–10°C, Average nighttime temperature: -2 to 2°C Typical weather: cloudy days, some rain or light snow, occasional sunshine. It’s good to bring warm clothes, waterproof shoes, and layers — it can feel cold, especially in the mornings and evenings.
BRING SOME SNOW TOO 😉
✅ Transportation
Once your registration is complete, when it is closer to the date – we’ll send everyone information about the transportation options by email.
Nearest train station: Chojnice
Trains timetable: rozklad-pkp.pl/en
Nearest aiports: Gdańsk, Poznań, Bydgoszcz, Warsaw.
✅ Arrival & departure
The event starts on Monday, March 9, with dinner at 18:00 and Opening Meeting afterwards. Registration is open from 15:00. StuDEC ends on Friday, March 13, with the Closing Meeting (until 11:30).
✅ Programme & Activities
The magic of StuDEC lies in the fact that you never fully know what to expect – much of the program comes together spontaneously. However, if you want an idea of what has been available in previous years, what participants have experienced, or what we currently anticipate, here are some examples:
First Day – Integration – games and activities to help everyone get to know each other.
Cultural Night – dance, songs, language tongue-twisters, presentations, or just a glimpse into participants’ cultures. (You can prepare something in advance to share a piece of your world.)
Talent Show – showcase something you enjoy or are passionate about, or simply anything you want. Any format is welcome.
Workshops / Creative Activities / Discussions – ecology, fast fashion, DIY T-shirts (for example, we were signing each other’s shirts with fabric markers), henna, RPG, fantasy world-building.
Games and Fun – Werewolves and all kinds of board and card games. (Last year there was even a sword-fighting tournament and a sword-making workshop – awesome, right?)
Outdoor Activities – trips to the forest and lake, mountain trips (e.g. Witosza near Sofia), bonfires, and in 2025 – sledding.
across the top, the times along the side, and the different locations we can use. You simply place your activity in the time and place you choose. People who are interested can then go to that spot. Everyone picks the sessions that interest them, decides whether they want to lead something or join one, and there’s no obligation to attend anything you don’t feel like participating in. Simple as that
✅ Co-Creation!
The Open Space format works around a shared board divided into days, time slots and places. Each day anyone can add an activity they’d like to offer in one of the spaces available at the venue. The board shows the days across the top, the times along the side, and the different locations we can use. You simply place your activity in the time and place you choose. People who are interested can then go to that spot. Everyone picks the sessions that interest them, decides whether they want to lead something or join one, and there’s no obligation to attend anything you don’t feel like participating in. Simple as that
✅ Languages
English is the main language at StuDEC — but don’t let that scare you! You’re welcome even if you’re not confident in English. Our community is friendly and supportive, and we help each other communicate. Most of us are not native English speakers, so your openness and willingness to communicate are more than enough.
Registration
Who can register
StuDEC welcomes students from democratic schools and recent democratic school graduates. Students — please make sure that at least one staff member from your school joins you. If you are an adult graduate of a democratic school, you are welcome to come on your own.
Registration form
Please complete the online registration form. After sending the form, you will receive confirmation of pre-registration via email with further instructions, including payment details.
Payment
The participation fee must be paid within 7 days of receiving the pre-registration confirmation email.
Participation agreement
After you register, in 3 days you will receive an email from Autenti platform with a participation agreement that must be signed electronically (don’t worry, it’s easy!). If you are under 18 years old, it’s your Parent or Legal Guardian who signs the agreement. It also must be done within 7 days of receiving it.
Registration confirmation
When we record your payment and see signed agreement – voila! You are registered! We confirm this by a final email.
FAQ
StuDEC is an international gathering of students from democratic schools across different countries. It’s a space where participants can share perspectives, spend meaningful time together, and co-create the event through an Open Space format. StuDEC encourages connection, cultural exchange, and openness to diverse viewpoints. Every participant can contribute — by offering workshops, proposing activities, or starting discussions. The event is shaped collectively by the community itself.
Students’ Democratic Education Conference
The core idea of StuDEC is to create a space where students from democratic schools can have fun together, connect, and build meaningful relationships — while also exchanging perspectives and learning from each other. StuDEC is about community, shared experiences, and the joy of meeting people who understand democratic education. It combines the spirit of fun with collaboration, equality, and student agency — values at the heart of democratic education.
The idea of StuDEC was born in 2022 at the Summerhill Festival in the UK. There, a group of people noticed that young people’s participation in both European and international democratic education spaces was very low. Even though young people are the protagonists of democratic education, the potential these spaces hold for them was being left unexplored — or even forgotten.
— Paula, co-founder of the first StuDEC and alumna of the Free School Leipzig (Germany)
In 2024, a group of students, alumni, and a teacher from the Free School Leipzig in Germany came together to organize a student-focused gathering for young people in democratic education. The goal was simple: to have fun, connect, and feel part of a wider community. In many countries, democratic education is not the norm, and students often feel judged or distant from peers in traditional schools. But democratic education exists all over the world, so using networks like EUDEC or IDEC is a great way to share experiences and celebrate being together.
— Paula, co-founder of the first StuDEC and alumna of the Free School Leipzig (Germany)
StuDEC 2024 turned out to be a wonderful event, bringing together around 120 participants from various European countries. The Freie Schule Leipzig was the perfect place to host it. There was baking, dancing, debating, and drawing — and nothing topped the talent show on the final day.
— Paula, co-founder of the first StuDEC and alumna of the Free School Leipzig (Germany)
In 2025, a group of students and teachers from the Democratic School Sofia decided to bring StuDEC back to life. This time, around 90 participants gathered in the snowy and magical Vitosha Mountains. Alongside hiking and skiing, the event was filled with board games, dancing, sword-making, and even sword battles!
— Paula, co-founder of the first StuDEC and alumna of the Free School Leipzig (Germany)
This is the third edition of StuDEC.
- The first StuDEC was held in Leipzig, Germany, in 2024.
- The second StuDEC took place in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2025.
- The third edition will be held in Poland, from 9–13 March 2026.
StuDEC 2026 welcomes students of all ages. We considered all the pros and cons and decided to keep the event open to everyone. We trust that people who come are the ones ready for this experience. In the last 2 years, most participants were teenagers, between 13 and 18 years old.
If you are a student of a democratic school, you may come on your own — but please make sure that at least one adult staff member from your school is also attending the event. If you are an adult graduate of a democratic school, you are welcome to come on your own.
Each democratic school taking part in the event should have at least one Group Leader attending with its students. The number of staff should be appropriate to the size of the group and to the individual needs of its members; however, not less than one staff member per 15 students. There will be also a few adults from Bullerbyn Foundation supporting the organization of the event, and hopefully some EUDEC representatives as well!
The Group Leader is an adult staff member who supports students from their democratic school during StuDEC. The Group Leader also helps ensure safety, coordinates communication with the Organizer if necessary, and acts on behalf of minors in emergency situations (based on the Parent’s authorization).
Yes, because the registration form requires you to provide your Group Leader’s full name and email address. We want to contact Group Leaders by email regarding your group arrival, accommodation in rooms, special needs etc. So please make sure they agree to have their personal data shared with us.
Yes. After you submit the registration form, you will receive an email with a participation agreement. The link from this email will send you to Autenti platform, where you can sign the document electronically. It must be signed within 7 days. If you are less than 18 years old, the agreement must be signed by your Parent or Legal Guardian. Your registration becomes valid only after the agreement is signed, and the participation fee is received.
After receiving an email confirming your registration, you must pay the participation fee within 7 days. Participants from Poland receive a Fiberpay payment link. Participants from other countries receive bank transfer details for payments in EUR.
Cancellations must be sent in writing to: [email protected] You will receive a refund minus the administrative fee (55 PLN / 15 EUR). If you find another suitable person to take your place – you can transfer your reservation without losing your payment. If you do not attend StuDEC but did not cancel in advance, no refund is available.
Participants who live permanently in Poland are covered by the Accident Insurance (NNW) during the Activity. Participants from other countries are advised to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or private travel insurance.
Not necessarily. After registration, you will receive a photo/recording consent statement by email. If you or your Parent (for minors) do not give consent, you will receive a visible marker to wear during the Activity so that we avoid taking and using your image. Lack of consent does not affect your ability to participate.
Yes. If any information changes (diet, contact details, Group Leader, travel plans, etc.), please email us at [email protected] as soon as possible.
No worries, the venue provides all bedding.
Accommodation is provided in gender-specific rooms. In the registration form we ask about the gender, and it’s possible to select “male”, “female”, and “another gender / prefer not to say”. Participants can also choose to be accommodated in a room with people from their school whom they know, to ensure comfort and safety. We will coordinate rooming arrangements with Group Leaders.
Please contact the organising team at [email protected]
Organizers
- Organized by:
“Bullerbyn” Free Democratic School – Fundacja Bullerbyn na rzecz wspólnoty dzieci i dorosłych.
With support form: EUDEC
- Contact:
- Follow StuDEC on Instagram:
- Fundacja Bullerbyn
GALLERY
Our memories from StuDEC 2025 in Bulgaria
