HUNGARIAN HERITAGE SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS

Experience-based cultural competence and skills development workshop

July 23 – 27, 2026      

General information:

The five-day camp organized in Sáránd and Debrecen focuses on presenting elements of Hungarian cultural heritage. Learning about living traditions, understanding their spirit, accepting them, and passing them on takes place in a truly traditional Hungarian environment. The aim of the workshop activities is to develop creative skills (handicrafts, learning folk songs and dances in a community setting, cooking) and to deepen competencies related to the preservation of Hungarian culture and its identity-forming effect. The summer camp is primarily in Hungarian but English interpretation is available if necessary. The diverse programs, which run from morning to evening, provide participants with an opportunity to understand the origins, symbolism, and contemporary role of traditions.

During the workshops, highly qualified craftsmen and tradition-keepers share their decades-long professional and life experience with participants who thus acquire traditional craft techniques in a personal and active way and experience the everyday life of rural community life. At the same time, they will acquire the skills necessary for a higher level of practicing folk art, folk singing, folk dancing, and Hungarian gastronomy.

About the venues:

Sáránd is a village with a population of 2,260, one of the oldest settlements in Hajdú-Bihar County. It was first mentioned in 1219 under the name Sarang. The last two days of the summer camp will be held in Debrecen, the “most Hungarian city.”

About the camp:

The quiet rural environment consciously supports a break from everyday life, allowing participants to truly experience the calm, tradition-based atmosphere of the camp which offers experience-based learning and creative activities. Camp participants can see this rural environment transposed into a modern setting at the Tímárház in Debrecen and at the folklore evening organized by Debrecen Summer School on the university campus.

Due to the nature of the venues, participants actively take part in the entire daily schedule of the planned program (morning and afternoon workshops, evening community events). This means that they commit themselves to an immersive creative presence, engaging in group work, communal meal preparation, and the daily rhythm of community life.

About the accommodation:

In Sáránd, guests stay in a rural guesthouse with three 3-bedded rooms (extra beds are available for families or friends). The rooms have their own shower and toilet, and the building has a well-equipped shared kitchen and dining room. Guests can also use the wooden hot tub and playground in the garden.

In Debrecen, accommodation will be provided in modern conditions in double rooms at Kossuth Lajos Dormitory on the university campus.

About the activities:

Indoor and outdoor spaces are available at both locations for skills development workshops and other activities. Morning and afternoon creative craft activities include felting, embroidery, beadwork, gingerbread painting, pebble painting, but participants can also see interactive demonstrations of traditional crafts such as pottery, leatherworking, weaving, and lace-making. In connection with meals, you can join in the preparation of palócleves (a traditional soup), lecsó (a vegetable stew), kürtőskalács (a chimney cake), or rétes (a strudel). The evening community programs focus on learning folk songs and dances.

About the accompanying activities:

In addition to the workshops and community programs, participants in Sáránd can get to know the everyday life and atmosphere of a typical Hungarian village and the environment of the people who live there, while in Debrecen they can take part in a city tour and visit the main building of the University of Debrecen, which was completed in 1932 and is over 100 years old, one of the architectural gems of the region.

About the participants:

The summer camp will take place with a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12. The minimum age is 16. The program is designed for adults who

• have a connection to Hungarian culture, whether through personal roots or interest;
• want to learn more about traditional craft techniques and their cultural background;
• are interested in Hungarian gastronomy, enjoy cooking and tasting traditional foods;
• enjoy participating in creative activities (crafts, working together, learning);
• are open to community experiences and forming new relationships and friendships.

About the costs:

The cost of participating in the summer camp is €750 per person. The participation fee covers travel between Sáránd and Debrecen, all the workshops and other activities, accommodation, and three meals a day.

About the application:

If you wish to participate in the summer camp, click on Application icon, and fill in the Application Form.

Application deadline: June 12, 2026