Even though internet trends keep changing—new games, different influencers, new slang—that desire has stayed constant across generations. But connection doesn't just happen on its own.

When the teenagers arrived on the first day of camp, things were, as always, a little awkward. New faces. Nobody knew each other. "I felt traumatized... no, not traumatized... you know, that thing before performing... stage fright!" one participant later admitted.

So, naturally, the first two days focused on getting to know one. Names, hobbies, hometowns, favorite foods. It's fascinating how quickly people connect when they're trying to complete a name bingo card and need to find someone who's received a school detention. We found one. We also found someone who had been to Spain, and someone who enjoys ironing.

Starting a conversation with strangers is always a bit uncomfortable. You have to approach someone, say something, listen, and respond. What stood out this year was how much respectful courage our participants showed toward one another. It felt as though they understood that camp was an opportunity to find real friends—and they took that opportunity seriously.

As the days went by, those first conversations naturally grew into friendships. We held teamwork workshops where participants rescued injured scientists from a fictional laboratory, and we cooked together during our MasterChef activity. The menu included quiche, cheesecake, customized oatmeal bowls, and even stuffed peppers.

Food has always been one of the strongest parts of our camp. Delicious and prepared with genuine care, it's honestly one of the reasons I keep coming back every year. The cheese burek from Magolnik. The creamy chicken pasta at Dominikov dom. I could probably describe every single camp through its iconic meals. This year was no exception.

Beyond cooking, we also hiked to a nearby observation tower and took part in our now traditional Escape Room/Treasure Hunt. This year's adventure led participants into an abandoned castle, where they had to solve puzzles to reach a chest secured by four different locks. Eventually, everyone made their way down into the dusty cellar. What they discovered there—besides the locked chest—is a story only they can tell.

A large part of camp life was simply spending free time together. This year we made great use of the nearby sports fields. We played volleyball, football, and even ultimate frisbee, which two participants introduced to the rest of us. I love moments like that—whenparticipants shape the camp with their own ideas. When the camp stops being just ours and truly becomes theirs as well.

We spent our final evening gathered around a campfire. Once again, the evening activities couldn't have been more diverse. Some participants played the final chapter of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign they had been running every night. Others sat in a circle trying to figure out who was lying during a game of Werewolf.

Before all that, though, we shared dinner outside by the fire and you could see that the desire to get to know each other had turned into action. There was laughter, small groups chatting, pancake-eating contests, discussions about K-pop, and plenty of time spent playing with Rune, the neighbor's friendly dog.

On Saturday morning, before cleaning up and heading home, we sat together one last time for our closing circle. It was one of those quieter circles where everyone takes their time speaking, and nobody minds the silence. There was laughter, there were tears, there were suggestions for improving the camp, and above all, there was a shared wish to return next year. But one comment stood out.

"I made a friendship," one girl said.

The participant sitting beside her couldn't stop smiling. She simply nodded warmly.

"Me too," she replied.

Connection doesn't happen by itself. We create it. Our role at camp is to build a safe environment where connection is possible. But the difficult part—the first step—is still taken by the young people themselves.

And that's the most beautiful part of the camp.

Watching those seemingly small but actually enormous acts of courage: "Want to join us for Uno?" "Anyone up for football?" "So... how did your parents convince you to come here?" And, by the end of camp, hearing: "See you at the concert next weekend!"

I've been at this camp for eight years, and Logout has been organizing it for even longer. Yet every year it becomes clearer that, despite different groups and changing generations, young people's needs and wishes remain remarkably similar.

See you next year, Zaplana.

Different teenagers. The same nervous excitement. And a whole new set of connections.