Behind the Scenes of Summer: Moments That Shaped the “Minecraft: City Farmer” Summer Camp 2025

This summer, ICITY launched its first themed summer camp. Organizing a week for children filled not only with fun but also with learning, and making sure that every full day at camp was packed with impressions, was a real challenge. Summing up this summer’s experience, we are sharing with our readers some of the behind-the-scenes details — things that usually stay out of sight but without which the success we achieved would not have been possible.

About Communication

To foster friendly relationships, ICITY introduced emotional intelligence classes. However, in practice, what influenced the children just as much — surprisingly — were the air raid alerts.

— “The center has a comfortable shelter equipped with Wi-Fi, a TV, and a set of board games,” — says ICITY director Olha Borodulina. — “But, contrary to expectations, during the alerts the children were more interested not in the internet or their phones, but in Jenga, building towers, or playing Twister. These activities bring them closer together, nurture competitiveness, and spark the desire to express themselves. The key is to create the right conditions — the children will make the most of them on their own.”

About Meals

Meals are always a top concern for parents. The quality of ingredients and creativity of the menu matter most. It’s well known that children can be picky eaters and definitely don’t eat just anything.

— “We never had to persuade anyone to eat,” — recalls Olha Yermolina, ICITY designer who, during the summer camp, also successfully took on the role of senior counselor. — “As lunchtime approached, the children always had two questions: When are we going to ‘Celentano’? and What’s for lunch today? If they finished eating earlier, they spent time in the playroom. They nearly tore it apart, but by the next day everything was back in place as if nothing had happened.”

About Nature

At the Mykolaiv Zoo, active quests were held during the camp sessions to help children learn about the animals and their habits. Most importantly, the kids gained a unique experience in the so-called “tactile zoo.”

— “In winter, we successfully tested the contact zoo with ponies. In summer, we focused on turtles,” — says Olha Borodulina. “At the ICITY center, we have a hydroponics lab where we grow eco-friendly edible plants. Following the advice of zoo staff member Iryna Vyshnevska, the children selected ingredients that the turtles liked best, then prepared a salad from them and offered the turtles a taste. At the same time, Iryna explained the behavior and preferences of these animals. When else in life will you get a chance to touch the shell of a spur-thighed tortoise and feel like a scientist for a moment?!”

About Science

Among other activities during the weeks, the children visited the Local History Museum “Staroflotski Kazarmy.” The museum staff always approached the tours creatively, introducing the main exhibits as well as the plants in the museum courtyard, since environmental awareness is a priority for ICITY. They patiently answered the many questions that inevitably arose from the children.

— “When there’s a lot to listen to, children naturally start to get bored,” — notes ICITY instructor Yevhen Tsymbalyuk. — “Fortunately, the museum guides always found ways to redirect the children’s attention, encouraging them to ask questions and engage in dialogue. Most importantly, this helps cultivate curiosity about the world and history in the children, and perhaps this experience will spark their interest in learning more about the world and its past. We remember: knowledge cannot be imposed, but a genuine interest in acquiring it can be ignited.”

Starting in September, the main educational program will begin at the ICITY International Center for Innovation and Technology. We are excited that those who spent the summer with us are now joining as students. Enrollment for weekday and weekend groups is ongoing. Meanwhile, the center’s team is already developing plans for the upcoming camps — winter and, of course, next year’s summer camp.