Madrid City Council has announced that, starting from the next academic year, schoolchildren in the capital will be able to stay overnight at the Residencia Nuestra Señora de la Paloma in Cercedilla as part of the 'Madrid, an Open Book' programme. The retreats will include environmental education workshops and will take place from Monday to Friday between October and June.
The nature classrooms of Madrid City Council in Cercedilla will no longer just be a destination for day trips. From the next academic year, schoolchildren in the capital will be able to sleep at the Residencia Nuestra Señora de la Paloma and participate in multi-day retreats with environmental activities. This was announced on Thursday by the delegate for Social Policies, Family and Equality, José Fernández, during his visit to the summer camp that the City Council is organising at the same venue.
An Immersive Experience in Nature
The retreats are part of the municipal programme 'Madrid, an Open Book', which offers complementary activities to the school curriculum. Until now, the three nature classrooms of the City Council (in Casa de Campo, Tres Cantos, and Cercedilla) only received daytime visits. The novelty is that the classroom in Cercedilla, located in the residence, will now offer overnight accommodation, allowing for a more complete experience.
According to the delegate, students will participate in practical workshops led by specialist technicians, tailored to each educational stage. The activities will be eminently experiential and will focus on understanding the natural environment of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Each week, one educational centre will enter on Monday and leave on Wednesday, while a second group will occupy the facilities from Wednesday to Friday.
We want the children of Madrid to connect with nature and learn to respect it. These retreats are a unique opportunity for that, José Fernández stated.
460 Camp Places This Summer
The Residencia Nuestra Señora de la Paloma will not only host schoolchildren during the academic year. At present, the centre is hosting the municipal summer camp, which runs in four shifts between July and August. In total, 460 children aged 6 to 14 are participating in sports activities, environmental workshops, and local excursions. The facilities include a private pool and garden, and this year a new feature has been added: the possibility of camping outdoors within the premises.
Of the total 460 places, 48 are reserved for students with special educational needs, ensuring inclusion. The second shift is currently underway (from July 13 to 24), with the following shifts scheduled from July 27 to August 7 and from August 10 to 21. The aim, according to the City Council, is to promote healthy habits, teamwork, and personal confidence through direct contact with nature.
Record Number of Places in Municipal Camps
The announcement of the school retreats comes in the context of a historic record of places in summer camps. For the second consecutive year, the City Council is offering over 41,000 places in various modalities: MadridCamp, Special Open Centres, sports camps in September, those in Cercedilla, and those organised by the districts. All of this is part of the 2024-2029 Birth Rate and Reconciliation Promotion Plan, which aims to facilitate family reconciliation during school holidays.
For parents in the capital, this expansion of offerings provides relief. While children enjoy outdoor activities, families can balance their personal and professional lives. Delegate Fernández has highlighted that the Cercedilla camp is one of the most sought after due to its privileged surroundings.
The school retreats, which will begin in October, will take place during the months of October, November, the first half of December, the second half of January, March, April, May, and the first half of June. Interested educational centres can apply for places through the 'Madrid, an Open Book' programme. The Government Board has already authorised the new management contract for the nature classrooms, which includes dining, laundry, and cleaning services for the overnight stays.
With this initiative, Madrid City Council is committed to high-quality environmental education that transcends the classroom and brings schoolchildren closer to the natural wealth of the Community of Madrid. And all just an hour from the capital.
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