Camps, leisure and educational leisure: the continuous fight

BarcelonaIt had been brewing for a few years and, finally, the Generalitat has approved the Strategy for the Recognition of Associative, Voluntary and Community-Based Educational Leisure. In the liquid and associative fragility times we live in, having a new framework long claimed by scout groups and youth centers is, without a doubt, a step in the right direction.I was thinking of the late Carles Capdevila, just nine years after his death, poetic things in life… His mythical article "Entusiasme sospitós" humorously portrays who is behind this leisure: “Some strange beings between 18 and 25 years old who call themselves leisure leaders, or group heads. You will recognize them because they get dirty every Saturday afternoon in the dens setting up gymkhanas, they lose their weekends on excursions and they waste fifteen days in July going camping. They are not a sect and their will is totally constructive (oh dear, what an outdated concept). They are a complete anomaly in defeatist environments and decadent societies. Someone should stop them before they think of truly changing the world”.

I think Carles, a staunch defender of saying nice things, would have applauded this recognition of the immense, voluntary, and community-based work carried out by the more than 700 entities of long-standing educational associationism in Catalonia. At the same time, as a good journalist, I believe he would have asked them what they think. We know the answer from their joint statement: "We celebrate it with apprehension because a historic opportunity to support our work has been lost." They speak of good news and highlight direct improvements such as streamlining procedures, an interface space, or measures to protect camping grounds. And they point out the vagueness of historical demands such as premises or the use of public space.In any case, we must continue working to ensure a good implementation of the Strategy, which also includes actions that can have significant impacts on reducing transport costs with a future T-leure or on administrative support with a resource center. It is only fair to congratulate the drive of each and every one of the educational association entities that have made it possible.

Universalize the right to educational leisure

To continue moving towards the universalization of leisure, in its broadest sense and for all children and adolescents, this cannot be the only strategy. Last year, both the Parliament of Catalonia and the Ombudsman have demanded it. Educational leisure is a right recognized in Catalan laws that is key to equity, but which is not yet guaranteed: how many decades will it take to universalize it?In this regard, Parliament urged the Government to deploy a strategy prioritizing families with greater vulnerability and children with disabilities. It demanded a calendar and a specific allocation in the budgets to ensure that leisure activities are accessible throughout the school year and holidays.

In order for these educational opportunities to reach everyone in school with equity, inclusion, and non-segregation, it is vital to count on the diversity of actors. We know that an amalgam of public, associative, social, and private agents with a vocation for service are involved: scout groups and youth clubs, community projects or cultural centers and organizations that carry out all kinds of extracurricular or summer activities. Each has its own different associative logic, third sector (welcome the new law recently approved), or also economic activity of small and medium-sized enterprises. All are essential and co-responsible for reducing inequalities in this highly fragmented area lacking robust public policies.Thus, and with public leadership, we will be able to move forward together towards the universalization of educational leisure, which is neither a luxury nor mere entertainment. It is a source of vital learning and emotional and community well-being, and an antidote against unwanted loneliness and sedentary, consumerist leisure.And two afternoons of extracurricular activities during the school year and two weeks of leisure activities in the summer must be the minimum.Welcome the recognition of camps and leisure activities and we continue fighting to universalize the right to educational leisure.