Like every September, we have an educational debate focused on what happens in the classrooms. And this year, even more so. A strike on the first day of school demanding more resources and support for inclusive education. PISA results marked by the scandal of the sample. But we often forget that a significant part of educational inequality is built outside of school hours. In the summer, in the afternoons, and on weekends. Some children accumulate activities, experiences, and connections; others, much less. And this difference also educates.Outside the classroom there is an opportunity that we are not yet taking full advantage of. Last July, Parliament unanimously approved urging the Government to guarantee a minimum of two weeks of educational leisure activities in the summer, with priority for children in the most vulnerable situations. A demand that a broad coalition of social, educational, and health organizations has been calling for for a long time. And the starting point is very unequal: the difference in participation in extracurricular activities approaches 40 percentage points depending on the mother's level of education.This very summer, Ivàlua published an evidence review on what works in educational leisure to combat child poverty. The results show that educational leisure can improve performance, social behavior, and children's self-confidence. We know, therefore, that it is worth guaranteeing. The question, then, is no longer whether it should be done, but how to ensure it really works.However, guaranteeing leisure does not only mean financing it. It is common to understand access as a matter of price: if the activity is free or there is a scholarship, the problem is solved. But we know that financial aid alone does not guarantee that children will participate. Because price is only one of the barriers. There is also information—knowing that the activity exists and that you have a right to it—, the procedures to apply for it, the offer available in your neighborhood or town, and family schedules. Not being able to pay is not the only way to be left out; there is also not being able to get there.But getting there is not everything either. Not every activity educates in the same way. Research shows that occupying a few hours is not enough: activities designed with educational intentionality, prepared teams, and stable bonds are needed. And continuity matters: results are more consistent when children participate in them on a regular and sustained basis. A spot is not yet an educational opportunity.Recognizing a right is a first step, but what matters most is that it can be exercised. And this also means avoiding the creation of a separate circuit for children with fewer resources. It is possible to prioritize who receives aid without separating where they participate. Catalonia can guarantee two weeks of leisure time and consider the job done, or ensure that it reaches exactly the children who are currently left out and that leisure ceases to be yet another source of inequality.

"A poem should always have birds in it," wrote the North American poet Mary Oliver in 1990. A lover of nature, and especially of birds, the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1984 spent decades carefully observing how cardinal eggs break or how chicks chirp demanding food. In her book Devotions she explains how she waited for hours for the arrival of the water thrush. Today, however, birdwatching has become an activity that, far from being practiced only in solitude, is also experienced in community.In Catalonia, more and more women are approaching ornithology through organized groups, collective outings, or small learning networks where, in addition to identifying species, they find a way to share knowledge and build community outdoors."At first, you learn much faster when accompanied, because someone can guide you and make you see details that you would overlook on your own. But it's also important to look at it yourself in the guide, internalize it, and then put it into practice," explains Jaroa López Carrasco, a conservation biologist and technician at Paisatges Vius, where she works to protect endangered species.López, an ornithologist since she was thirteen, became fond of it thanks to a bird guide she had at home and her first outings to the Llobregat Delta with her uncle. But, once immersed in this world, she realized that most of her hobby companions were men. "It continues to be a field in which men predominate, that is evident, but I increasingly see more girls and women interested in this hobby," assures López.A historically masculinized hobby

It's quite curious. All of us, or almost all of us, know the name of Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente. On the other hand, we struggle to remember the names of researchers, scientific illustrators, or conservationists who also dedicated their lives to birds and nature. For a long time, the main obstacle has been invisibility. Precisely to combat this lack of role models, Lechuzas Pajareras was born in 2019, an organization that brings together women dedicated to the study of birds, research, conservation, and the dissemination of nature."In some associations, women make up nearly 60% of members, but this is not always reflected in decision-making spaces. Many times we are more present in administrative or support tasks, while positions of responsibility continue to be occupied mostly by men," explains Uca Díaz, spokesperson for the organization.What began as a group of twelve women is today a network of more than 350 members throughout the State. "Creating community is very important. One of the most beautiful things is to share experiences and hear other women say: «It has happened to me too». This allows us to feel accompanied and to talk without paternalism".

]]>

“I’ll go back to studying, you can’t make a living from pétanque”. It’s practically impossible not to have come across this meme online, one of the most recurring of the last decade. If it makes you laugh, it’s because it plays perfectly on the absurd: a young boy appears who admits that making a living professionally from pétanque is very difficult. A game that, as everyone knows, is amateur and is only played by elderly people. Well, if we stick to reality, it shouldn’t amuse us in the slightest: not only are there tens of thousands of young people who play it all over the world, but there are also professionals who dedicate themselves to it, like the Aragonese Jesús Escacho, world champion and four-time European champion of the specialty.

]]>

First days of school and a long weekend in sight. That is why we have prepared a good collection of activities for the coming days, such as attending FiraTàrrega, where you will be able to see 57 shows by local and international companies; enjoying La Terrasseta in Tarragona, an independent festival with musical and contemporary circus proposals; listening to and reading stories at the 16th edition of the Medinyà Story Fair, and delving into Gaudí's imagination by visiting La Pedrera - Casa Milà, among others.

]]>

With the arrival of the holidays, it's time to plan a getaway or outdoor activity with the little ones at home. The search for summer ideas begins, allowing us to escape the high temperatures and avoid the sofa at the same time. We'll save the movie and popcorn plan for next winter, and now it's time to enjoy our surroundings, discover new landscapes, and get away from the urban routine. To make it easy, we suggest five ideas for simple routes and shady plans to do as a family.

]]>

If you already have holidays but are not travelling, Barcelona is full of activities that can satisfy our desire for leisure and disconnection. To change daily habits without having to make large expenses or undertake risky trips at a time of overwhelmed public transport, we propose some ideas below.

]]>

When we talk about health, we often think about habits related to diet or physical activity. However, we know well that health is a much broader concept that includes physical, emotional, social, and community dimensions. Today, in a context where data continues to alert us that children and adolescents are spending more hours in front of screens, doing less physical activity, having less healthy diets, and experiencing an increase in emotional distress, it is necessary to reinforce those spaces that contribute to their integral well-being.Summer camps and colonies are one of these privileged spaces. And precisely now, when school holidays are about to begin and the time for dolce far niente increases considerably, it is important to highlight the role they play in the health and development of children and adolescents. Because beyond being a leisure alternative when school ends, they offer educational experiences that have a direct impact on their present and future well-being.

]]>

At just fifteen days old, Bruna spent her first weekend in a house that, not long before, her parents and a dozen other families had jointly rented to share time and leisure. She is now twenty years old and, although she doesn't go as often as before, she is happy to have it available. “I remember the excitement of Friday afternoons, when I knew we were going,” explains Bruna, “we had a great time, we went on excursions and we had a cabin”. 

]]>

The school canteen service in public schools is always a cause for debate. The high cost of its management, menu policy, food origin, supervision... The fronts are multiple. The debate has been a constant for years everywhere and with a very clear trend: public administration, represented by the county councils, is progressively taking over the control and management of this service, despite the reluctance of some town councils and, above all, of students' families. Families criticize the commodification of an activity that they consider essential for the development of their children and demand more participation in its decisions. “It is a space that takes more than two hours and requires it to be well constructed, well accompanied, that it becomes a well-structured learning time to avoid conflicts,” argues the director of the Federated Associations of Students' Families of Catalonia (AFFAC), Lidón Gasull, who laments the prevalence of a “completely privatized and outsourced canteen system, which is not directly linked to the school”. A large part of the reasons for this reality is that the service, previously always managed by families or the schools themselves, is now mostly managed by school councils, which entrust it to private companies through public tenders.

]]>

The school canteen service in public schools is always a cause for debate. The high cost of its management, menu policy, food origin, supervision... The fronts are multiple. The debate has been a constant for years everywhere and with a very clear trend: public administration, represented by the county councils, is progressively taking over the control and management of this service, despite the reluctance of some town councils and, above all, of students' families. Families criticize the commodification of an activity that they consider essential for the development of their children and demand more participation in its decisions. “It is a space that takes more than two hours and requires it to be well constructed, well accompanied, that it becomes a well-structured learning time to avoid conflicts,” argues the director of the Federated Associations of Students' Families of Catalonia (AFFAC), Lidón Gasull, who laments the prevalence of a “completely privatized and outsourced canteen system, which is not directly linked to the school”. A large part of the reasons for this reality is that the service, previously always managed by families or the schools themselves, is now mostly managed by school councils, which entrust it to private companies through public tenders.

]]>

Of all the mistakes I've made in my maternal journey, of which there are many and varied, there has also been a great success: enrolling my children in the after-school club. It's the town's after-school club, called Globus Roig, and like all after-school clubs, they educate in leisure and, above all, they educate in something enormous: that the youngest have adolescents as role models who act as monitors, who play with them and take them on camps in exchange for nothing. Let's return to this concept so we don't overlook it. In. Exchange. For. Nothing. It is the maximum generosity in a world where adolescents have a reputation for not looking up from their phones and living in an infinite scroll without their own criteria. We value this refuge of young people who have decided to mortgage all their weekends and their holidays to be with our children. this refuge of young people who have decided to mortgage all their weekends and their holidays to be with our children.

]]>

This year, one of the research projects I served on as a panel for reached a fascinating conclusion, which I'll reveal at the end of this article. The project analyzed the range of leisure activities in Catalan aimed at young people. There was something for all tastes and ages. For the youngest children, there were musical and theatrical activities. These, of course, were chosen by their parents.

]]>

The Lemon class and the Strawberry class from a Barcelona school take their places on benches placed on the same stage. Teachers and chaperones ask for silence and order because the show is about to begin. "Don't tap your feet." "It's starting now." "Pay attention." "Xxt. Let's be quiet, please." Before them begins a simple and tender puppet show, with live music, careful lighting, and minimalist sets that transport them to a completely new universe: the life of Numa and the rag rabbit his mother gives him, with whom he lives imaginary adventures.

]]>

Rec.0, Igualada's emerging fashion festival, kicks off its latest edition tomorrow, Wednesday (and runs until Saturday). Now in its second year (since its debut in 2009), this autumn sees the addition of several new brands, some with international reach. Nike (through the Base store), the sportswear brands Salewa (Germany) and Dynafit (Austria), and the Italian boxing brand Leone are arriving in the capital of the Anoia region to join other multinationals that have long been associated with Rec.0, such as Levi's, Adidas, Converse, Puma, and New Balon. Despite the presence of these major brands, the organizers are emphasizing the importance of maintaining their identity as a local festival. They assert that 80% of their brands are still based in Catalonia, both small and large, citing well-known names like Brownie (also a new addition this year), Munich, Antonio Miró, Textura, and Punto Blanco, among many others.

]]>

The Ministry of Labor and Social Economy has stepped on the accelerator to implement stricter work time recording across the country. The Spanish government expects the text of the regulation, which is currently in the hearing phase, to come into force in less than six months and require all companies to ensure that their employees detail the hour and minute they begin and end their workday, as well as any breaks they take during the day. However, the leisure sector warns that, at least for now, this new regulation has forgotten its specifics, which could jeopardize school and family camps as we know them.

]]>

More heat, greater uncertainty, and technological changes. The broad amusement park sector, which encompasses everything from pure tourism companies to large industrial groups that manufacture roller coasters and arcade machines, looks to the future with these challenges in mind. It largely depends on economic and climate prosperity to survive. "We don't solve the world's problems, but we create very good memories," said Antonio Zamperla, CEO of the historic Italian attraction design company that bears his family name, regarding the sector's business.

]]>

It's time to open the venue, and the first to set foot in the Old Estrella Damm Factory have been waiting for a while. They are Anna and Vicenç, from Vilassar de Mar. They are repeat visitors; last year they were at FESTÍ FEST, the gastronomic festival organized by Diari ARA with Fira Àpat. A few steps away is another repeat visitor. He is Jon Garcia, better known as Jon CakeLast year, as they say, he stopped it. This year, he's also invented a cake especially for the festival: it's chocolate and hazelnut from Reus. It won't surprise anyone if by the end of the day it's one of the best-sellers. Like the kebab from Bien Kebab and the burger from El Filete Ruso. We'll see how the tiebreaker goes on Sunday, the second day of the festival.

]]>

Following the success of the first edition, we're back again this year. Next weekend, October 4th and 5th, we have a date at the Antigua Fábrica Estrella Damm (at 515 Rosselló Street, Barcelona). The newspaper ARA, in conjunction with Fira Àpat, has once again organized the FESTÍ FEST gastronomic festival. The first edition brought together more than 5,000 attendees, and with this year's planned program, the aim is to entice the public once again.

]]>

No festival is complete without a food festival, so we've rounded up some of the plans to fill your stomach during La Mercè, Barcelona's biggest festival. We've divided it up between drinks, teak, and dessert.

]]>

The Castilian word late It may be an English version after work, which defines the drink we have at dusk, after work or other obligations, is associated with wine and sparkling wine, not just beer. (It has been in our blood for thousands of years) the habits we abandon and those we adopt are very important; this activity I was talking about needs to be defined.

]]>