A Day in the Life of a LARPer

What are LARP camps?

A LARP camp is more than just a vacation – it’s a full-on adventure lived in real-time. Imagine a world where your child doesn’t just listen to stories, but becomes part of one. They make decisions, help others, hunt for clues, feel emotions, learn teamwork – all within a world of fairy tales, legends, and epic quests.

LARP (Live Action Role-Playing) is a type of role-playing game where participants become characters – similar to theater, but without an audience. The children don’t perform “for someone,” they create the story together with peers and adult guides.

It’s a world where a paper sword can defeat a monster, a spoken word can be a spell, and imagination is the only limit.

A LARP camp means:

Learning through doing – kids develop independence, logical thinking, teamwork, and emotional resilience.

Adventure in the real world – far from screens, close to nature, with maps, tasks, riddles, and surprises.

A safe space for self-expression – you don’t have to be “someone important” to be a hero. Everyone has a place and a role to play.

For the youngest – like at the Urwis camp – everything is adapted to their age, abilities, and emotions. The vibe is more fairytale than dark fantasy, the rules are simple, and counselors are always nearby. Kids can immerse themselves in their character – but more importantly, they can simply be themselves: curious, joyful, and ready for adventure.

Magdalena Baraniak: First Camp

We always tell curious parents – only they know their child well enough to judge whether it’s time for an independent trip. More importantly, only they know if they are ready to let their little one go. Often there’s enthusiasm and excitement, but come evening – a call from mom, a wave of homesickness or memories – things can snowball into little dramas, tearful demands to go home.

That’s where the Urwis storyline becomes our ally – capturing the kids’ attention, engaging them in a story they care about because they are part of it. Our second ally? Good old-fashioned exhaustion from active outdoor play.

We can’t promise your child won’t miss home – that’s completely normal! – but we definitely have great tools to gently shift their focus away from homesickness.

What age is best for a LARP camp?

For many children, the ideal age for their first LARP camp is 8–10. At that age, imagination is thriving, and the thirst for adventure is huge. Ten-year-olds are usually independent enough to handle tasks and story-based challenges, while still loving the joy of roleplay. The youngest groups, like Urwisy, are designed specifically for children aged 8–13 – with simplified rules, a fairytale atmosphere, and constant, nearby supervision.

Magdalena Baraniak: Acting? Living it!

Among older LARPers who are used to this kind of game, there’s often some distance between themselves and their characters – a calculated portrayal of what the character should be like.

But our younger participants – especially the Urwisy – don’t really overthink how their character should act. They just are – they experience the situations and emotions of their characters as if they were their own. Honestly, we often envy them for this – it’s a gift that allows them to live the adventure rather than just act it out.

The line between make-believe and reality blurs completely, and what remains in their memory is something they really lived through – they defeated a monster, took part in a ritual, fought in a battle. No other activity creates memories quite like this.

A Day in the Life of a Camper

A day at Urwis is more than a schedule – it’s an epic tale that plays out from morning to night. From breakfast to nighttime watch, the children are part of events within the storyline – hiking, tracking, learning magic, negotiating with locals, and facing off against monsters (the friendly kind).

Everything moves at the right pace – no rush, but no boredom either.

Unlike camps for older kids, the Urwis day is gentler and matched to the abilities of younger participants. Hikes are shorter, nighttime missions are less intense, and counselors are always close. The emotional stakes are high, but carefully balanced to avoid overwhelm. A ten-year-old doesn’t need to know complex rules or the whole game world – just a desire to play and a little courage.

At Urwis, every child – whether 8 or 13 – has a chance to be a hero. A day that starts with a simple breakfast might end with saving a village, finding a lost artifact, or… discovering that the dark isn’t so scary when your friends are standing by your side.

Magdalena Baraniak: Non-Stop Storyline

Many organizations offer LARP camps – and they’re undoubtedly awesome and creative. But (probably) only we are crazy enough to stay fully immersed in the LARP world for days without a break. At both the older and Urwis camps, the adventure never stops – night watches, visits from orcs or goblins might happen in the middle of the night or during lunch.

This way, for a few days, the fictional world becomes more real than reality itself – and the player stops pretending to be the character and simply becomes them.

Why go to a LARP camp?

A LARP camp is a unique opportunity for a child to experience an unforgettable adventure that blends fun with personal growth. By participating, kids learn collaboration, creativity, decision-making, and how to manage emotions in various – sometimes challenging – situations. Immersed in the story, they develop imagination, group work skills, and a sense of responsibility, all in a playful environment, far from screens and daily stress. Plus, LARP camps – especially those for younger kids – are tailored to their age and abilities, offering just the right dose of excitement in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

It’s also a great chance to make new friends and share unforgettable moments.

Magdalena Baraniak: Friendships for Life

Maybe it’s the nature of LARP emotions, but camp friendships among “Silberbergers” often turn into lifelong bonds. Our participants – the first ones played in the world of Silberberg back in 2004 – now span several generations. You could say it’s become a whole community, and many of those friendships last for years, even long after they stop coming to our camps.

Even if someone goes to a LARP camp alone, without knowing anyone – there’s a good chance they’ll leave with a few battle-tested friends.

Magdalena Baraniak (Tourism & Adventure)
Photo: Kortunal