STONE SOUP
A Playground for Experience Design
26-30 August 2026
Cobor, Transylvania
Somewhere between stories and reality
There are places you visit.
And there are places you step into.
This is that kind of place.
Stone Soup has been bringing humans together for the past 8 years, with editions across USA, The Netherlands, Romania and Australia.
Stone Soup is a co-created gathering where a group of people come together to build a shared experience from scratch.
Inspired by the old story, everyone brings an “ingredient” — an idea, a skill, a question, or simply presence — and together, something unexpected begins to take shape.
There is no pre-set program. We shape it together, day by day.
You are invited
You are invited to step into Stone Soup Romania 2026.
For a few days, we leave behind the usual structures and enter a space shaped by people, presence, and what unfolds between them.
Together with ~30 participants from different backgrounds, we will co-create a 5-day camp filled with experiences, conversations, experiments, and unexpected moments.
We create with and for each other — hosting workshops, designing small rituals, building dinner experiences, or simply showing up with curiosity and presence.
What happens
The experience is built by the people inside it. Some are prepared, others emerge on the spot. Some are quiet, others playful.
You might:
host a workshop
design a ritual
create a dinner experience
start a spontaneous game
or simply show up and take part
Some moments are loud. Others are almost invisible — but stay with you longer.
The Rhythm
Wednesday Arrival & Opening - Arrive in the afternoon and settle into the space. In the evening, we gather for the Opening Ceremony — the moment we step into the Soup together.
Thursday The Soup Begins - We begin shaping what this becomes. Workshops, experiments, and ideas begin to take shape as we co-create the day together.
Friday Deep in the Soup - The rhythm deepens. More experiences, more play, more unexpected moments
Saturday Closing the circle - We continue creating, while gently moving toward integration. In the evening, we gather for the Closing Ceremony — to reflect, connect, and complete the journey together.
Sunday Clean-up & Departure - Cleaning party. Slower goodbyes, last conversations, and the end of our temporary village.
Where we gather
Cobor, Transylvania, Romania.
A quiet village where time slows down. Old houses, open courtyards, wooden gates, and hills that stretch further than expected.
There are paths, thresholds, places to gather — and places to step away.
It’s the kind of place where things don’t need to be forced.
They just… happen differently.
This is not a venue.
It’s a living place that shapes the experience as much as we do.
Easy to reach from across Transylvania: Bucharest (4h) · Sibiu (2h) · Cluj (3.5h) · Făgăraș (30 min)
Closest airports: Brașov / Sibiu
Train: Făgăraș
Put the "oo" in food
Meals are prepared by a local kitchen using seasonal ingredients. All meals are vegetarian and take dietary restrictions into account.
But at Stone Soup, food becomes an experience. A moment where people gather, slow down, and create something together — not just to eat, but to share.
In small teams, participants design dinner/lunch experiences: shaping the atmosphere, the story, and how the meal is shared.
There is no such thing as a “regular dinner”.
Ticket prices
Stone Soup is not a business — it’s a community. No one profits, and all contributions go into making the experience possible.
The ticket includes accommodation, all meals, access to all experiences, shared materials, and a contribution to the scholarship fund.
Types of Tickets:
Shared room - A mix of shared double beds and single beds
Camping - Bring your own tent and stay on the land
Scholarship tickets - Limited spots available at 50% for those with fewer financial means
The people
Stone Soup brings together a diverse mix of designers, artists, facilitators, makers, thinkers, and explorers.
You don’t need to be an “expert”.
Curiosity is enough.
A small group initiates the space — and once it begins, they are part of the experience alongside everyone else.
Your fellow Soup stirrers — we started the Soup and now we’re in it with you:
– Elena Bucur – weaving structure
– Luisa Bulencea – shaping atmosphere
– Stelian Burduhos – keeping things running
– Paul Sfirlea – stirring the pot
– Flavia Dobre – tending connection
Principles
Participating in Stone Soup takes trust, curiosity, and a willingness to step into the unknown.
These principles guide how we create this space together:
Come As You Are (Curiosity & Inclusion)
You don’t need to perform or fit a certain mold. Be open, stay curious, and allow yourself to connect beyond привычa patterns or expectations.
Enthusiastic Consent
Join when it genuinely feels right. Say yes when you mean it, and feel free to step out when you don’t.
Do-ocracy & Shared Responsibility
If something matters to you, take initiative. This space exists through contribution.
Yes, And (Flexible Hierarchy)
Build on what’s there. Support ideas, add to them, and let leadership move between people.
Practical guidelines
Minimize device use in shared spacesThis is a sober spaceTake care of yourself and others
From previous Stone Soups
TESTIMONIALS
What other say about Stone Soup
““It’s hard to find words to describe how amazing Stone Soup is. The experiences, the people. So much fun, depth, play, expansion and connection. Love love love!” ”
““Imagine a retreat with no agenda— where the programming is brought in parcels by the other attendees to create a flexible, organic weekend with design thinking workshops & chakra balancing meditations on equal footing.” ”
““It’s amazing how little you need to create something beautiful with enormous impact.””
““If people sign up for some random, bottom-up improvised event, for its intrinsic value, well, then it is exactly the self-selected crowd I am looking for.” ”
““The prep work beforehand seemed intimidating […]. It turned out to not really be an issue since so much of it could be improvised once there. It’s a great environment to test out ideas and arrive with half-finished projects.” ”
““Of course all the experiences and workshops we did are standing out in my memory because they were amazing, but I also really appreciated the small and meaningful conversations I had with some people.” ”
FAQ
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In the classic tale, curious villagers each add a small ingredient to a boiling pot, transforming a simple stone into a shared feast.
That is the spirit of Stone Soup.
If you feel a calling for it, that is a good sign! Do you have the openness in your life right now to let new things in? Then Stone Soup is for you!
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At Stone Soup there’s no us and them, there is no distinction between organizer and participant, between creator and audience. We collectively contribute to each other’s learning experience. Workshops, experiences, and spontaneous adventures are all initiated by the participants themselves for one big exchange of skills, stories, and explorations. Come with something you’ve prepared or co-create spontaneously, don’t be afraid to show your talent and contribute in any way you like. What are you curious to explore and learn? What are you excited to share?
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After participants are known, we will figure that out together. But to give you an idea already, people will carpool together or go by public transport and get pick up by the closed train station.
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The applications for Waitlist are still open. If a spot opens up, we’ll reach out to you right away at the email you provided.
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Applicants for Stone Soup Romania '26 will be selected based on a combination of open applications and invitations.
We always make sure there are some spots reserved for people who have never attended a Stone Soup before, to keep our community open and evolving.
If more applications are received than available application spots, priority will be given to those who will be able to attend all days of the camp. If there are still more applicants than spots, a lottery will be conducted. -
We interpret experience design in the broadest terms as the act of intentionally creating an experience for other people. We design experiences of all kinds of genres, such as immersive dinners, rituals, guided walks, outdoor games, and participatory theater. But there are hardly any limits to the kind of moment or interaction we consider worthy of design - we’ve designed everything from an afterlife meditation to a castle basement rave, from a tasting competition to a cloud watching workshop. Experiences can be for an audience of 1 or for a large group, they can be scripted or improvised, can be involve tools & technology or just the senses. In line with our principles, we tend towards participatory & co-created experiences.
At Stone Soup a mix of professionals, hobbyists & enthusiasts come together, united by the intention to design and participate in a wide range of experiences. Together we play, explore and test ideas and reflect. We believe that everyone can be an experience-designer and so we embrace to have a colorful and diverse mix of people participating. -
Our cancellation policy is that we always aim to return your money in full, but that it depends on the expenses we’ve already made and whether or not we find a replacement for your spot.
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We believe that everyone can be an experience-designer and so we aim to have a colorful and diverse mix of people participating.
Stone Soup is not a conference or industry event and therefore there are no specific qualifications required in order to participate. The mindset and intentions you express in your application form will be what determines if you are a fit! Any background you have can be a valuable asset to co-creating meaningful and memorable experiences. -
No, everyone is welcome to apply.
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Yes, Stone Soup is not a business, it’s a community of experience designers. No one receives a monetary profit and all left-over money is offered to be refunded. Costs take care of the venue, groceries, creative supplies, venue insurance, miscellaneous, and scholarships. Transport is not included.
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Yes, we are fully mindful of food allergies, and the catering for the event at Stone Soup will be adapted accordingly.
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Yes you can.
We’re here to answer your questions
If you have any questions about the camp, reach out to us at stone-soup-chefs@googlegroups.com