From June 2-4, 2023, I had the pleasure of attending the TYPO3 Camp Berlin-Brandenburg - an unforgettable experience for every TYPO3 enthusiast. In this blog post, I would like to share my experiences and impressions I gathered during my first visit to the TYPO3 Camp. Let's dive into a world full of technology, knowledge, and exciting conversations!

Starting signal for the TYPO3 Camp Berlin-Brandenburg

The day I had been looking forward to for a long time had arrived - my first visit to a TYPO3 Camp. Together with my colleagues Benji and Carsten, I set off and after a five-hour train ride where we finally reached the main station in Brandenburg. From there we took the streetcar and went to the hotel where we checked into our room.

Unfortunately, we were a bit unlucky and arrived too late for the planned boat tour on the Havel and the city tour with the "Marktweib Christine". However, I heard from other participants that it was a wonderful and interesting experience. It was a pity we missed that, but the camp had much more to offer.

At 8 pm, we met at a restaurant for the Get2gether. It was a great opportunity to meet other participants and exchange ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. There were a variety of people with different backgrounds and levels of experience in TYPO3, which led to exciting conversations and increased the anticipation for the days to come.

After the Get2gether we decided to go to an old town pub that was recommended. We enjoyed some delicious drinks in a cozy atmosphere and exchanged our expectations and hopes for the camp. Finally, we made our way back to the hotel, knowing that the registration for the TYPO3 Camp already started at 8:30 the next morning. It was clear that the coming days would be full of exciting lectures, workshops, and discussions - an opportunity to expand our knowledge and make new contacts in the TYPO3 community.

Exciting talks and hilarious social night: highlights from the second day of TYPO3 Camp

The TYPO3 Camp took place at the “Technische Hochschule Brandenburg”. The exciting session planning started punctually at 10 am. It was impressive to see how well prepared the participants were for the event and how diverse the topics that were proposed were. Nearly 30 proposals were made, each of which was well received. It was encouraging to see the community so active and engaged.

There were also brave people who had specific topic requests for which sessions were then spontaneously organized. It was a great way to explore the diversity of interests and knowledge within the TYPO3 community. It was fascinating to see how the participants split up to the different sessions and came together in the rooms full of curiosity and enthusiasm.

The first session I attended was "Agency Speed Dating" with Daniel Fau. In a group of about 25 participants, we had the opportunity to introduce ourselves within one minute and then answer questions for one minute. It was amazing how much could be shared and learned in such a short time. Not only were professional topics discussed in this brief exchange, but personal interests and experiences were also shared. It was a great opportunity to get to know some of the 90+ attendees at the camp better and make new contacts.

One talk that had less to do with TYPO3 but still peaked a lot of interest was "Dealing with Burnout & Co" by Roland Golla. He told about his own nervous breakdown a few years ago and shared valuable insights on how to avoid burnout. His story was inspiring and encouraged attendees to take care of their own mental and emotional health. It was an important reminder that managing stress and overload is an essential part of a healthy work and lifestyle. Roland encouraged us not to overextend ourselves, but also to seek and accept help when needed.

Find the complete schedule here

In the evening, the Social Night took place, where participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas and network in a relaxed atmosphere. There was a selection of drinks and various activities such as air field hockey and table tennis to keep them entertained. There was also a photo booth where fun souvenir photos were taken. It was a successful evening that strengthened the cohesion and community within the TYPO3 community.

The second day of the TYPO3 Camp was characterized by exciting sessions, interesting conversations and valuable insights. It was impressive to see how lively and dynamic the TYPO3 community is and how much we can learn from each other. I was thrilled by the variety of topics and the openness of the participants to share their knowledge and experiences. With new inspirations and valuable input, I went into the last day of the camp full of anticipation.

Inspiring presentations and saying goodbye: Review of the last day of the TYPO3 Camp Berlin-Brandenburg

On the third and last day of TYPO3 Camp Berlin-Brandenburg, the morning started with the ever-popular ritual: coffee and breakfast. Strengthened and ready for the day, the participants met again for session planning, during which the remaining presentations and discussions were distributed among the various rooms. The selection of topics was diverse and offered something interesting for everyone.

Then, starting at 10 a.m., the sessions began, with experts sharing their knowledge and presenting new insights. From technical aspects to best practices, there was a wealth of information that inspired participants and made them think. The discussions and exchanges with other participants were intense and contributed to a lively atmosphere.

After the sessions, it was time for a joint lunch, which provided an opportunity to exchange ideas and network with other participants. Afterwards, we unfortunately had to say goodbye to the camp. We made our way to Brandenburg's main train station to take the train home.

The train was 2.5 hours late, which led to an exhausting and tiring journey home. Despite the exhaustion and the long day, however, the memories of the inspiring talks and valuable conversations at TYPO3 Camp Berlin-Brandenburg were fresh in our minds. Knowing that we had gained a lot of new knowledge and made valuable contacts, we finally fell into bed, albeit late, dead tired - with the feeling that our visit to the TYPO3 Camp had been absolutely worth it.