From Meadow Mowing to Team Leadership

When I am not sitting in front of code or linguistic data, you are most likely to encounter me somewhere out in nature with Hnutí Brontosaurus. I organize events there for young people, participate as an attendee, and help out wherever it is necessary.

In Brontosaurus, we combine meaningful work (such as mowing protected meadows or restoring castles) with experiential learning – that is, learning through games, followed by reflection. I thoroughly enjoy this mix. You get a good feeling from hard work, spend pleasant time outdoors, and grow in the process.

From an Idea to Returning Borrowed Scythes

This is best illustrated with a specific example. Last year, two friends and I conceived and organized a weekend event in the Krkonoše Mountains from scratch. To give you an idea of what it takes to spearhead such an event:

  • Leadership and Communication: I was in charge of coordinating our small team, communicating with the Brontosaurus headquarters, and promoting the event on the web and social media.
  • Organization and Logistics: I had to arrange the tool loans with people from the KRNAP (Krkonoše Mountains National Park) administration, secure accommodation, and purchase and transport food and materials for more than twenty people.
  • Group Facilitation: On-site, I coordinated the work on the meadow and led the final reflection with the participants.
  • Paperwork: Gathering receipts, filling out grant applications, writing up travel expense reports – that belongs there too.

The results were 20 satisfied participants, one mowed meadow, and a great lesson for me in how to see a project through from the very first idea to completion.

Developing a Course for Future Organizers

However, my involvement does not end with weekend events. I completed our course for organizators and have been part of the team that prepares this course for next participants for three years now. I arrange external lecturers, manage communication with participants, handle PR and marketing, and occasionally give lectures myself or lead team meetings.

What Does This Give Me in My Professional Life?

Volunteering provides me with an immense space for developing soft skills. It has taught me to lead people, take responsibility, not be afraid to present in front of a group, and above all – not to panic when things do not go exactly according to plan.

I believe that I can leverage these real-world experiences excellently within any professional team.