A Culture of Mutuality – From Vision To Practice
Mutual Education Learning Lab 2026 in Austria
A unique space for us all who come together and build the learning environments we always dreamed of.
August 26 – 30, 2026
St. Johann im Pongau / Salzburg / Austria
About
The Mutual Education Learning Lab is a multinational, inclusive space for exchange and learning on mutual education, guided by experienced trainers who create the framework, hold space, and offer guidance, feedback, motivation, and input.
Our Labs are uniquely designed to provide both a structured and open learning environment. The Lab is an opportunity to share, explore, and learn together, giving you the experience of co-creating a life-enriching learning community and truly living the values of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) in an educational setting.
As a participant, you will join a dynamic team of experienced CNVC Certified trainers and educators dedicated to cultivating the field of Mutual Education. We share best practices and explore ways to implement NVC in learning environments.
The Team
- Gabriele Grunt, Austria
- Marianne Göthlin, Sweden
- Chris Rajendram, Sri Lanka
- Corrylaura van Bladel, Belgium
- Lina Schindler, Austria
- Manuela Hutter, Austria
- Andy Andrews, Austria
Schedule
August 26-30, 2026 (Wednesday – Sunday)
The Lab begins on Wednesday in the early afternoon and closes on Sunday after lunch.
During our time together, each full day will follow a gentle rhythm designed to support connection, learning, and co-creation.
Daily Flow
Each morning, we meet after breakfast—whether you stay at the hotel, at home, or another accommodation of your choice. This gathering helps us ground, orient, and reconnect with the day’s shared content focus. It’s where we set intentions and explore the foundational themes that will accompany us throughout the Lab.
Morning Sessions
In the mornings, our trainers offer parallel input sessions. Participants are invited to choose the sessions that resonate most. We also take into account the wishes and needs expressed at the start of the Lab, letting the group shape the offerings.
Afternoon Sessions
Afternoons open up space for everyone to contribute. These sessions are responsive to participants’ questions and real-life contexts—whether about bringing NVC into schools, working with parents, designing learning environments, or any topic connected to learning in broader settings such as universities, museums, camps, and more.
The focus is not limited to children—the full landscape of learning is welcome.
- Project Afternoon: One afternoon is dedicated to presenting projects with a focus on NVC and learning in practice. Schools, homeschooling initiatives, summer programs, and other learning environments are invited to introduce themselves. Please bring materials, flyers, or anything that helps others understand your project.
- Materials & Activities Showcase: Another session offers space to introduce your learning materials, tools, or activities—an opportunity for hands-on sharing and inspiration.
Meals & Catering
- Lunch and dinner will be served at the venue, fostering connection throughout the day and into the evening.
- Catering is organic and vegan, provided by BioChi in Schladming – all included in the package price.
- Snacks and drinks will be available throughout the day to keep energy and curiosity high.
Throughout the Lab, a large scheduling wall will help us keep track of sessions, additions, and emerging ideas.
Venue
Bildungswiese Montessori
Industriestraße 43a
5600 St. Johann im Pongau
Austria
The Lab will be hosted at the beautiful “Bildungswiese” Montessori campus, nestled about an hour south of Salzburg. Surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the Austrian Alps, the campus offers an inspiring setting for learning and connection.
The school welcomes children from age one up to twelve, and its facilities provide a warm and engaging environment for all. Public transport stops are just 1 km away, followed by a scenic walk along the Salzach River. If walking isn’t an option for you, please let us know—we’ll be happy to arrange a shuttle service to the venue.
Accommodation
Accommodation
You are free to choose your own accommodation and are welcome to book independently.
For your convenience, we have allocated rooms at the Hotel Brückenwirt, about a 2 km scenic walk along the river from the venue. This is also where the trainer team will be staying.
Special rates for Lab participants:
- Double room: €95 per person per night (including breakfast)
- Double room used as single: €116 per person per night (including breakfast)
- Overnight stay tax: approximately €2.50 per night
Special rates can be booked via email or phone. We will provide full booking details once you are registered for the event.
FAQ
The Lab will be held in English, direct translation into German isn’t planned, as it stops the natural flow of conversations. We will however try to accommodate the needs of the participants, with partial translations for individuals, or mixed language discussions (most trainers also speak German). Let us know what you need!
Public transport will shorten the distance between hotel and venue, with about 1 km (~ 10 min) walk along the river left. Please let us know if you need extra support (transportation) to get to the venue!
We cannot offer discounts at this point. Contact us nevertheless, so we can see how to make your attendance possible.
Participants are encouraged to stay for the whole event. We are planning to offer a free public session on Friday evening that can be attended separately. Stay tuned for details.
Friday: Open NVC Talk
On Friday, August 28, there will be a free session open to anyone interested. Details about this evening session will be announced at a later time.
Attend: Register Now
We’re thrilled that you’re joining us and excited to have you as part of our mission to bring mutual education into our environments.
Pricing
- Contribution for the Lab: €570–€1140 (fixed €800 if paid by employer/funding)
- Contribution for food: €200
Please find more details below. After completing your registration, you will receive further instructions by email.
Contact
Iff you have any questions, suggestions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact the organizers . We are looking forward to hearing from you!
Schreibe uns auch gerne auf Deutsch, wenn du Fragen oder Anregungen hast. Wir freuen uns, von dir zu hören!