Curiosity Unleashed
27 May - 1 June 2025
Venue & Practicalities at Touch&Play Cologne 2025
Our Home
The gathering will take place in the seminar house “Auszeit Eifel” in Gemünd, about 70 km to the south-west direction of Cologne, not too far from the dutch and belgium borders. It’s located on a hill overviewing the valley adjoing the national reserve Eifel with its more than 110 km² of forest and open country.
COMMUN SPACES
The venue is equiped with big community spaces and functional common areas for various themes which will be enchanted with some extra glow by our team and a generous, private outdoor area for sunbathing, bonfires etc..
ACCOMODATIONS
The accommodation consists mainly of spacious dormitory rooms (8-10 beds) with big windows and nice views. In a limited number it’s also possible to book shared rooms containing 4 bunkbeds or to sleep in your own tent or van.
In addition we offer three vacation apartments as a more luxury and private option for small families or couples/friends. These include private bathrooms and kitchenettes.
GETTING THERE
Haus Auszeit, Eifel, 53937
The location can be reached by car from Cologne within one hour (we highly encourage ride share!) or with public transport by train and bus.
We’ll be offering a rideshare board in advance to the festival for quests and offers.
Directions
The closest train stations are “Kall” and “Heimbach”. If in demand we’ll try to organize a low cost shuttle from there to the venue on the day of arrival and closure. However you can also take a bus from there to “Schleiden Dürener Str” and take a 7 min walk to the venue.
The closest airports is “Cologne/Bonn”, for overseas travel also “Frankfurt” might be a good option as it has good train connections to Cologne.
Nourishing Meals
There will be three fresh organic vegan/vegetarian meals per day and a midnight snack.
Practicalities
NEW IN TOWN?
Welcome! Please read the welcoming document 🙂
GUIDELINES
And for old cats and new comers: Community agreements
WHAT TO BRING
Personal items to enjoy and be comfi: Sunny days, cold nights. insect repellent, toiletry bag, rain gear, dance clothes, dress-up costumes, cash, earplugs, towel, slipper or comfi shoes, water bottle, journal an pencil, contact cards, headlamp, a book, toys, etc.
ARRIVING & DEPARTURES
Arriving & Registrations: 15:00 – 27th of May
Departure: 15:00 – 1st of June
Times for teachers and collaborators
Soothe and Care team members will need to arrive by 15:00
Teachers and work-exchange arrival: 26th of May
FAQ
Visit our FAQ
CONTACT
cologne@touchandplay.org
Economic contribution
By investing in T&P, you’re not only investing in your own personal growth but also supporting a family-owned project built on conscious values. Behind this initiative is a dedicated team that genuinely cares about community, the environment, society, and creating meaningful experiences for everyone involved.
We love what we do, and we continually reflect on how we can better contribute to life, and, in the process, make the self-help / woowoo / new age industry a real more conscious and thoughtful space.
To make these experiences possible, a core team of over five people works behind the scenes year-round, along with various external collaborators. Additionally, an onsite team will be available throughout the seven days of the event, guiding us as we dive deep and rise up together.
TICKETS
To reserve your ticket you will make the downpayment for your accommodation and food, which is non-refundable. The additional price for the participation in the gathering will be paid in cash upon arrival. For the event we offer a sliding scale.
We offer a range of pricing options to accommodate different economic realities. Our goal is to make T&P accessible to as many people as possible while maintaining the quality and integrity of our offerings.
More info at the registration page
Donations
When registering, you have the option to make a donation. Those extra contributions go into the T&P Equity and Access Fund, which provides reduced tickets for those in financial need. Priority for these subsidized tickets is given to individuals from marginalized groups and local community members. By contributing, you help expand access to this transformative experience.
REDUCED TICKETS
We are also offering a limited number of Subsidized tickets with previous application as well you can apply to contribute as a Work-Exchange participant.
Assistant team
To support the retreat from within and to lower the cost of the retreat for those who need that, we offer the opportunity to join our Work-Exchange assistant team.
To be considered, please fill out the application form below.
Access & Inclusion
We are offering a limited number of subsidized tickets for people with economic needs. Various criteria are considered when distributing these tickets, giving priority those from marginalized groups.
To be considered, please fill out the application form below.
Touch&Play gatherings are co-creations that emerges from an intimate collaboration between the curation team, and the teachers, artists, helperse team and participants that join the retreat. We’re an experimental container and open to inspiring off-beat ideas that can support the wider Touch&Play exploration of the Relation Body.
Your presence
We frame out spaces as being both Experimental and Experiential and invite you to be the principal author of your journey. Through that lens we give the opportunity to contribute to and enrich the journeys of those around you. We form an (a)temporal and interdependent community where all our thoughts, feelings and actions are woven together in a rich relational web.
How do you want to show up in this tribe and what do you want to offer? How do you want to participate and what would you like to contribute?
As you immerse yourself and become familiar with our practices and culture, you will see many ways of adding your flavour.
Community Care
OFFER SUPPORT & FEEL SUPPORTED
Touch&Play can be an intense and introspective experience. While it has often therapeutic qualities, this is not a psychotherapeutic space and we kindly request all participants to arrive prepared to manage their own triggers, there are ample opportunities within this pulsating environment to connect, feel supported, and extend your support to others.
What's the Soothe & Care Team?
When you register you will be asked if you want to be part of the Soothe & Care team.
In order to create a safer container we invite volunteers (participants, teachers) to form part of the Sooth&Care team. This means contributing a little of your time supporting participants in processing their experiences by (e.g. co-regulation, deep listening, being present, finding a container for emotional release). As part of the Sooth & Care team you will need to attend a short pre-festival briefing onsite by the Soothe & Care Team Lead(s) in the afternoon the festival starts. During the festival you will meet once or twice as a team to share your observations and experience of the group. The commitment to the role doesn’t require much times and it is flexible so it aligns with your own needs and boundaries. Within the team you’re mutually supporting each other and it’s a lovely way to bring your contribution.
What's the Peace Council
We come with such diverse backgrounds and we go deep into interpersonal exploration that eventually consent and conflict more broadly can arise.
In case some interpersonal support is needed during the event we have conflict support and mediation.
Medical emergency support team
When you register please let us know if you are a medical doctor/counselor/therapist/first aid trained or crisis intervention specialist and are open to being contacted by an organizer during the festival in case of an emergency.
SOOTHE&CARE TEAM
Intrapersonal
When you register you will be asked if you want to be part of the Soothe & Care team.
The Soothe&Care Team is a group of volunteers who are available throughout the event for inner-personal support. The intention is to cultivate a community of co-regulation. Volunteers choose when they have the capacity to be of support which can look like deep listening, breathing together, offering validation, or taking a walk.
Learn more
In order to create a safer container we invite volunteers (participants, teachers) to form part of the Sooth&Care team. This means contributing a little of your time supporting participants in processing their experiences (e.g. co-regulation, deep listening, being present, finding a container for emotional release).
As part of the Sooth & Care team you will need to attend a short pre-festival briefing online and/or onsite by the Soothe & Care Team Lead(s) usuallt in the afternoon the festival starts.
During the festival you will meet once or twice as a team to share your observations and experience of the group.
The commitment to the role doesn’t require much times and it is flexible so it aligns with your own needs and boundaries. Within the team you’re mutually supporting each other and it’s a lovely way to bring your contribution.
PEACE COUNCIL
Interpersonal
We come with such diverse backgrounds and we go deep into interpersonal exploration that eventually consent and conflict more broadly can arise.
In case some interpersonal support is needed during the event we have conflict support and mediation.
Learn more
MEDICAL & EMERGENCY SUPPORT TEAM
Unexpected
When you register please let us know if you are a medical doctor/counselor/therapist/first aid trained or crisis intervention specialist and are open to being contacted by an organizer during the festival in case of an emergency.
Self-regulation
Self-regulation is a key aspect of the Touch&Play experience, which can be wonderfully intense.
At Touch&Play, we, collectively, create a supportive environment for intense and transformative experiences. While the container offers structures and a culture of support, we do expect participants to bring the gift of self-regulation.
In order to come it’s essential that you can handle your own emotions and triggers. In other words, you should be able to regulate yourself and deal with what comes up during the explorations.
Is this a therapeutic space?
No. Touchandplay is a transformative space, often with therapeutic qualities, but it’s important to clarify that it is not therapy or it is not a substitute for professional therapy.
To attend Touch&Play, it’s essential that you can self-regulate physically and emotionally.
Touch&Play is an experience of inquiry, liberation, and self-discovery for people who want to grow within a community of like-minded individuals, while improving their relationships.
Is this an event for me?
This is an intimate body event. It is suitable for those who have the ability to self regulate their emotions and are comfortable with and have some understanding of sexy environments.
If you are dealing with significant levels of trauma (specifically sexual or relational) or PTSD this may not be the event for you.