Drupal Mountain Camp 2027 — Consolidated Plan¶
Last updated: 6 April 2026 | Status: Planning retreat output (March 2026) — Updated status (Behind schedule)
Theme & Slogan¶
Elevating Builders on Top of the World¶
Previous slogan: "Open Source on Top of the World"
The new slogan evolves the heritage while opening the door to a broader audience:
- Elevating — the camp lifts you up as a person and professional; a promise of transformation, not just information.
- Builders — universally understood across roles; with AI and open source, everyone can be a builder today — developers, students, agency owners, government officials, newcomers.
- On Top of the World — continuity with the previous slogan; the mountain setting as both literal location and metaphor for perspective and ambition.
10th anniversary frame: Elevating Builders on Top of the World — 10 years of Drupal Mountain Camp
Vision: Sparking Transformative Conversations¶
We create an environment that sparks transformative conversations. Attendees don't just come to gather information; they come to change something about themselves. We shift the focus from passive consumption to active participation and personal growth.
Core value: Makers not takers — we prioritise people who contribute to the open web and align with community values. Our goal is quality over quantity, aiming for interesting attendees rather than just large numbers.
The Mountain Metaphor¶
- The Challenge: Every project is a new mountain requiring effort and collaboration.
- The Tools: We provide the maps, equipment (knowledge), and training needed for the ascent.
- The Guides: Mentors and experienced climbers open the way for others.
- The Summit: From the top, we see further, and the future opens up before us.
Target Audience & Personas¶
We focus on "Makers" and "Builders" across these primary segments:
| Segment | Who they are | What they come for |
|---|---|---|
| Builders / Contributors | Drupal practitioners (devs, PMs, designers) actively contributing. The core foundation. | Reconnecting with peers, deep sessions, shaping what's next. |
| Tech-Agnostic Makers | Front-end, Symfony, or AI developers looking for collaboration and modern tools. | AI tracks, modern best practices, networking across communities. |
| Sovereignty Advocates | Government officials and enterprise decision-makers focused on data sovereignty. | Policy tracks, case studies, understanding open source viability. |
| Newcomers / Students | People ready to learn — via Drupal in a Day, university partnerships, or community outreach. | Mentorship, first connections, accessible workshops. |
Event Format & Programme¶
Track Structure¶
- Max 2 tracks per day — preserves community cohesion and encourages conversation.
- 25-minute talk format — higher energy and more speakers.
- Track A/B focus: Encouraging deep dives and cross-community dialogue.
Day Theming (Draft)¶
- Day 1: AI & Disruption (Dries Fireside Chat, AI-focused sessions)
- Day 2: Data Sovereignty & Government (Gov Summit, Symfony AI evolution)
- Day 3: Newcomers & Growth (Workshops, contribution sprints)
Dries Buytaert¶
- Confirmed attendance ✓ (95% confirmed)
- Format: Fireside chat / interview on Day 1.
- Topic direction: AI's role in open source, Drupal's path forward, and the "builder" era.
Social Events & Speaker Appreciation¶
- Pub Quiz (Day 1): Essential icebreaker for mixed groups.
- Social Activity (Day 2): Torches or sledding in Davos.
- Speaker Strategy: No formal speaker dinner. Instead, speakers receive a high-quality, personal gift (e.g., engraved Swiss Army knife) to mark their contribution.
Marketing & Branding Shift¶
#MountainCamp¶
We are shifting our marketing focus to #MountainCamp to reduce barriers for non-Drupal audiences while maintaining our Drupal foundation. This includes removing "Drupal" from the visual logo (while keeping the URL) to be more inclusive of the broader ecosystem.
- Website Refresh: Launching with a new site based on the Liip Starterkit, almost ready on Lagoon. Sarah has been contacted for design help/capacity to refresh the frontend.
- Outreach Tools: Finalizing a move from Campaign Monitor to Mautic (hosted on Lagoon / amazee.io) for the Drupal Switzerland organisation.
Personal Invitation Model¶
Treating the event like a curated dinner party:
- Host's Role: Selecting and inviting guests who make the gathering interesting.
- One-to-One Outreach: Primary tool for high-value invites.
- Look Who is Coming: Leveraging confirmed "interesting" attendees to attract more.
Key Timeline¶
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Apr 18, 2026 | Launch new website (v1) — Target: Before Dev Days Athens |
| May 2026 | Begin featured speaker and media outreach; Call for Sponsors opens |
| Jul 1, 2026 | CFP Opens |
| Sept 28 – Oct 1, 2026 | DrupalCon Rotterdam — On-site promotion |
| Oct 11, 2026 | CFP Closes (~10 days after DrupalCon Rotterdam) |
| Mid Nov 2026 | Full schedule published (3.5 months before event) |
| Mar 2-4, 2027 | 🏔 Mountain Camp 2027 — Davos |
Action Items (Top Priorities)¶
- Launch new website (Dan, Apr 18)
- Document vision work in repository (Josef, Mar 2026) — Done
- Complete testimonials template (Sinduri, May 2026)
- Test personal invitation approach (Team, May 2026)
- Explore partnerships (Gov, Symfony AI, Apertus) (Team, May 2026)
- Decide on speaker gift (Team, May 2026)
Open Decisions¶
- Finalize speaker gift (Knife vs. Chocolate vs. Hat)
- Confirmation of "Symfony AI" track alignment with Chris Hertel
- Ticketing platform finalization (Pretix setup)