The first BarCamp was held on August 19-21, 2005 in Palo Alto (California), in Socialtext Incorporated company venue, which develops social entertainment programs. It was organized by Tim O’Reilly for his friends. From the idea to the event itself, which hosted more than 200 people, it took less than a week. The event was exaggeratedly informal.

From that time different barcamps were held in more than 350 cities around the world.

The distinctive barcamp feature is that unlike the standard conference the organizers provide only framework activities, the content is provided by the participants themselves. It should be understood that there are no spectators. There are only parties that talk to each other. Openness, engagement and interactivity – these are the main barcamp principles.

And, of course, a prerequisite for any barcamp is the free WiFi access of all participants to the Internet. The Net extends barcamp to cover the whole globe.

Primarily barcamp is a platform for communication.

Barcamp principles:

• Continuously learn and share your contacts, be proactive. Do not miss the opportunity to discuss projects and concepts with new or old friends in the «communication area».
• Improve the event constantly, solve problems if they arise. Barcamp is a conference organized by the participants. You determine what it is.
• Help the speakers: develop their ideas, suggest alternatives, suggest analogy. Intensively exchange ideas and facts.
• Write blogs, record video, take pictures and spread the word over the Internet.
• Satisfaction with the event depends on your mindset only. Come with positive emotions and share them with others.

It all depends on you.

“Barcamp is not even an event, it is an environment where you can not come and sit on the last row, as at any other conference: barcamp is an exchange of ideas and sentiments. And such an event will as successful as its participants will make it”

Yevgeny Savin, Datigra, iCamp Organizer

Former USSR Barcamps

The first CIS barcamp was called Blogcamp and took place on August 13-14, 2007. It was attended by 350 people, which held 60 sessions. Geographically, it has been oriented only for the CIS countries.

The second Blogcamp was held on October 17-19, 2008. The geography of its participants has increased significantly. It has gathered 821 participants from Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United States, Russia, Uzbekistan, Estonia. There were held 90 sessions and 10 presentations of new startups. The atmosphere was friendly, and during the breaks between the presentations in rooms where they took place, as well as in halls, one could see a lot of young professionals discussing workshops and their projects, or just talking.

Blogcamp success has led to barcamp organizations throughout the Commonwealth of Independent States. During this year, barcamps took place in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Latvia. Soon it will be held in Russia (St.Petersburg, Moscow), Belarus and Ukraine.

Ukraine, Kiev - BlogCamp

Russia, Moscow - iCamp

Latvia, Riga - BarCamp Baltics

Kazakhstan, Almaty - BarCamp Central Asia

Azerbaijan, Baku - BarCamp Caspian

Armenia, Yerevan - BarCamp EVN

Belarus, Minsk - ByCamp

Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek - BarCamp Central Asia