When gathering becomes tradition - Native Scientists Retreat 2026

For the second year, the Native Scientists Retreat reconnected the team with our mission, our purpose, and, above all, the people who bring Native to life every day.

Some gatherings become rituals. Moments that, year after year, stop being just dates in the calendar and turn into anchor points, reminders of who we are as a team and as a community. The Native Scientists Retreat 2026, the second in this new tradition, was exactly that: a reconnection with our mission, our purpose, and, above all, the people who bring Native to life every day.

This year, the team travelled to Sesimbra, a town where the sea sets the rhythm. A place where every walk opens space for conversations that do not fit into Zoom calls. Between coastal walks, traditional food, and many moments of rest, the team rediscovered each other and what it means to work in an organisation built on human connection.

“Downtime” defined the retreat mood. As Giacomo Catania, team member, described, long breakfasts, spontaneous conversations, and the pauses between activities, allowed everyone to get to know “the people behind the roles”.

This openness is what transforms a remote team into a real community. It also makes daily work more fluid, more empathetic, and more aligned. As he noted, understanding each person’s preferences, challenges, and even fun facts “makes communication smoother and easier.” Something essential when working together towards shared goals.

A team that evolves, yet remains familiar

For Vítor Gonçalves from the comms team, who also attended the first retreat, the comparison between years was both inevitable and revealing. Although the group of interns changes with each cycle, the atmosphere remains surprisingly familiar. There is a recognisable energy, a way of being that is welcoming and that quickly makes you forget that the team usually works remotely.

Moments of collective reflection also revealed something essential: there is a strong organisational awareness, along with a genuine willingness to improve and grow. The retreat was not only about connection. It was also about reflection, alignment, and shared vision.

Learning together: the workshops that shaped the retreat

The retreat also offered opportunities for learning and networking. We began with Pedro Russo’s, Ciência Viva Director, interactive workshop on leadership. This was followed by a session, focused on productivity and time management. Other highlights were Sara Lopes hands-on photography session, and Vítor Gonçalves team building game.

Putting faces to names and renewing energy

For Letícia, attending for the first time, the retreat marked an important step in her integration. Remote work has many advantages, but there is something irreplaceable about seeing people in person, hearing their voices without microphones, and noticing their gestures and rhythms.

The leadership workshop was her favourite moment, but the greatest impact came from realising she is part of a talented, aligned team that is deeply committed to the mission. She left Sesimbra with renewed energy and that says everything.

A mission you can feel in the air

If there is something all testimonies share, it is this almost tangible sense that Native’s mission fills the space whenever the team comes together. As Beatriz Morais described, there is a “positive energy” that is difficult to explain, but easy to recognise.

Native brings together people who want to create a positive impact, who care, and who persist. And when these people meet, even for a short time, the effect is immediate. A sense of belonging is strengthened, motivation is renewed, and the certainty grows that we are building something truly meaningful.

Sesimbra 2026: more than a retreat - a team becoming a community

The Native Scientists Retreat 2026 was not just a two day retreat of activities. It was a reminder that our strength lies in the relationships we build, the way we support one another, and the mission we share.

This is what creating tradition means: repeating what works, improving what can grow, and leavin

g space for the unexpected, for conversations in the sun, walks by the sea, and the moments that were not planned but stay with us.

We returned from Sesimbra with the feeling that it was too short, yet deeply meaningful. And with the certainty that, as long as we continue to come together like this, Native will remain more than an organisation, it will always be a community, a team as all teams should be.