Capacity building is a key element in promoting and training in spatial technologies and in fostering a network of early-stage researchers for future collaborations. The first edition of the Earth Sensing Summer School, organised by the University of Padova with support from ISPRS Education and Capacity Building (ECBI) funds, was held from 7 to 13 September 2025 in the Dolomite area of the Alpine region. This article illustrates specific aspects of the organisation and discusses the return on investment in terms of training and networking. It highlights the methodology used for selecting participants and conducting the training, which included a balanced combination of seminars, fieldwork, data analysis, dissemination to peers, and a final defence of results. We discuss the outcomes and feedback from the almost 40 participants and provide ideas for future improvements, aiming to offer insights for fellow researchers who might want to replicate a capacity-building activity of this kind.