Bern/Switzerland│ APD │ From July 29 to August 4, the 13th Camporee of Adventist Scout, aged 12 to 15, will take place in the Sesimbra Nature Park, approximately 30 kilometers south of Lisbon, Portugal. The site covers 867 hectares, is close to the sea and is rich in fauna, flora, and a variety of forest and natural landscapes.
The event, which takes place every four years, is expected to attract around 2,800 scouts from southern and western Europe. The Camporee stands under the slogan “God promise: I am always with you", which was derived from God's promise to Joshua at the beginning of his activity as leader of the people of Israel.
Organizers of the camporees are the youth departments of the Adventists in southern and western Europe (Inter-European Division EUD - Bern/Switzerland), together with the youth leaders of the countries’ delegations. According to their announcement, the Camporee in Portugal should be a festival with "lots of fun, joy, activities and games, workshops, worship services and many opportunities to get to know and exchange with many old and new friends".
“When we organise a Camporee, that occurs every four years, our first purpose is to offer all all pathfinders who will attend an unforgettable experience,” said Jonatan Tejel, EUD youth leader and project manager of the Camporee. “Many of them can participate only once in their life, and we would like to give them the opportunity to make a good decision for their life: to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The baptism ceremony is always conceived as the climax of the camporee.”
In the morning and evening, Stephan Sigg, president of the Adventists in Switzerland, gives a spiritual input. In a game that runs throughout the entire Camporee, the scouts are introduced to various activities and can use their abilities and skills.
The planned events and activities include excursions, a bistro with a shop, mutual invitations from the country delegations, international dinners, and a Bible game. The teens have the opportunity to help with a project of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), so that 30 needy children in Sao Tomé, an African island state near the equator, can be provided with food and attend school 365 days a year.
The Camporee will mainly be attended by scouts and guides from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Spain, and the Czech Republic.
More information about the Camporee in English: www.eudcamporee.org
See the livestream of the spiritual programme on Youtube EUD Camporee
The original version of this story was posted on APD
