(ANS – Bratislava) – In the Salesian centres, there were 90 summer camps where 1 600 animators helped to make the summer more exciting for 6000 children last year. 35 animators helped to organize mission camps in Slovakia and abroad in which a lot of children took part. A number of new experiences, nice moments and better relationships are uncalculable.

The two most common types of summer camps for the interested children, are the short term staying camps and the daily camps (“estate ragazzi”). Some of them are mixed camps, the others are only for girls or for boys. There are camps for teenagers (confirmation groups, young people) or for whole families. Some are very traditional with a special focus – e.g.: the Salesian Plener for young artists, Tymian for altar boys. The missionary camps are a unique experience.

Camps for the whole family have become one of the most popular summer camps. “It brings a family closer together” says Fr Tibor Reimer SDB. He then adds another aspect of that, “Family camps help to build up the communities of family groups. In Čierna Voda (one of the new quartiers of Bratislava) we regularly meet to celebrate Sunday mass for a longer time, but it was only when we started to organise the family camps the relationships among the families strengthened”. 

The very traditional boys’ camp is Tymian. “This altar boy camp is unique because it is not only for the boys from Salesian centres”, says Peter Melišek, Salesian Cooperator, one of the organisers; and he adds “Some of the boys from outside the oratories appreciate the fact that older animators devote their time to them.” It is an opportunity for those boys who are thinking about the Salesian vocation to discover and use their skills at the Tymian camp. The candidates for the Salesian vocation contribute to the preparations and the running of the camps.

The young artists can develop their talents during the Salesian Plener Camp. The leader organisator is the academic painter Mr. Pavol Rehák, Slesian Coperator. One of the aims of this kind of camp is to gather together young Cristian artists. There is a unique creative atmosphere – you can paint with different techniques, but also play games and participate in the spiritual programme. You can feel the Salesian atmosphere in spite of some particularities.

The mission camps for Roma children are new. The Savio Association started to run them in 2010. “We organize the camps on sites where there the work with Roma people is already developed”, says Fr Peter Kuchár SDB. “The children live out the camp experience a long time after it has finished. The chaplain from Svidník (a small city in north-east Slovakia) told me the children were singing the camp songs they learnt many months later.”  A volunteer Mária Grebéčiová shares her own experience, “I didn’t imagine what I could give those children but simple games, our attention and talking to them was just enough. I didn’t think that so little would mean a lot for them.”

Published 03/05/2012