A scout camp will be held in the Hochland youth settlement at the end of April.
What is special about the event: the children organize the camp themselves.
Königsdorf – On the last weekend in April, the Hochland youth settlement is transformed into a scout stronghold: under the motto “Build bridges, not walls”, a so-called “International Friendship Camp” (IFC) will take place in Königsdorf from Friday, April 28th to Monday, May 1st .
Scouts from the USA, Poland, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, among others, come together here.
In the camp, the ten to 18-year-old participants can make friends, expand the scout network - and above all have fun together.
International friendship camp in Königsdorf: Scouts from different countries take part
The whole thing is organized by the pathfinder group "Troop 21" from Munich.
The choice of venue for the event quickly fell to the youth settlement.
"There's a lot of space and enough restrooms there," explains Randy Caldwell.
The 61-year-old is the head of "Troop 21" and at the same time the camp director.
What is special about the camp: "The children are actively involved in the organisation."
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Randy Caldwell is the camp director.
© Petra Nehmeyer
It is important to the native American that the young participants contribute their own ideas to the planning.
As a result, the organization “takes a little longer”.
But Caldwell knows that being able to have a say is what makes the young scouts “rather proud”.
A first digital planning meeting took place in November on the online platform Zoom.
In this way, the children “meet” each other virtually before the start of the camp.
"That makes it easier for them to get to know each other properly." Since the scouts come from different countries, one or the other language barrier has to be overcome.
Communication is usually in English or German.
Scout camp in Königsdorf: Many children speak Denglisch to each other - highlight on Saturday
“But many of them also talk to each other in Denglish (a mixture of German and English, editor’s note),” says the camp director and laughs.
In an emergency, the supervisors are always ready to help as translators.
So far, around 20 to 30 scout groups – with a total of 150 participants – have registered for the camp.
Each group travels with several supervisors.
However, Caldwell is hoping for at least 250 participants.
The schedule for the camp is now in place: Arrival and getting to know each other will take place on Friday.
Different games and tasks that require teamwork are offered on Saturdays.
The scouts also visit the Isar valley observatory in Königsdorf.
In the evening, a big campfire awaits the participants.
"The kids are doing a play they did together before," Caldwell reveals.
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The ultimate goal of the global Scout movement is to equip young people with the skills to create a better world.
Various workshops on Sunday are intended to deepen this.
For example, a dialogue for peace or an introduction to leadership skills for squads.
Alternatively, participants can join the Polish Scouts.
On this day you drive to Dachau to take part in a commemoration event to commemorate the liberation of the concentration camp.
The children are leaving again on Monday.
Hopefully with beautiful experiences and new friendships in the luggage.
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There are still places available for the friendship camp.
Interested Scout groups can email Randy Caldwell at scoutmaster21munich@gmail.com.
The cost per child is 26 euros.
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