The Gravataí Events Park in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, became a temporary city of tents, songs, and marching feet as more than 7,000 Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinders gathered for the Gaúcho “Herdeiros” (Heirs) Camporee from November 20–24, 2025. The event marked the 50th anniversary of Brazil’s first Pathfinder camporee, held in 1975 in Rio Grande do Sul.

Five decades later, those who helped launch that first gathering were able to witness the movement's growth. Among them was Adventist pastor and one of the originators of the 1975 camporee, Jason McCracken, who attended both the original event and this commemorative edition.

“There we started the fire for the Pathfinders, and today I learn that South America is the largest division in the world, because you have more clubs in each church than anywhere else. After 50 years, this is a great feeling,” he said.

Faith across generations

Teenagers from the North, Central, and South regions of Rio Grande do Sul came together to celebrate this legacy and experience new moments of faith and adventure. For organizers, the camporee represented the continuation of a long-nurtured dream.

According to Marlon Bruno, Pathfinder leader in the Central Region of Rio Grande do Sul (ACRS), the event captures the essence of the Pathfinder movement in Brazil. He noted that the three participating regions reflect “what it means to be a Pathfinder” nationally and that the impact of the first camporee continues to be felt from one generation to the next.

“It’s the realization of a dream. After all, these three regions represent the essence of what it means to be a Pathfinder throughout Brazil. This incredibly exciting moment originated here, and this emotion flows from generation to generation,” he said.

Throughout the program, clubs participated in activities that required physical and intellectual preparation, as well as teamwork. Events included oratory contests, marching bands, cooking and reading competitions, and outdoor challenges such as rope crossings and mud courses.

Between activities, new friendships formed. Pathfinder Anna Laca described what it was like to be among thousands of young people.

“There are 7,000 people you don't know, and over time, you get to know them. What I learned was camaraderie, always sticking together and united,” she said.

Structure, care, and mission

Hosting more than 7,000 participants required extensive planning and logistics. The park was supplied with approximately 500,000 liters of water, more than 200 restrooms and showers, an on-site medical post with staff on duty, ambulances, and a dedicated security team.

Douglas Pino, North Rio Grande do Sul Conference pastor and Pathfinder leader, highlighted that making this entire structure possible was a great responsibility.

“Finding a space that could accommodate 7,000 people was a huge responsibility. Thank God we found this place, set up the entire structure, and were able to welcome all the clubs. We are very happy and grateful for everything He has provided us,” he shared.

Beyond logistics, leaders emphasized that the camporee served as a setting for character development. Discipline, respect, friendship, faith, and service to others were central themes woven throughout the program.

For the leadership team, a key objective was to show that the mission of proclaiming the gospel also belongs to younger generations. Dalmo Dion, pastor and leader of Pathfinders in the Southern Rio Grande do Sul Conference, made this appeal directly to the teenagers.

“We want to teach them that they are now responsible for continuing the preaching of the gospel until the return of Jesus. Our goal is to save them from sin and guide them in service. They are heirs to this legacy,” he said.

The institutional vision was also underscored by Marlinton Lopes, then president of the Adventist Church for Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, and Santa Catarina. He stated that the Pathfinder Club plays an essential role in helping children and youth remain connected to the Adventist Church, receiving a spiritual inheritance they can pass on to friends and future generations.

This emphasis on legacy and commitment was reflected in worship services, the investiture of new leaders, musical presentations, biblical dramatizations, and more than 60 baptisms held during the camporee.

Aryel Marques, pastor and Pathfinder leader in southern Brazil, noted that the greatest inheritance is not material but spiritual.

“Some leave resources for their children, but we have another dream: that they will inherit a message, that Christ will soon return. That is the greatest legacy,” he said.

Service beyond the club

The “Heirs” theme was also expressed through practical service. In total, 208 Pathfinder clubs donated basic food baskets and hygiene kits to local families and institutions, emphasizing that solidarity and community support are part of the movement’s identity.

For many families, the camporee was a deeply meaningful experience. Pathfinder father Josué Reis said it was moving to see his daughter participate in an event of such magnitude. He described the camporee as not only his daughter’s dream, but one shared by the entire family.

Fifty years after the first Pathfinder camporee in Brazil, the return of one of its founders to Rio Grande do Sul provided a visible link between past and present. For organizers and participants alike, the Gaúcho “Heirs” Camporee affirmed that the legacy of faith, service, and youth mission continues to grow across generations.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese news site.