From July 7 to 14, 2024, the National Pathfinder Camp 2024 took place in Bulgaria. The camp was organized by the Pathfinder Club and the Youth Ministries of Seventh-day Adventists in the region. Over 100 Pathfinders, aged 11 to 15, participated in various scouting games, acquiring new knowledge and skills. Alongside the games, the young participants attended lectures on Biblical and spiritual topics titled "Citizens of Heaven." The spiritual part of the camp featured guest speakers Alexandra Mora and Isaac Chia from the Youth Department of the Inter-European Division.

Every day, the event started with morning exercises followed by an inspiring devotional. The young often eagerly awaited to find out what the day had in store for them, organizers state. The schedule included physical training, orienteering, logic games, laughter, learning new skills, worship time, and reading from the Bible. "Pathfinder Club is a scouting organization where we develop skills such as orienteering and survival in the wild. It is also important for us to develop ourselves spiritually - God, man, nature - these are the main values ​​of the club," says Svetlin Tomanov, event organizer.

Every day, the Pathfinders had two games that developed their physical and intellectual skills. In the afternoon, they participate in workshops for practical skills such as sewing, planting, orienteering, lighting a fire, making knots, and providing first aid. This year, at the end of the camp, a competition exam was held to determine what was learned during this camp and previous camps. “I'm better at physical than logical games, but I've also gained skills like agility and endurance here. I also made many new friendships," says fourteen-year-old Bozhidara, a Pathfinder.

For many, the evening topics are one of the most interesting parts of the camp. The topics this year follow the scriptures about the so-called "Fruit of the Spirit" from Galatians ch. 5. Two Biblical values ​​are studied each evening.

"We want to convey to the youth that when we allow God to work in our hearts, it means that we allow him to change us and produce what is called the "Fruit of the Spirit" in the Bible. When connected to God, we allow Him to produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We want our Pathfinders to apply those things in their lives," comments Alexandra Mora.

In addition to the theoretical part, each day the Pathfinders have a challenge focused on the spiritual theme of the previous day. They have 24 hours to complete the challenge and thus experience what was said in the lectures. They are also asked questions to think about and often share interesting experiences after completing the challenge.

"The three things I would like the Pathfinders to take from the camp are - to learn something new about themselves, for example, that they love nature or that they can do more than they think; in the second place - to improve their relationship with God, so that it continues throughout the year and it is not just the flame that we spark here; and thirdly - to keep the many friendships they make at the camp," says Nino Marinov, organizer of the games.

Fifteen-year-old Elisaveta sums up her experience at the Pathfinder Camp as follows: "I will go home with good memories, new knowledge, many friends from all over the country, inspiration from the camp, and a pillow that I sewed myself."

The original article was published on the Inter-European Division website.