(ANS – Madrid) – This summer, hundreds of children, teenagers, and young adults linked to the Salesian Family are participating in mountain camps throughout the country.
The mountain camps, beyond simple rest, are experiences that become authentic spaces for personal growth, community life, and deep contact with nature.
The activities, organized by both youth centers and Salesian scout groups, take place in high mountain environments, which adds extra value: fresh air, a break from routine, physical challenges, and intense coexistence that strengthens bonds and values.
Salesian Camps at Altitude
Several Salesian houses have chosen mountain locations for their camps. Salesianos Jaén will hold its camp from August 4 to 8 in Villanueva del Arzobispo, in the heart of the Sierra de Cazorla. El Campello will take place from July 11 to 20 in Casablanca (Xàtiva), surrounded by Mediterranean countryside in an inland area.
Salesians Huesca have organized two camp sessions in Villanúa (Gabardip), in the Aragonese Pyrenees, from June 29 to July 5 and from July 5 to July 12, according to age groups. Another group simultaneously completed the Camino de Santiago, a physical and spiritual experience in the mountainous north of the country.
Salesianos San Juan Bosco has chosen Saravillo, also in the Huesca Pyrenees, for its camp from July 18 to July 29. Salesianos San Antonio Abad held its gathering in Segovia from July 16 to July 18, while the group from Ibi traveled to La Pedrera, in the Madrid mountains, from July 21 to July 27.
The month of July was chosen by the youth centers of Madrid, Castilla La Mancha, and Castilla León, belonging to the Valdoco Federation, to organize their mountain camps: the Atocha Youth Centre left on 16 July for Fresno de Cantaspino (Cantabria) to enjoy the experience until the 26th of the same month. The Don Bosco Youth Centre in Guadalajara held its camp in Cantabria, in Santa María de Cayón, from July 1 to 12.
The Maux Youth Centre in Salamanca chose Navasfrías (Salamanca) for its camp from July 2 to July 14, the same location chosen by the Pozo Don Gil Youth Center in Ciudad Real. And, at practically the same time, Mombeltrán in Ávila welcomed young people from the Paseo de Madrid Youth Center. The Alcalá de Henares Youth Center held its camp in Hoyos del Espino in Ávila.
Experiences of Coexistence Between Youth Centers
The youth centers of the Valdoco Federation offer experiences of coexistence between young people from different centers.
Huesca, Cuenca, Teruel, Segovia, and Ávila are the chosen destinations. The Youth Centers in Guadalajara, Carabanchel, and Las Aves (Aranjuez) have chosen Parzán-Chisagües (Huesca) to enjoy this mountain experience between July 15 and 30.
Meanwhile, the youngest children from Carabanchel joined the Savio Youth Centre (Madrid) for a camp in Villalba de la Sierra (Cuenca) between July 3 and July 12.
Parzán is also the location chosen by the La Balsa de Salesianos Estrecho Youth Center, the Juveliber Youth Centre in Parla, and the Soto Joven Youth Center in Soto del Real. A camp with 35 years of history.
Young people from the youth centers in Paseo (Madrid), Bosco Arévalo (Ávila), Centro Juvenil Maux (Salamanca), and Centro Juvenil PuertoBosco de Puertollano traveled to Orihuela del Tremandal in Teruel between July 16 and 29. During the same period, the Atocha Youth Center (Madrid), CityCentro de Ciudad de los Muchachos, also in the capital, Naranjoven de Fuenlabrada, and the Savio Youth Center in Madrid are taking part in their mountain experience in Eriste in the Huesca Pyrenees.
The Scouts Also Climb the Mountains
The Salesian scout groups have maintained their commitment to nature at altitude. The Cartagena scout group will be in a mountainous setting from August 1 to 13, and the Salesian Scouts of Cádiz group will be in Bahamonde (Lugo) from August 16 to 30, surrounded by Galician nature.
The Scouts from Alcoy are camping from August 1 to 13 in the heart of the Sierra de Gredos, and the Scouts from Alicante are enjoying the green valley of Arizcun, in the Navarrese Pyrenees, from August 1 to 15. The Cabezo de Torres Scout group will be in Bronchales (Teruel), in the Albarracín mountains, from July 19 to 31. The Khanhiwara Scout group from Santiago de Compostela has scheduled its camp in Ribeira between August 1 and 10.
These camps are not just a summer activity: they are places for learning values, personal growth, and Salesian spirituality, experienced in the heart of the mountains. Places where simplicity, shared effort, and natural beauty become the best setting for education and growth.