Ukrainian scouts at the “Minions” Scout Camp in Italy

From July 23 to August 2, Plast scouts from Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi joined Italian scouts from AGESCI Gruppo Pistoia 2 for an exciting international experience at the Minions-themed camp in the heart of Tuscany.
The camp brought together 45 Italian scouts and 19 Ukrainian Plast members, creating a vibrant and diverse scouting community.

Life at Camp: True Scouting Spirit

🏕 The camp embraced classic scouting traditions. Participants worked together to build the entire camp infrastructure using only wood, ropes, tools, and skills:

• outdoor kitchens,
• functional showers,
• washing stations and camp structures.

Scouts also took part in:

• mountain hikes, including a 15 km ascent of Monte Lischeta (1077 m) with a 630 m elevation gain;
• pioneering challenges,
• dynamic games and competitions;
• a 24-hour independent expedition, where patrols navigated, cooked, and camped on their own.

Sharing Knowledge and Building Unity

🤝 What made this camp special was the true spirit of collaboration. Ukrainian Plast members became part of Italian patrols, sharing their expertise in:

• trekking and navigation,
• safe rope crossings,
• efficient ascent and descent techniques.

These skills were later used during high-energy field games and team challenges, strengthening trust and cooperation among all participants.

Resilience in the Mountains

🌍 Despite unpredictable weather — rain, cold evenings, and the demanding conditions of camping at 900 meters above sea level — scouts demonstrated resilience, creativity, and teamwork.
The Minions theme added humor and fun, proving that a strong spirit can brighten even the toughest days.

Thank You to Our Partners

💛 We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Italian partners:
AGESCI – Associazione Guide e Scouts Cattolici Italiani Pistoia 2,
and our generous supporters from MASCI – Movimento Adulti Scout Cattolici Italiani:
Alberto, Luisa, Alessandra, Livia, Pietro, Pillo, Marco, and Giulia
— for making this meaningful international camp possible.