The Plast members attended camp in Italy

This summer, two Ukrainian scout patrols had the privilege of camping in southern Italy, hosted by Gruppo Scout Brancaleone 1 and the community of Torre di Ruggiero.

For the Fierce Ants, the camp was “a vivid journey inspired by Raya and the Last Dragon, where we searched for a common language and built bridges of understanding.” They explored Calabria’s sacred sites, sang in Italian, and learned to identify animal tracks and fish species — all while feeling “supported, encouraged, and truly part of a wider scouting family.”

Meanwhile, the Agile Squirrels shared: “We met incredible people, discovered peaceful corners of Torre di Ruggiero, and felt surrounded by care from both scouts and the Ukrainian community throughout our journey.” Their visit included ancient monasteries, museums, a turtle rescue center, and meaningful moments of reflection at a local pilgrimage site.

We thank the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization – USA for their financial support of the children and the opportunity to spend their summer camp safely. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Italian scout leaders, volunteers, local families, and especially Emanuel Crea, Andrea Padoin, and S.Me.Re.Ca President Larisa Vatrych MASCI LAZIO Movimento Adulti Scout Cattolici Italiani for making these life-changing experiences possible.

Scouting creates global connections — and we hope the next meeting will be in Ukraine