This summer, the Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization (LSGCO) organised five summer camps, which brought together over 300 children and young people. Furthermore, 123 members of the organisation took part in the largest scouting event in the Baltics, which took place in Estonia this year – Baltic Jamboree 2026. The children and young people practised outdoor living skills, strengthened existing friendships and formed new ones, and developed themselves in various aspects, allowing them to discover their strengths and find their place within both their units and society.
For the new autumn season, the Latvian Scout and Guide Central Organization invites children, young people and volunteers to join regular sessions and experience camps, hikes and other meaningful activities for themselves. Information on how to get involved with the organisation: https://skautiungaidas.lv/velies-pievienoties/.
Scouts, Guides and summer camps
As every year, summer is the climax of the Scout and Guide season. The skills that children and young people have learnt and developed during the school year in weekly sessions are applied in real outdoor conditions. Friendships strengthened over the course of a year are put to the test when living in the same tent for a week. It is not for nothing that the brightest memories are made in the summer!
Although Scout and Guide camps are mostly associated only with outdoor life, the development of these skills is merely a method through which young people learn to be independent and discover their own strengths. Not everyone needs to be a survival expert, and not everyone needs to be a leader. But every young person has their own strengths and things they can handle better than others. That is also the task of the Scouts and Guides, which we fulfil during sessions and camps, – to help a young person find themselves and understand their own value!
2026 camp season
This summer was no exception. This summer, five unit camps took place all across Latvia.
The 3rd Jūrmala Sea Scout Unit began its summer season with the “Silver Stream” camp. Inspired by the camp legend about two friendly ducks, the young people set off on a boating trip. They learned how to tie knots and other scouting skills. Most importantly, the young people experienced that scouting is not based only on knots, tents and campfires – Scouts and Guides are friends who help when things are difficult.
The 12th Tukums Scout and Guide Unit’s camp programme was rich, with each day's motto matching the sessions and the Scout and Guide laws. The participants made hammocks themselves, took part in water activities, and also learned modern skills – they got to know drones and tried their hand at piloting them.
The 7th Riga Scout and Guide Unit marked an important anniversary with the “Survive 10 Years!” camp. It brought together the organisation’s smallest units from all over Latvia, promoting closer cooperation, the exchange of experience and new friendships.
The 83rd Sigulda Scout and Guide Unit challenged themselves at the “Big Horned One” camp, during which the young people learned about the legend of the forest guardian and gained an understanding of nature. Through active challenges and a responsible attitude towards the environment, the participants proved that they are ready to become young forest guardians.
The 5th Ogresgala Scout and Guide Unit invited its members and friends to take part in a vivid adventure at the “Wild West” camp. Over the course of five days, the participants went on hikes with the sheriff and completed logical puzzles to track down bandits and recover stolen treasures.
In each of these camps, children and young people developed outdoor living skills in a safe environment, learned teamwork, and once again experienced the values of the Scouts and Guides in practice, developing themselves and finding their true selves!
Baltic Jamboree 2026 – “Baltic Forest Festival”
From 11 to 17 July, the Baltic Jamboree took place on the Estonian Scout Association's property in the Tagametsa forest, gathering over 700 Scouts and Guides from the Baltics and several other countries around the world. Participants experienced a broad programme – climbing sessions, relay races, educational activities on the environment and active lifestyles, as well as an excursion to Viljandi. As part of the programme, three hikes were held for different age groups, where young people aged 16–17 took on a challenging 24-hour hike, covering a distance of more than 110 kilometres by bicycle, canoe and on foot during the dark hours of the day. An important part of the camp were the campfire evenings, and at the Latvian national campfire evening, more than 700 participants and volunteers were involved in Latvian folk dances and games, and were also introduced to the variety of national costumes.
At the camp, 37 adults took on various roles – they were both unit leaders and volunteers. The volunteers, mostly aged 18–25, ensured the successful running of the camp: they led sessions, worked in the technical team and kitchen, looked after safety and order in the camp area, worked in the medical team, and took on roles as sub-camp commandants and leaders of the Latvian contingent. Baltic Jamboree 2026 confirmed how strong the Scout and Guide movement is in the Baltics and how much can be achieved when young people and volunteers from different countries work together. Bright memories, the shared experience and new friendships will remain from the camp.