OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Pathfinders Camporee has made its way back to the EAA AirVenture grounds in Oshkosh. This year, the camporee is bringing 55,000 youth from more than 100 countries.
The five-day event is hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America. The youth in attendance are called Pathfinders.
Pathfinders is an organization similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts where kids can earn honor patches and participate in activities such as archery, sports and talent shows.
More than 6,000 youth will participate in community service projects. In the five days, they will be here, Camporee Assistant News Director Mylon Medley tells FOX 11there are 57 service efforts the kids can volunteer at in the Oshkosh area.
“It’s one thing to come and take up all this space in a community. We want to make an impact that goes beyond where we’re staying.”
Medley says this gathering takes place every five years as a way for kids to share their faith with each other.
“The main reason they’re here is to connect with others. They’re going to meet people from different countries, other clubs, even within their own territory. Meet friends that are maybe up the street from them.”
Some volunteer sites are the Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and the Oshkosh Public Library.
The kids will volunteer more than 30,000 combined hours, according to event organizers.
The eighth international Pathfinder Camporee will wrap up August 17th.
