Youth camps for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus across borders

Connecting, learning and thriving

Youth camps can play a vital role in empowering young people with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) by providing them with opportunities to develop independence, build friendships, and gain valuable life skills in a supportive environment. 

IF member organisations in various countries organise successful youth camps focusing on practical abilities such as mobility, self-care, and confidence-building, while also fostering a sense of community and belonging among participants who share similar experiences. 

Below we explore three inspiring examples of youth camps from our members in Belgium, Slovakia, and Spain, showcasing how these programmes enrich the lives of young people with SBH in each country. 

Summer camp in Slovakia 

Since 2006, the Slovak Association for Spina Bifida and/or Hydrocephalus has been organising summer camps focused on supporting independence in children and young people living primarily with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH). This year, we gathered for the 20th time to spend active and meaningful time together. 

The theme of this year’s camp was ‘Let’s create our future’. The main mission of the camp was to encourage participants to build independence, strengthen self-awareness, and find the courage to shape their own future. At the very beginning, each participant set a personal goal they wanted to work on during the week. They created their own “wish board” – a board of wishes and steps toward achieving their goal. This visual and motivational tool became their guide throughout the camp, helping them realise that even big dreams can be fulfilled through small, consistent steps.

The program was diverse and full of movement. Each day brought new challenges and experiences. On the very first day, we climbed up to the Calvary hill together, symbolically beginning our journey toward personal goals. This was followed by a bike trail ride, regular exercise sessions, and many activities promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. We also visited the well-known site Rio de Klin, where we enjoyed a picnic, experienced a train ride in the open-air museum in Vychylovka, and even reached Trojmedzie, the point where the borders of Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland meet.

Evenings and free time were dedicated to games and shared fun. We tried to escape from an escape room, tested our knowledge in quizzes, played lots of games, and enjoyed evening competitions full of laughter.

We also benefited from educational activities. Volunteers prepared a presentation and discussion on the dangers of the internet, raising important questions about safety and responsible behaviour in the online space. 

We also had the opportunity to hear experiences from a mission in Rwanda, which three volunteers joined this past March. They visited a center where homeless children live including four children with Spina Bifida. 

Their stories enriched participants with insights into life in another culture and the value of solidarity. Creativity was also present – we made stone paintings, bracelets, and had fun creating short videos with the help of artificial intelligence, which showed how modern technologies can support imagination and humour.

The camp is open to everyone – participants can be as young as three years old, and there is no upper age limit. The oldest regular participant is already 30 years old, which beautifully shows how the camp connects different generations. In the past, we also welcomed young people from Ukraine and Belgium, giving the event an international dimension and proving its openness. 

Each year, we are touched by the feedback we receive from participants and their parents – not only at the end of the camp but also long afterward. This assures us that organising the camp truly makes sense – children and young people keep asking for it and see it as a safe space for meeting and sharing new experiences. We are already looking forward to the next camp, which will take place in July 2026 in Oščadnica once again. Moreover, young people with disabilities are actively involved in preparing the upcoming camp, making it even more authentic.

The Summer Camp of Independence once again showed us that when friendship, eagerness to learn new things, and the courage to come together unite, unforgettable memories and personal growth emerge – experiences that each participant carries into everyday life.

Summer camp in Spain 

At the Asociación Madrileña de Espina Bífida (AMEB), we’ve been organising camps since 1984.

These are trips full of rest, fun, and tourism, open to all members of our association over the age of six who have a disability. In 2025, about 63 people joined in, with the support of 19 volunteers.

During the camps, we enjoy leisure activities, games, and group activities designed for relaxation and fun, while also visiting different tourist destinations each year.

The trips are planned in advance by the participants themselves, with the support of the service coordinator and the person in charge of organisation. We hold several meetings throughout the year to set the calendar and decide on activities together.

Each trip is usually a great success: People get to enjoy their free time with friends, discover new places, and choose at every moment what they’d like to do, being actively involved in the whole process. These days are lived intensely and are always full of special moments that create unforgettable memories.

Every year, we usually organise around three trips, aligned with national holidays: One at Easter (around March–April), one in summer (in July), which is divided into two shifts because of the large number of participants, and a shorter one at the end of October, lasting two or three days.

We’re already gearing up for the next one!

Spring camp in Belgium 

From the 5th of April till the 11th April 2025, the Vereniging voor Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus vzw (Flemish association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus in Belgium) organised their annual youth camp for youth with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SBH) to become more independent.

We welcomed 18 participants who were divided into two groups: Seven participants from six to 12 years old (a.k.a. Self-Reliance Week), and 11 participants from 13 to 18 years old (a.k.a. Youngsters Week).

During this youth camp, our participants practice all kinds of techniques to become more independent when it comes to taking care of themselves. Every participant, together with their parents, sets their own goals to achieve by the end of the week. Goals can include showering independently, dressing on and off, using a catheter, wheelchair skills, and more. Together with a mentor, participants learn techniques to achieve their goals. It doesn’t matter how small or big the goal is; if it helps you be more self-reliant, it is a good goal.

The practice sessions alternate with fun activities to create a pleasant and homely atmosphere, including many games, a movie night, cozy evenings around a bonfire, a wheelchair parcours, and much more. These activities have a connection to becoming more self-reliant.

Without our volunteers we cannot organise this wonderful youth camp. We have volunteers as mentors, nurses and kitchen helpers. This year there were 19 volunteers who helped us organise a fantastic youth camp for our young members.

By the end of the week, we saw every participant being proud for reaching their goals and so we were proud too.

Next year we will do it all again with the same fantastic energy!

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Youth camps are places where independence grows, friendships flourish, and every small step forward becomes a powerful victory. Together, let’s continue to create spaces where young people with SBH discover their strength and embrace their full potential in life!