International CLIMS Camp 2025 in Hungary

“You are the new generation, young people who carry the CLIMS spirit forward. Through collective experiences, you are building mutual understanding, friendship, tolerance and respect for each other” – said General Drót.

The CLIMS – an organization offering its members, first of all, opportunities for recreation and vacation at a discount – was established 50 years ago in 1975. It organized its international youth camp in its present form in 2004 for the first time, and this year’s camp is already the 20th edition. So far, Hungary has hosted the event organized mainly for soldiers’ children on one occasion, in 2006. Back then, the guests were “stationed” in Szentendre, whereas this year the center of the camp will be the Ludovika Campus of the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest. The participants can anticipate many trips, as they will visit eight places within two weeks, among others Lake Balaton, Visegrád, Szolnok, Szentendre and Tata. At the latter spot, they will also be introduced to the latest military equipment of the Hungarian Defence Forces. Of course, their program will include a sightseeing in Budapest, too, during which the young people will be received with exciting programs in the Bálna Defence Center as well.

The camp brings together the youth from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, France, Greece, Poland, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Spain and of course Hungary. For two weeks, they live together while learning, playing and getting to know each other.

The more than 200 campers are divided into ten multinational teams led by Hungarian military instructors, and the foreign guests’ adult companions are assistants to the “team leaders”. The teams match their strength in a number of sports and other competitions, and besides the English language, they also practice cooperation and joint decision-making.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to provide the young people with lasting experiences” – said Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Csaba László Boros, the commander of the camp. The officer of the HDF 1st Territorial Defence Regiment told us that soldiers from all seven territorial defence regiments are represented among the team leaders and assistants of the camp, and the military athletes of the HDF Sport Company are also contributing to the conduct of the programs.

Among other representants of organizations assuming an active role in the organization of the international camp, also present at the official opening were Andrea Aranykovács, Head of Division, Division of Cultural and Social Relations, Ministry of Defence Department for Defence, Education, Culture and Science Management, as well as Colonel Norbert Vadászi, Deputy Commander, HDF vitéz Szurmay Sándor Budapest Garrison Brigade.