August 2025

Youth Camp 2025

10 days of adventure, community, and nature in Bosnia

Visoko, BiH
14–18 years

Impressions & Memories

In August 2025, a youth group from the Christian Community in Dortmund visited the Peace Garden in Visoko. The following reports and pictures tell the story of what they experienced.

Setting up the tents

On August 11, 2025, the youth group from the Christian Community arrived at Sarajevo airport at 11 PM. After a 45-minute bus ride and a short hike up the mountain, the group reached the camp and set up their tents under sparkling stars and the chirping of crickets. A magical moment!

Morning Circle

Every morning, everyone gathered for the morning circle to look ahead at the coming day. The day was welcomed with singing, games, and an open discussion round.

Breakfast

Teams were formed regularly to take care of the various needs of the camp. Preparing breakfast was a central part of this, making it possible to enjoy a great breakfast every morning as the sun rose over the panoramic view.

Cooking Together

Daily cooking also turned into a small event and was often a wonderful delight.

Baking Bread

There is an oven on the property where we regularly baked our own fragrant bread. Kneading the dough and finding the right temperature and baking time in the wood-fired oven was always a challenge, but it was mastered perfectly. The result was delicious!

At the Campfire

Every evening, we gathered around the campfire. Stories of the day were shared, and everyone had the chance to give their personal reflection. The whole experience was accompanied by wonderful guitar music, played by Mr. Laurens Hornemann, the priest of the Christian Community—and everyone sang along. Afterward, we headed to a short evening devotion.

German-Bosnian Evening

One afternoon, we invited some Bosnian friends over. About 25 people from different generations joined us. Two guitarists accompanied the festivities. The entire event was precisely planned by the youth, giving the celebration a great sense of structure and energy.

After the opening speech, the youth led the guests across the property, giving them an impression of the entire project. Afterward, there was delicious food from the grill, and soon everyone gathered around the campfire to sing and dance, accompanied by the sounds of the guitars.

Day Trip to Sarajevo

During this day trip, the youth explored the historically significant city of Sarajevo, including its old town and the Baščaršija bazaar, the mosques, the churches, and the world-famous Latin Bridge. This is the site where the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, and his wife took place—an event considered the trigger for World War I. Naturally, we also tried the typical Bosnian coffee and took the opportunity to get some rest.

Visit to the Tunnels and the Bosnian Pyramids

We spent an entire day exploring the world-famous Bosnian pyramids, which are within walking distance of the property, as well as the connected tunnel system—very impressive…

Rafting on the Neretva

A special treat was the rafting on the Neretva. The river was ice-cold, yet many daring souls plunged into the wet and chilly adventure anyway. At noon, we were fed at a small grill station right by the river. The picturesque canyons we passed through, along with the recurring rapids, will surely remain in our memories.

Mountain Tour near Jablanica

The three-day mountain tour in the alpine mountains around Jablanica was a true highlight. Breathtaking views, star-filled nights, and overnight stays in mountain huts made the hike a unique and unforgettable experience for the youth.

Closing evening

On the final evening, we all gathered around the campfire. There were reflections, short speeches, and plenty of laughter during sketches and anecdotes. It was a fitting conclusion to this special journey. It was simply a fantastic trip—thank you all for contributing so much to it!