Ministry of Defence hosts children's summer camps with continued success

The Ministry of Defence has teamed up with the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS) to continue offering summer camps for children aged 8-13. The camp programme, which was met with positive responses last year, features an exciting schedule of recreational, sporting and military-themed activities. This year a larger number of children, especially from socially disadvantaged families are expected to attend.

Active lifestyle and military-themed training

The goal of the summer camp is to get children and youth leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Under the guidance of qualified instructors, they will engage in various activities – sports and games, orienteering, self-defence, and team challenges.

Sharing his thoughts, Deputy Defence Minister Igor Melicher said: “Our summer campers will embrace values ​​such as discipline, teamwork and perseverance. I am sure this year’s camps will also be a place where children will have an experience of a lifetime which they will carry with them into their future lives.”

Bringing children of different backgrounds together

The summer camps are primarily intended for children from socially disadvantaged families, single parent families, and service and civilian families. If there are any free places, this offer may also be extended to children of law enforcement officers and students from the schools cooperating with the MOD under the 'Populations in Defence of the State' Training Concept.

Speaking of this year's summer camps, Martin Rímeš, Director General of the MOD Personnel and Social Affairs Dept, said: “After the successful 2024 pilot project – which was intended for children from military and civilian families, the MOD has decided to carry on with this initiative. With growing interest in the camps, the MOD is expanding its capacities and is planning to host up to 2,353 children in 2025.”

Fostering a sense of collective spirit

The 'Children's Summer Camps' project naturally follows on from long-term cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the Slovak Towns and Villages Association (ZMOS). The MOD wants to motivate children to stay fit, do sports, and engage in experiential learning, while emphasising the elements of military-themed training – which are absolutely justified in the modern world.

On restoring the tradition of military-themed training in schools across Slovakia, Jozef Božík, Chair of the Slovak Towns and Villages Association, said: “Military-themed activities – which used to form an integral part of the curriculum in the past – are already proving their value today. Thanks to them, children will explore a range of sports, develop practical skills, and build a sense of collective spirit, which is increasingly important today. We perceive a mix of sporting and military-themed activities as a key step towards shaping our civic responsibility, physical fitness standards, and the system of values for young people. Through our cooperation with the MOD, we believe we will be able to restore the tradition of military-themed training in schools – in a modern and attractive format that will appeal to both students and teachers across Slovakia.”