From June to September, some 160 activities aimed at youngsters are planned. The offerings include 102 "Urban Summer" initiatives, i.e., activities in the centers themselves that encourage greater participation; 23 nature camps; and 31 Faith Education Itinerary (IEF) camps, designed specifically for the spiritual and pastoral care of young people. All these proposals are possible thanks to the involvement of some 300 Salesians and 2,750 youth workers, young people who devote part of their vacations to accompanying children and adolescents.
Also taking place this year is "Campobosco," an event in which young people from the Provinces of Spain and Portugal will gather in Turin, Italy, from July 30 to Aug. 8, to visit places that played a key role in Don Bosco's history and the birth of Salesian work. 660 young Spaniards are expected to participate. In addition, a group will participate in the European Youth Pilgrimage, organized by the Spanish Bishops' Conference, to be held in Santiago de Compostela.
But the summer is also a time of formation. Godelleta (Valencia), Sanlúcar la Mayor (Seville), Llinars del Vallés (Barcelona) and Mohernando (Guadalajara) are the venues that will host the Formation Days for Animators, in which about 150 young people will participate. The goal is to provide them with technical and spiritual formation so that they can continue their task of animation to other young people.
Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, and educators will also take advantage of these dates to receive formation. Among the meetings already confirmed are the "Days of Theological-Pastoral Actualization," to be held in Santiago de Compostela July 22-24, with the participation of a group of Salesians. Fr. Jesús Rojano, SDB, will address the theme, "A look at today's youth culture," with which he intends to help the confreres better understand young people and look at them as Don Bosco saw them.
