A legacy of nature, companionship and personal growth of the competition on its anniversary
The sun shines in the sky, and the murmur of nature joins the chorus of laughter and camp songs. This is the atmosphere at Camp Cabrillas in Orea, as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, marking half a century of unforgettable experiences in the midst of nature.
Founded in 1973, Camp Cabrillas in Orea has become a beacon of adventure, friendship and personal growth for generations of young people. From its modest beginnings as a small summer camp, it has grown and evolved over the years, but has maintained its commitment to providing campers with meaningful experiences in nature.
A walk through history
Half a century ago, a group of visionary Piarists formed by Fr Gumer, Fr José Ramón and Fr Víctor Martínez set out to create a space where young people could escape the urban routine and connect with nature. What started as a small camp in the mountains has grown into an extensive area that includes a hostel, the Cabrillas stays, climbing wall, zip lines, Tibetan bridges,… and hiking trails. Over the years, Camp Cabrillas has enriched the lives of thousands of campers and has left an indelible mark on the local community.
Anniversary celebrations
To commemorate its 50th anniversary, Camp Cabrillas organised a series of special events. On the 20th of October in the Assembly Hall of the Colegio S. José de Cala Bethany Province
Fifty years of adventure and friendship: celebrating the anniversary of Camp Cabrillas in Orea
A legacy of nature, camaraderie and personal growth from the anniversary competition
The sun shines in the sky and the sound of nature mingles with the chorus of laughter and camp songs. This is the atmosphere at Camp Cabrillas in Orea, which is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary, marking half a century of unforgettable experiences in the midst of nature.
Founded in 1973, Camp Cabrillas in Orea has become a beacon of adventure, friendship and personal growth for generations of young people. From its humble beginnings as a small summer camp, it has grown and evolved over the years, but has remained true to its commitment to providing campers with meaningful experiences in nature.
A walk through history
Half a century ago, a group of visionary Piarists, consisting of Father Gumer, Father José Ramón and Father Víctor Martínez, set out to create a place where young people could escape the urban routine and connect with nature. What began as a small camp in the mountains has grown into a sprawling site that includes a hostel, the Cabrillas stays, a climbing wall, zip lines, Tibetan bridges and hiking trails. Over the years, Camp Cabrillas has enriched the lives of thousands of campers and left an indelible mark on the local community.
Anniversary celebrations
To mark its 50th anniversary, Camp Cabrillas has organised a series of special events. On 20 October, a ceremony was held in the auditorium of the Colegio S. José de Calasanz in Valencia to honour the different people who have made this success possible, including Father Víctor Martínez, who recalled his beginnings with Father Gumer in acquiring land and founding the camp. Juan Antonio López “Juanto”, who as the first camp director set the guidelines and activities of the camp for the first 18 years; then the current camp directors Carlos García and Javier Aguillo, who have underpinned the structure of this great camp, and finally Juan Cuesta as a representative and source of inspiration for the Piarist volunteers. Also taking part in the event were José Mula, who shared many anecdotes from the early days of the camp, Alberto Izquierdo as the author of our anthem, Jesus Salvador, “the great cook”, and the participation of “Juanto” and Leo himself on guitar, who provided the evening with live music. The celebrations ended with a dinner in the school courtyard with portico.
The next event took place on the weekend of 28 October at the Camp itself, where outdoor activities were on the programme, such as the 400 m zip line, the climbing wall, the zip line in the ravine, various bridges between trees… the facilities were shown with all the improvements that have been made in recent years, and then we enjoyed a fantastic paella cooked by Hana. Later, there was a Eucharistic celebration at the hostel, celebrated by Father Santiago Sanchez, where we were able to give thanks for the time spent together and the joy of the camp. The highlight of all the events was the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Saint Joseph Calasanz, a mentor and source of inspiration for all Piarist works. These events brought together former campers of all ages, many of whom had not seen each other for decades.
The lasting impact
What makes Camp Cabrillas so special is its ability to create lasting memories and valuable lessons. For half a century, it has enabled young people to discover their potential, gain life skills and make friendships that last a lifetime. Camp veterans speak fondly of how their experiences here have helped them overcome challenges, develop leadership skills and appreciate the beauty of nature.
The future of Camp Cabrillas
As Camp Cabrillas celebrates its first 50 years, it is also looking to the future. The camp has plans to expand its programmes and create opportunities for an even more diverse audience. The mission to inspire young people to connect with nature and develop personally remains the camp’s main driving force.
In short, Camp Cabrillas has been a beacon in the lives of thousands of young people for five decades. Its fiftieth anniversary is not only a celebration of its history, but also a reminder of the importance of giving young people the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature and grow up in a supportive and friendly environment. Here, the adventures continue, and the future of Camp Cabrillas is as bright as its past.
Salvador Doménechsanz in Valencia, a ceremony was held to pay tribute to the different people who made this achievement possible, among them Fr. Víctor Martínez who recalled his beginnings with Fr. Gumer in the acquisition of land and the different constructions that were executed; then to Juan Antonio López “Juanto” as the first Camp Manager who established the guidelines and activities of the Camp during the first 18 years; then to the current Camp Managers Carlos García and Javier Aguillo, who have underpinned the structure of this magnificent camp and finally to Juan Cuesta in representation and source of inspiration of the Piarist Volunteers. Also participated in the event, José Mula, providing plenty of anecdotes of the camp in its beginnings, Alberto Izquierdo, as author of our anthem, Jesus Salvador “the great chef” as well as the participation of “Juanto” and Leo himself on guitars, providing live music during the evening. The festivities ended with a dinner in the school’s porticoed courtyard.
The next event was held on the weekend of the 28th of October at the Camp itself where outdoor activities were included, enjoying the 400 m zip line, climbing wall, the zip line in the chasm, various bridges between trees… the facilities were shown with all the improvements that have been made in recent years, and then we enjoyed a fantastic paella cooked by Hana. Later there was a Eucharistic celebration in the Hostel officiated by Fr. Santiago Sanchez where we could give thanks for sharing and enjoying the Camp and as a culmination of all the events a plaque was unveiled in honour of St. Joseph Calasanz as mentor and source of inspiration of all the Piarist works. These events have brought together former campers of all ages, many of whom had not seen each other for decades.
The lasting impact
What makes Camp Cabrillas so special is its ability to create lasting memories and valuable lessons. For half a century, it has empowered young people to discover their potential, gain life skills and forge friendships that last a lifetime. Camp veterans speak fondly of how their experiences here helped them overcome challenges, develop leadership skills and learn to appreciate the beauty of nature.
The future of Camp Cabrillas
As Camp Cabrillas celebrates its first 50 years, it is also looking to the future. The camp has plans to expand its programmes and provide opportunities for an even more diverse audience. The mission to continue to inspire young people to connect with nature and develop personally remains its main driving force.
In short, Camp Cabrillas has been a beacon of light in the lives of thousands of young people for five decades. Its fiftieth anniversary is not only a celebration of its history, but also a reminder of the importance of giving young people the opportunity to experience the beauty of nature and grow up in a supportive and friendly environment. This is where the adventures continue, and the future of Camp Cabrillas is as bright as its past.
Salvador Doménech
