It's the most repeated question in every club across South America: when is the next South American Camporee? The answer is already confirmed. The 6th South American Pathfinder Camporee takes place in January 2027, at Parque do Peão, in Barretos (SP), with the theme "Always a Pathfinder." There's a detail many people still get confused about: the event has been split into two stages, and each participant chooses only one of them. Below, we've gathered everything the official Adventist sources have released so far, so you can plan your club's preparation with confidence.
When and where Campori DSA 2027 will be held
The 6th South American Pathfinder Camporee takes place in January 2027, at Parque do Peão, in Barretos, in the interior of São Paulo state — the same venue that hosted the 2019 Camporee. It's an event of the South American Division (DSA), which brings together clubs from eight countries.
The big new feature of this edition is that it has been organized into two stages, each with six days of programming. The Alpha stage runs from January 5 to 10, 2027. The Omega stage runs from January 12 to 17, 2027. Both share the same theme and equivalent programming — the only difference is the dates.
The official theme guiding the whole event is "Always a Pathfinder," and organizers expect to gather around 120,000 participants, which, according to them, would represent the largest number of Pathfinders ever gathered at an event of this kind in the world.
| Stage | Dates (January 2027) | Shared theme |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha | January 5-10 | Always a Pathfinder |
| Omega | January 12-17 | Always a Pathfinder |
The two stages of the 6th South American Camporee have equivalent programming; each participant chooses only one.
Why the Camporee was split into two stages
A natural question is: why not hold everything at once, as in previous Camporees? According to the organizers, the event was split into two stages to allow the large crowd in attendance to make the most of every Camporee activity. With fewer people at a time in each stage, each participant's experience becomes more complete.
In practice, this means an important rule your club should understand from the start: each participant chooses only one of the two stages. It isn't necessary (or even possible) to attend both. Since Alpha and Omega have equivalent programming, whoever attends the Alpha stage experiences the same event as whoever attends the Omega stage.
For the club, deciding which stage to choose usually comes down to logistics: families' availability, the school vacation period, transportation, and guidance from the local field (union or mission). This decision is normally made together with regional leadership, and the club confirms the stage at the time of registration.
"The event takes place in two stages to allow the large crowd in attendance to make the most of every Camporee activity."Adventist News, on the 6th South American Camporee
Why it moved from 2026 to 2027
Many clubs began preparing for a 2026 Camporee — and the change raised questions. The official explanation is straightforward: the Camporee was originally scheduled for 2026 and was moved to January 2027 due to the need to adjust the Adventist Church's event calendar.
In other words, this isn't a cancellation or a problem with the event: it's simply a date adjustment within the Church's broader schedule. The Camporee remains confirmed, at the same location (Barretos) and with the same theme ("Always a Pathfinder") — just moved to January 2027.
The practical upside for directors is that preparation now has extra breathing room. There's more time for the club to work through classes, earn honors, get the team in physical shape, and organize the required paperwork — topics we return to in the checklist below.
How the club registers
Registration for Campori DSA 2027 is not done individually by the family: it's done by the club. In practice, the process is led by the director, who handles the steps through the Club Management System (SGC) — the Church's official system — following the event's official Guidelines Manual.
To take part, the basic requirement is to be an active Pathfinder enrolled in a club. So the first step for any interested family is to reach out to the club in their city or region: that's the only way to register for the Camporee.
On a much-searched question — the registration fee — we have to be upfront: fees vary by union and by country and must be confirmed in the official Guidelines Manual and through the SGC. That's why we don't publish a specific number here: the correct fee for your club is always whatever appears in the Manual and the official system. According to the preliminary schedule on the event's official website, there is a projected registration sales window for international participants between June 24 and July 31, 2026, with payment via PayPal — but treat this as a projection to be confirmed, since the Brazilian process runs through the SGC.
Leadership of the South American Division's Pathfinder and Adventurer Ministry is held by Pastor Jeferson Silva, who is responsible for coordinating the ministry across the region's eight countries.
The participating countries
The South American Camporee brings together clubs from eight countries in South America, plus international guests. They are: Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.
This mix of nationalities is one of the event's hallmarks. During the camping days, it's common to see flags from several countries side by side, different accents crossing paths during activities, and friendships forming among Pathfinders who live thousands of miles apart.
That's why the roughly 120,000-participant figure is so striking: bringing together Pathfinders from eight countries in one place, around a single theme, is what makes the South American Camporee one of the largest youth gatherings on the continent.
Director's checklist to start preparing
Even though the final details on fees and deadlines will come from the Manual and the SGC, there's a lot a club can get ahead of right now. A Camporee is won (and enjoyed) through a full year of preparation. Below is a generic, practical checklist to guide the start of planning — always adjusting to your local field's guidance.
Classes and honors: keep regular classes on track and encourage earning honors. Many Camporee activities test exactly what's learned throughout the year, so the more solid the content, the better the team's performance — and experience.
Physical fitness and stamina: a Camporee is a multi-day camping event, with hikes, activities, and an intense routine. It's worth gradually preparing the team with physical activities and camping simulations, so no one arrives unprepared for the event.
Paperwork and authorizations: start early organizing ID documents, parental authorizations for minors, and the records required by the club and the local field. Leaving this for the last week is the classic recipe for stress.
Logistics and communication: decide early which stage (Alpha or Omega), plan transportation and lodging along the way, and keep families well informed. Clear alignment and communication head off almost every last-minute surprise.