Imagine a place where, for a few days, tens of thousands of tents spring up side by side, campfires light up at dusk, and a crowd of young people marches, sings, and prays together. That is the South American Division Campori — the great gathering that brings together Pathfinder Clubs from eight countries across South America. But it wasn't always this way. It all began small, at the turn of 1983 into 1984, in an open field in Foz do Iguaçu. Here we've gathered what official Adventist sources record about each edition: the dates, locations, themes, and the impressive growth of this event over more than four decades.
What is the South American Division Campori
The Campori (camporee) is the great campout of Pathfinder Clubs: for a few days, multiple clubs gather in one place to camp, compete in events, experience spirituality, and celebrate friendship. Camporees happen at several levels — club, region, conference, union, and division. The South American Division (SAD) Campori is the largest of these in our part of the world: it brings together Pathfinders from eight countries (Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Ecuador).
Because it is the region's largest-reaching gathering, it is held from time to time — not every year — always with a central theme, spiritual programming, and official events. Each edition becomes a milestone in the memory of those who attend, and many Pathfinders carry the memory of their first South American Campori for a lifetime.
The 1st Campori (1983-1984): where it all began
South America's milestone event took place at the turn of 1983 into 1984. From December 28, 1983, to January 4, 1984, the South American Division held its 1st Pathfinder Campori in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná. It was directed by Pastor Cláudio Belz, then a leader connected to youth work in the Division, and the chosen theme was "From Nature to the Creator" — an invitation to look at creation and see God behind it.
For the time, the numbers already impressed. Historical records point to the participation of approximately 104 clubs and about 3,500 Pathfinders, coming from countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Chile. Standardization was a luxury back then: accounts say few clubs had matching tents — many improvised with black tarp or army surplus material. It was the beginning of it all.
That gathering paved the way. More than a decade would pass before the second edition, but the seed was planted: South America would discover a taste for bringing its Pathfinders together in ever-larger campouts.
"First Pathfinder Campori of the South American Division, from December 28 to January 4, 1984, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil."Official Pathfinders website (adventistas.org)
The years of consolidation
After the pioneering event in Foz do Iguaçu, two editions followed that consolidated the event. The 2nd Campori took place in January 1994, in the city of Ponta Grossa (Paraná), under the direction of Pastor José Maria Barbosa. Sources point to a significant jump in attendance — from the thousands to about ten thousand Pathfinders.
Eleven years later, in January 2005, the 3rd Campori was held in Santa Helena (Paraná), directed by Pastor Erton Köhler — who would later become one of the Adventist Church's top world leaders. This edition is reported to have drawn around twenty thousand participants, doubling the size of the gathering once again.
As for the themes of these two editions, an honest note is in order: the official Pathfinders website confirms dates, locations, and directors, but does not detail the mottos. Community-run encyclopedias record "On the Trail of the Pioneers" for 1994 and "Fountain of Hope" for 2005 — information that circulates widely but that we could not confirm in an official source. For that reason, we treat these two themes as likely rather than certain.
The Barretos era
Starting with the fourth edition, the SAD Campori found a new home: the Parque do Peão, in Barretos (São Paulo), one of the largest event venues in Latin America. The 4th Campori took place in January 2014, directed by Pastor Udolcy Zukowski, and drew around 35,000 Pathfinders. The theme recorded by community sources is "An Appointment Set in Eternity."
The next leap was monumental. The 5th Campori, in 2019, also in Barretos and again under the direction of Pastor Udolcy Zukowski, had the theme "The Best Adventure" and drew about 100,000 participants. It was so large that it had to be split into two editions held in different weeks of January — called Alpha and Omega — because not even the Parque do Peão could hold everyone at once.
In a little over three decades, what began with 3,500 Pathfinders in an open field in Foz do Iguaçu had turned into one of the largest youth campouts in the world. The growth alone tells a story of faith and of a generation passionate about the movement.
The next chapter: 6th Campori
The story hasn't stopped. The 6th South American Campori is set for January 2027, once again at the Parque do Peão, in Barretos, with the theme "Always a Pathfinder." Organizers expect to gather about 120,000 children and teens from across the South American Division, under the direction of Pastor Jeferson Silva.
Following the model that worked so well in 2019, the event will again be split into two stages: the Alpha campout, from January 5 to 10, and Omega, from January 12 to 17. Since this is a future event, dates and numbers may be adjusted — it's always worth checking official channels for the most up-to-date information.
From the theme "From Nature to the Creator," in 1983, to "Always a Pathfinder," in 2027, there's a thread that has never broken: the desire to bring young people together, build character, and draw them closer to God. It's the same flame from that first campfire in Foz do Iguaçu, now multiplied across a hundred thousand tents.
"120,000 Pathfinders from several countries are expected at the 6th South American Campori."Adventist News (noticias.adventistas.org)
Why this history matters
Following the trajectory of the SAD Camporees is watching a simple idea win over a continent. Each edition surpassed the previous one not just in numbers, but in structure, in reach, and in ambition. And yet the purpose has remained intact: to give Pathfinders an unforgettable experience of faith, friendship, and service.
The next time you hear about a South American Campori, remember that it started small — with just over a hundred clubs and makeshift tents. What changed was the size. The heart is still the same as it was in 1983.