A sea of tents, uniforms and drum corps took over Mandirituba, in the metropolitan region of Curitiba (PR), in November 2025. According to Notícias Adventistas, more than 3,500 Pathfinders coming from 92 clubs gathered for the 'Valentes' Camporee, one of the largest gatherings of its kind ever held in southern Paraná.
Beyond the camping and the competitions, the event went down in local history for a specific reason: the investiture of 130 new leaders, described by the official publication of the Adventist Church as the largest ceremony of its kind ever recorded in the region. The four-day program combined challenges, recreation, spiritual moments and a popular drum corps contest.
The theme 'Valentes' (Brave Ones) guided the entire journey, with messages anchored in the biblical story of Joshua and Caleb — the two spies who, in the face of collective fear, chose courage and trust in the promise of the land of Canaan.
What happened
According to Notícias Adventistas, the Mandirituba events park brought together more than 3,500 Pathfinders during four days in November 2025. There were 92 clubs camped side by side, each with its own identity, flag and drum corps, forming a temporary city driven by discipline, faith and team spirit.
A Camporee is the largest campout on the Pathfinders' calendar: it gathers several clubs from the same region for intense days of camping, competitions, drill and worship. In Mandirituba, the structure followed this classic format, but gained extra weight from the leadership ceremony held throughout the gathering.
The historic investiture
The high point of the Camporee was the investiture of 130 new leaders. According to Notícias Adventistas, this was the largest investiture ceremony ever held in southern Paraná — a milestone that helps explain why the event was described as historic.
The Investiture is the moment when Pathfinders and volunteers officially receive recognition for completing a class or a leadership course, such as the Master Guide. Investing 130 people at once signals an uncommon surge in the training of new leaders for the region's clubs.
The numbers of the gathering
The released figures give a sense of the scale of the event. According to Notícias Adventistas, there were more than 3,500 participants, 92 clubs represented, 130 leaders invested and four days of programming, in November 2025.
The official publication also recorded 48 baptisms performed during the Camporee — an indicator that, for many young people, the campout went beyond competition and involved decisions of faith. All of these numbers are attributed to the coverage by Notícias Adventistas.
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Each Camporee tends to revolve around a theme that gives unity to the program. In Mandirituba, the one chosen was 'Valentes', with messages based on the story of Joshua and Caleb, the two explorers who, in the biblical account, trusted in the promise of the land of Canaan while the rest of the group retreated in the face of fear.
According to Notícias Adventistas, the theme was even translated into theatrical performances about these characters, bringing the message closer to the young people's practical experience: facing challenges, cultivating courage and taking on responsibilities. It is the kind of guiding thread that turns challenges and recreation into opportunities for character formation.
Challenges, recreation and drum corps
The routine of a Camporee mixes physical effort and celebration. In Mandirituba, the program brought together challenges, recreational activities, spiritual moments and a drum corps contest, according to Notícias Adventistas. The drum corps — marching bands formed by the Pathfinders themselves — are a visual and sonic hallmark of these gatherings and usually take months of rehearsal to prepare.
This set of activities is not incidental: drill, competitions and performances develop coordination, teamwork and a sense of belonging, core values of the movement. For many participants, a Camporee is the experience that consolidates the club's identity throughout the year.
Background: the Pathfinders in Paraná
The Pathfinder Club is a program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church aimed at boys and girls, generally between 10 and 15 years old, that combines outdoor life, honors, community service and spiritual formation. In Brazil, the movement is coordinated by the church's Youth Ministry and mobilizes tens of thousands of young people in every state.
Paraná is one of the Pathfinders' traditional strongholds in the country, with a strong presence of clubs in Greater Curitiba and in the interior. A gathering that brings together 92 clubs and more than 3,500 participants, like the one in Mandirituba, illustrates the regional reach of the movement and the strength of the network of volunteers that sustains each club throughout the entire year.