About Prometheus Camps

The Prometheus camps are politically non-aligned coming-of-age camps without a religious tendency, intended for 14-15 year old teenagers. The camps are primarily aimed at pupils who don't belong to any religious order and who have ethics & life stance as a subject at school.

Who arranges the camps?

The Prometheus Camp Asso­ciation was founded in 1990 to organize the camps. The previous year, the camp activity was begun by the Finnish Philosophy and Life Stance teachers' coalition.

Preparing and running the camps, as well as training the camp leaders, is completely based on voluntary work. Our activity is exemplary in the field of youth work, as most of the volunteers who do the planning and run the operations are under 20 years of age, youngsters who have been at camps themselves. Our economy is on a sound basis, but we have had to learn frugality in everything. Our funding is solely based on camp fees, membership dues and a modest subsidy from the Finnish Ministry of Education.

The associations' activity isn't only limited to organizing the camps. All around Finland local Prometheus Camp groups have been established, where young people regularly get together. The groups continue the discussions that began at the camp, invite guest speakers to talk about interesting topics, and advertise the camp activity among teenagers. Local Prometheus activists are very willing to come to schools and events to tell about the camps and the association.

What takes place at the camp?

The purpose of the camp is to give young people tools and means to develop their own life stance. During the week spent at the camp, we deal with topics that are of importance from the young persons own perspective, without committing to any particular belief, religion or ideology. We have no lectures. Instead, we work on the topics by open discussions, debating, group work, small drama plays or just simply by playing games. The main goal is to get the participants to think about the basic ethical and ideological questions of their own life. Our unprejudiced and secure atmosphere encourages the participants to share their own thoughts and views and to listen to others.

Every camp day has a principal topic. The topics are; differences and discrimination, drugs, alcohol and addiction, society and social issues, the future, and world religions and ideologies. In addition to these, there are also supplementary topics: personal relations, dating and sexuality, youth cultures, the environment, world views, and how one can make a difference in the society.

During the later part of the camp week a panel discussion is arranged, to which people representing different ideologies and religions are invited. The camp ends with a Prometheus Ceremony, to which parents, friends and relatives are welcome. At the ceremony, the participants perform a chronicle about the week that they put together themselves. They get a Prometheus-diploma, a Prometheus-medallion and a crown of leafs that is bound by the camp leaders. Many families continue the festivities at home after the camp to celebrate the coming of age of their young ones.

The camp leaders are adult volunteers of all ages, teachers, students, doctors, contractors, engineers etc. They are bound together by an interest to think and talk about life stance issues, and to work with young people. In addition to two adult leaders, there are five assistant leaders who are camp participants of the previous years.

Each summer, numerous camps are held at several locations all over Finland. Among these there are special theme camps such as hiking, sailing, acting, bicycling and ecological camps. There are also camps for English and Swedish speaking youngsters. More information about the camps can be found in the camp brochure, which is published in the autumn. The brochure can be ordered from our office or it can be read at our web site.

The Prometheus Camps have been named after the titan Prometheus from the Greek mythology, who stole the skill of fire from the gods in order to give it to the humans. By doing this he brought about the evolution of the human culture.

How can I participate?

New enthusiastic people are constantly needed to help run the Prometheus camp activity. Most urgently we need adult camp leaders, more than one hundred each summer.

We welcome people who are interested in all kinds of life events, and who are willing to spend one vacation week together with youngsters, talking and working with all kinds of topics. Our association provides training for all camp leaders during a couple of spring season weekends. No monetary compensation is paid for the work, but the other benefits are plentiful. Full board and lodging for the camp week, new friends, lots of hugging, wonderful summer memories, sunsets and surprising ideas. We're constantly expanding our non-Finnish and cross-cultural activities. If you're interested in becoming a camp leader or in participating and developing our international work, please contact our association.

Everybody who wants to support this ideologically independent coming of age activity is welcome to join our association. All members get our newsletter that is published six times a year. Our members are also among the first to get our coming summer camp brochure.