International Friendship Camp (IFC)

The International Friendship Camp (IFC) is a Scout-led initiative designed to strengthen international friendships, encourage cultural exchange, and develop youth leadership across national borders. It brings together young people, parents, and leaders from different Scouting organisations to experience Scouting in a truly international setting.

Upcoming Event: International Friendship Camp 2026

The next International Friendship Camp (IFC) will take place at Pfadfinderdorf Zellhof, the international Scout centre in Austria.

Dates: 30 April – 3 May 2026 Note: Friday, 1 May, is a public holiday

IFC 2026 will continue the tradition of youth-led international cooperation, bringing Scouts from multiple countries together to plan, lead, and experience Scouting across cultures. Participants will play an active role in shaping the programme, activities, and campfire, reinforcing the Patrol Method at an international level.

What Is the International Friendship Camp?

The International Friendship Camp was created by Scouters who wanted to provide meaningful opportunities for young people to interact across borders and exchange Scouting culture in a practical, hands-on way. Rather than focusing only on attendance numbers, IFC emphasises participation, responsibility, and collaboration.

Each camp is built around shared experiences, joint activities, and everyday interaction, allowing Scouts to learn from one another while living the values of Scouting in an international environment.

IFC Appreciation

The IFC was more fun than Intercamp - Zellhof 2024

That was the most fun campout I have been on - Garmisch 2025
Zellhof 2026 (from the WhatsApp comments).

Danke für das geile Wochenende. Ich hab während der Rückfahrt bereits die ein oder andere Sprachnachricht verschickt um Werbung für nächstes Jahr zu machen.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone for your hard work in making IFC26 such a memorable experience for the scouts. Your efforts truly paid off, and Troop 427 look forward to collaborating with you all again next year! Danke, danke, danke!

Ich stimme zu!  Wir hatten eine wunderschöne Zeit.  Wir haben tolle Erinnerungen gesammelt und freuen uns schon auf das nächste Mal.  Vielen herzlichen Dank.

This was our best ever Scout campout adventure. Thank you for making a truly amazing experience for all the kids!!

The IFC Project: Youth Leadership on an International Scale

A Year-Long, Youth-Led Process

At the heart of IFC is a strong commitment to youth leadership. International youth participant leaders work together throughout the year to organise each camp.

Their responsibilities include:

• Selecting the camp location and dates
• Developing the camp theme
• Planning activities and workshops
• Designing the official event patch
• Organising and hosting the IFC campfire programme

The campfire is led by the youth themselves, with participants acting as MCs in multiple languages. Because the youth have already collaborated before arriving at camp, they develop a strong sense of ownership and form connections more quickly once the event begins.

This approach reflects the core values of Scouts Bavaria, BSO, and PPÖ, and demonstrates the Patrol Method applied on an international scale.

History of the International Friendship Camp

The First IFC – Austria (2022)

The first International Friendship Camp was co-hosted by Randolph Caldwell of Scouting America and Philipp “Phips” Lehar of the PPÖ. The idea emerged during the Covid-era TAC Summer Palooza, a three-week online event that brought Scouters together despite global restrictions.

As soon as Covid mitigation measures allowed, the first IFC was held at the Tiroler Pfadfinderzentrum–Igls. Participants included Troop 50 (T50) and Troop 21 (T21), alongside Austrian Scouts from Innsbruck to Salzburg.

Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen aus Nah und Fern – 29. Mai 2022

The Second IFC – Königsdorf, Germany (2023)

The second IFC, held in May 2023, became the most successful camp to date. Hosted at Hochland, Königsdorf, the event welcomed Scouts from five nations: the USA, Austria, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine.

This IFC was combined with the Edelweiss District Spring Camporee and included nine Ukrainian refugee Scouts living in Germany without their parents.

Key elements of the programme included:

• 30 Polish Scouts attending the Dachau Liberation Celebration
• American, German, and Austrian Scouts taking part in a Messengers of Peace workshop, sponsored by the Austrian Scouts and delivered by a Vienna-based team

Internationales Pfadfindercamp in Königsdorf – „Kinder organisieren aktiv mit“ – 20.03.2023
Pfadfinderlager: Internationale Hochstapler in der Jugendsiedlung Hochland – 09.05.2023

The Third IFC – Zellhof, Austria (2024)

The third IFC took place at Zellhof, Austria, and expanded participation to include Scouts from the United Kingdom (BSO) and the Czech Republic.

Scouts from Prague reported that they enjoyed the IFC experience more than Intercamp, highlighting the value of IFC’s youth-led structure and its focus on meaningful international collaboration.

The Fourth IFC – Garmisch, Germany (2025)

The fourth IFC was held at the Edelweiss Resort Wilderness Campground in Garmisch, Germany. While attendance was smaller than in previous years due to competition with Oktoberfest, the camp was an important moment for the project.

The organising team:

• Expanded
• Recommitted to the long-term vision of IFC
• Strengthened the foundation for future camps

This event confirmed that IFC’s success is driven by commitment and continuity, not by scale alone.