Viki first came to Bátor Tábor as a child. Today, she returns as a volunteer, helping other children experience the special world where she once discovered that nothing is impossible.

Viki first came to Bátor Tábor as a child. Today, she returns as a volunteer, helping other children experience the special world where she once discovered that nothing is impossible.

It’s a little difficult for me to put into words what Bátor Tábor is like. Perhaps my father’s words describe it best: “I couldn’t imagine that a place like this still existed in the world.”

I was very young when I first came to camp, but I still remember the zipline, the giant swing, my first volunteer friends, Petra the horse, Fabatka, Farabella and the camp dances. I could never make it through the camp song without crying: as soon as the first notes begin, I remember how much being part of Bátor Tábor means to me.

To me, camp is a burst of colour, a bomb of smiles, humour, and a place where I know I can truly be myself. Camp is my protective shield. Because of my illness, I often missed out on games, sports and running around with others in the “outside world”. That was never the case at camp. There were many children like me. I didn’t feel alone, and I didn’t feel limited by my illness.

Camp wasn’t like the “outside world”. Everything works so differently here. And precisely because it is so different, it is impossible to put into words. You have to experience it. Here, there is no such thing as impossible. There were so many activities in a single day that I didn’t even think about my illness.

At first, it felt very strange to return to camp as a volunteer after having been a camper. Can I go through the red stop-sign doors? Am I now allowed to do so? Can I see the therapeutic recreation behind the scenes? I felt a little like I was an undercover agent. During learnin about therapeutic recreation, I had so many “Oh, so that’s why!” moments. I simply call it Bátor Tábor magic.

I had already decided as a camper that I wanted to become a volunteer. I always thought that I wanted to pass on to other children what I had received from camp. I wanted them to experience all the wonderful things that make me call Bátor Tábor my home.