For the 13th consecutive summer, the Public Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development organizes “Ezerets” Eco-camps. Along with our traditional activities, several new things happened during these camps. And none of them turned out to be fatal.
For the first time:
- The weather was so cold, stormy, and rainy; (But spirits didn’t drop. Some even had fun.)
- From the lawn of the tented camp we joined an online meeting about the circular economy; (“Lake Place” was listed as a model place for the circular economy.)
- The two camp shifts were at half their usual capacity – 8 participants each instead of 16; (This is the first post-covenant camp. People preferred more and farther trips.)
- We planted 6 oak trees along the camp fence; (The hope is that one day they will cast shade on the tents.)
- We repaired the summer kitchen roof. (The summer kitchen canopy had not been replaced since it was built over 10 years ago.)
- We restored the exterior plaster of the compost toilet with sand, lime and straw; (Wind and rain had left permanent marks on the wall.)
- Children from the village joined in the plastering; (Camp host Ilian Iliev returned the gesture by repairing their play cart.)
- The campers took part in the international marathon Vama Veke (Romania) – Shabla (Bulgaria); (But not with a marathon cross, but with a “Fish” basket, which they assembled from rebar, net and caps for the marathoners to dump their waste plastic into.)
- We took part in a meeting-discussion at the local community centre “Otets Paisii” on the topic “Urban people in the countryside”. (A study by scientists from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on the tendency of people from the city to return to live in the countryside was presented.)
- We ate as many mussels, crabs and zargan as at any camp before; (Thanks to the Sofians Michaela and Philip who kept the seafood to the sea.)
- There were no mosquitoes; (Yay!)
For the 13th summer in a row:
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We built with natural materials; (We made fine clay plasters in the bathroom that withstand moisture.)
- We discussed waste incineration and climate change;
- We had international participation – this time the guest volunteer was Paola from Spain, who is in our country for 6 months under the European Solidarity Corps; (The village Paola comes from has even fewer inhabitants than Ezerets.)
- We went beachcombing (only during the first shift because of the climate changes);
- We made new friends in a sweet chat around the evening fire;
- We cooked delicious food over a slow fire.
We didn’t miss the traditional for the “Lakelets” Eco-camp cake; (The main ingredient is biscuits – three packets of plain, yoghurt-soaked biscuits – three buckets, brewed coffee, aromatic essence, and seasonal fruits on top – figs.)
This material has been produced with the financial support of the European Union within
the project Climate action by European citizens delivers for developmentCSO-LA/2018/160048-1/23. The sole responsibility for the content lies with the organisers, and it can under no circumstances be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.