Prometheus camps are politically and religiously unaffiliated coming-of-age camps originally arranged in Finland. They were conceived as an alternative to religious confirmation camps. The camps are named after the Greek myth of the titanPrometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the people. The objective of the camps is to encourage young people to reflect on and develop their own philosophy of life, to respect oneself and others, as well as taking responsibility for oneself and the world. The concept of Prometheus camps was acknowledged as a social innovation in Finland in 2006.[1]
The first Prometheus camp was held in 1989 when the students of a secondary school ethics class developed the idea for an alternative to the Christian confirmation camps usually attended by 15-year-olds in Finland. The first camp was arranged by Feto ry [fi] (Teachers of Philosophy and Ethics) and a year later the Prometheus Camp Association [fi] (Protu) was founded.[2] In 2009 the Prometheus camp movement spread to Sweden where a sister organization to Protu, Protus Sverige [fi], was formed. In 2012 The Prometheus Camp Association was one of the largest youth organisations in Finland along with Finnish Scouts and the youth organisation of the National Coalition Party.[3]
Participation in Prometheus camps and other Prometheus activities does not require a commitment to any values, politics, or religion. In summer 2006, a questionnaire given to Prometheus campers revealed that approximately 20% of campers had also attended another coming-of-age camp, usually the confirmation camps arranged by the Evangelical Lutheran church. Roughly the same percentage of people attending Prometheus camps were also members of a church.[4] In 2009 about a third of the campers also participated in the confirmation camp.[5]
Approximately 9740 young people attended Prometheus camps in Finland between 1989 and 2008. In 2008, 67 camps were organized in different parts of Finland, and about 1000 young people (1.5% of that age-group) attended those camps.[6] The attendance was fairly steady for a number of years. In 2012 there were 69 camps with about 900 participants.[7] In 2010 the Prometheus Camp Association organised a total of 67 Prometheus camps and had a budget of EUR 464,553. State grants accounted for EUR 82,000 of the budget. Direct expenses from the camps totalled EUR 178,599, and counsellor training cost EUR 76,013.[8] A distinct feature of the camps is that the staff do their work as volunteers.
Camps are attended after the 8th or 9th grade or between the ages of 14 and 16. For young people who have passed this age Prometheus organizes so called senior camps. Typically, the camps are attended by 7-15 campers. Prometheus camps are led by a team consisting of two adult leaders and five co-leaders. Co-leaders are between the ages of 15 and 19 and participants of earlier summers camps, whereas adult leaders are older. At Prometheus camps, both the leaders and the co-leaders participate in the processing, developing, preparation, planning and implementation of the themes throughout the camp. Adult leaders hold juridical responsibility of the camp.
Prometheus camps last eight days, typically from Sunday to Sunday. All camps deal with the following themes: differences and discrimination, intoxicants and addiction, the environment, society and participation, human relationships and sexuality, the future, worldviews and beliefs.[10]
Prometheus medallion
Campers are encouraged to share their own views and perceptions and discuss them, as well as take into account the often-different opinions of others.[11] There are no lessons, only topics that are processed mostly through group discussions. Other methods of processing include debates, games, drama, group work, and other interactive methods. Prometheus camps may also invite guest speakers.
A Prometheus celebration is arranged on the last day of the Prometheus camp, with the families of the campers invited to participate. At the celebration the campers receive a wreath made out of fresh branches or flowers, and a silver Prometheus medallion. The camper’s name, camp location and date of the end of camp are engraved on the back of the medallion.
The Prometheus Camp Association also arranges special camps where the program emphasis or location differs from typical Prometheus camps. In 2009, two theater camps, two visual arts camps and a hiking camp were organized. Adult campers are also accommodated, and adult camps (for campers past the age of 20) are organized every year.
Prometheus camps in literature
In popular literature, the events of the novel Kipinä (2006), or Spark by Salla Simukka, take place at a Prometheus camp.[12]
Prometheus Camp Association in Finland official website
Prometheus Camp Association in Sweden official website
January 06, 2023
prometheus, camps, politically, religiously, unaffiliated, coming, camps, originally, arranged, finland, they, were, conceived, alternative, religious, confirmation, camps, camps, named, after, greek, myth, titan, prometheus, stole, fire, from, gods, gave, peo. Prometheus camps are politically and religiously unaffiliated coming of age camps originally arranged in Finland They were conceived as an alternative to religious confirmation camps The camps are named after the Greek myth of the titan Prometheus who stole fire from the gods and gave it to the people The objective of the camps is to encourage young people to reflect on and develop their own philosophy of life to respect oneself and others as well as taking responsibility for oneself and the world The concept of Prometheus camps was acknowledged as a social innovation in Finland in 2006 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Camp structure 3 Prometheus camps in literature 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditThe first Prometheus camp was held in 1989 when the students of a secondary school ethics class developed the idea for an alternative to the Christian confirmation camps usually attended by 15 year olds in Finland The first camp was arranged by Feto ry fi Teachers of Philosophy and Ethics and a year later the Prometheus Camp Association fi Protu was founded 2 In 2009 the Prometheus camp movement spread to Sweden where a sister organization to Protu Protus Sverige fi was formed In 2012 The Prometheus Camp Association was one of the largest youth organisations in Finland along with Finnish Scouts and the youth organisation of the National Coalition Party 3 Participation in Prometheus camps and other Prometheus activities does not require a commitment to any values politics or religion In summer 2006 a questionnaire given to Prometheus campers revealed that approximately 20 of campers had also attended another coming of age camp usually the confirmation camps arranged by the Evangelical Lutheran church Roughly the same percentage of people attending Prometheus camps were also members of a church 4 In 2009 about a third of the campers also participated in the confirmation camp 5 Approximately 9740 young people attended Prometheus camps in Finland between 1989 and 2008 In 2008 67 camps were organized in different parts of Finland and about 1000 young people 1 5 of that age group attended those camps 6 The attendance was fairly steady for a number of years In 2012 there were 69 camps with about 900 participants 7 In 2010 the Prometheus Camp Association organised a total of 67 Prometheus camps and had a budget of EUR 464 553 State grants accounted for EUR 82 000 of the budget Direct expenses from the camps totalled EUR 178 599 and counsellor training cost EUR 76 013 8 A distinct feature of the camps is that the staff do their work as volunteers The Prometheus Camp Association is a collaborative partner of the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation IHEYO 9 Camp structure EditCamps are attended after the 8th or 9th grade or between the ages of 14 and 16 For young people who have passed this age Prometheus organizes so called senior camps Typically the camps are attended by 7 15 campers Prometheus camps are led by a team consisting of two adult leaders and five co leaders Co leaders are between the ages of 15 and 19 and participants of earlier summers camps whereas adult leaders are older At Prometheus camps both the leaders and the co leaders participate in the processing developing preparation planning and implementation of the themes throughout the camp Adult leaders hold juridical responsibility of the camp Prometheus camps last eight days typically from Sunday to Sunday All camps deal with the following themes differences and discrimination intoxicants and addiction the environment society and participation human relationships and sexuality the future worldviews and beliefs 10 Prometheus medallion Campers are encouraged to share their own views and perceptions and discuss them as well as take into account the often different opinions of others 11 There are no lessons only topics that are processed mostly through group discussions Other methods of processing include debates games drama group work and other interactive methods Prometheus camps may also invite guest speakers A Prometheus celebration is arranged on the last day of the Prometheus camp with the families of the campers invited to participate At the celebration the campers receive a wreath made out of fresh branches or flowers and a silver Prometheus medallion The camper s name camp location and date of the end of camp are engraved on the back of the medallion The Prometheus Camp Association also arranges special camps where the program emphasis or location differs from typical Prometheus camps In 2009 two theater camps two visual arts camps and a hiking camp were organized Adult campers are also accommodated and adult camps for campers past the age of 20 are organized every year Prometheus camps in literature EditIn popular literature the events of the novel Kipina 2006 or Spark by Salla Simukka take place at a Prometheus camp 12 See also EditCamp QuestReferences Edit 100 social innovations from Finland Taipale Ilkka ed Helsinki Itamerikeskussaatio 2007 Hakapaino ISBN 978 952 99772 1 5 Prometheus Camps as an Alternative to the Finnish Confirmation Camps Archived 2016 06 29 at the Wayback Machine University of Tampere 2013 Political organisations get lion s share of state subsidies Helsingin Sanomat 29 5 2012 Haloo vanhemmat Me kuuntelemme Archived 2013 12 02 at the Wayback Machine in Finnish Protu lehti 3 2007 Prometheus leirilla kannustetaan itsenaiseen ajatteluun in Finnish Yle Uutiset 14 6 2011 Protu UKK in Finnish Kotkanpesa Prometheus leiri on uskonnoton vaihtoehto in Finnish Helsingin Sanomat 22 07 2012 Political organisations get lion s share of state subsidies Helsingin Sanomat 29 5 2012 IHEYO official web site Archived from the original on 2015 12 27 Retrieved 2015 10 26 Nayttelija ryhtyi ohjaajaksi in Finnish Helsingin sanomat 12 3 2007 Prometheus leiri kasvaa ajan mukana in Finnish Nurmijarven Uutiset 10 7 2011 Salla Simukka Kipina permanent dead link in Finnish WSOY 2006 External links EditPrometheus Camp Association in Finland official website Prometheus Camp Association in Sweden official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Prometheus camps amp oldid 1062890690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
