The chosen destination for the next edition: China
Report by Carolina Fleix Wrigh – CEO of English Summer S.A. -
The latest International Camping Congress (ICC 2023), held at PortAventura World, marked a turning point for our organisation. English Summer S.A. was both Promoter and Official Sponsor, and I had the honour of serving as Chair of the Organising Committee, leading a congress that brought together professionals from more than 30 countries. For those who wish to look back: A great success for ICC2023.
Thanks to the success of the congress in Spain, the organising committee of ICC 2026, which will take place in China, officially invited me to visit their country, get to know the facilities and take part in the preparation of the next congress.
Taiwoo Resort — Venue of ICC2026 China
My trip began with the transfer from Beijing Airport to the Thaiwoo Ski Resort, the main venue of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the future host of the 13th International Camping Congress. For two days, we evaluated hotels, convention halls, restaurants and networking spaces. The quality of the facilities promises a truly outstanding congress.
We took the cable car to explore the ski area, and ended our stay with a meeting with the resort director—who is also president of the CCEA (Children’s Camp Education Alliance)—and who shared his educational vision and his commitment to youth development in China.
G-Camp — A High-Level Forum
We travelled by high-speed train to Weifang, Shandong, where the staff of G-Camp welcomed us with flower bouquets. This camp was the venue for the first Pan-Camp Holistic Education Forum.
The opening ceremony was spectacular. Fahrettin Gözét, president of the ICF, inaugurated the event, followed by a very emotional plenary session by John Jorgenson. There were simultaneous sessions with Chinese speakers—Sanpi and Li Li from the Chinese Mountaineering Association—and international experts, including members of the ICF board.
We also enjoyed the Traditional Folk Cultural Market, where we tried kite workshops, silk crafts, calligraphy and clay modelling… although the highlight was making dumplings.
G-School — Education with Soul
We visited G-School, where all the students greeted us in the courtyard. We taught them the dance we had learned the night before at the camp—an incredibly fun moment that broke the ice instantly.
We were deeply impressed by the mission, methodology and warmth of the centre.
Dynamics & Goertek — Innovation and a Vision for the Future
Before the visit, we had lunch at a restaurant belonging to the group, owned by Mr Bin, designed to promote wellbeing among workers, providing accommodation, services, a school… An admirable philosophy. The excellent tasting menu was unforgettable.
The Goertek laboratory left us speechless: cutting-edge technology and an extraordinary level of innovation.
Shaoxing — 9th Annual CCEA Congress
We flew to Shaoxing to attend the 9th CCEA Congress, with more than 800 participants. There were over 20 workshops, round tables with young leaders, a press conference and a major exhibition on camp education.
Fahri and I were honoured guests and took part in the round tables. It was a pleasure to share my experience as president of the 12th Congress in Spain and to officially invite the entire audience to take part in ICC 2026.
An Exceptional Team
We would like to extend special thanks to Ruth Feng, Josie Wang, Hardy Jian Wang, Aris Wang, Menghua Shan and Ye Zhao (Sunshine). Their professionalism and support have been essential—and will continue to be key to ensuring that ICC 2026 becomes a resounding success.
Shanghai — StemStars and the Blend of Tradition and Modernity
We spent our last day with Doris Luo, General Director of StemStars. We visited their offices, an educational centre (they have 28 in Shanghai!) and enjoyed a traditional meal in a local restaurant. We believe StemStars could be an ideal partner for future projects at our Prades camp.
We walked along the Bund, admired the illuminated skyscrapers and visited Yuyuan Garden, where 500-year-old traditional architecture coexists with modern Shanghai. Our final dinner consisted of Chinese tapas and noodles before heading to the airport.
Registrations Now Open!
Registration for the 13th International Camping Congress (ICC 2026) in China is now open.
Official form: www.icfconnect.net/icc2026-registration-form
