Year after year: Wędrownicza Watra carries the spirit of Rovering in Poland

5 minutes
Participants stand in a circle waiting to light the fire of Watra.
Julek Zuk

From 20 to 24 August 2025, more than 800 Scouts aged 15–21 (Rovers) from across Poland and abroad gathered at Stanica Harcerska Chorągwi Mazowieckiej in Gorzewo for the annual Rover encounter, Wędrownicza Watra, organised by the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP).

This year’s edition, held under the theme “In the Centre of Change!”, welcomed international patrols from Ukraine, Hungary, Lithuania, and Malta, making the event a vibrant meeting point of cultures, ideas, and experiences.

At the heart of the gathering lies a deeply symbolic tradition: the lighting of the fire. Since 1999, the opening ceremony has seen the fire lit using wood from the flame of the previous edition, a symbol of continuity and unity for the Rover community. Throughout the event, Rovers took turns guarding the fire, emphasising its significance as a representation of body, mind, and spirit. Public figures from the Mazowsze Region joined the ceremony this year, highlighting the event's importance to the wider community.
Scouts join handcraft workshops during the event.
Artur Hrubesz

Over the course of the encounter, participants took part in hundreds of workshops that ranged from hands-on crafts such as knitting and bracelet-making to activities focused on wellbeing like yoga and sessions exploring different fire-lighting methods. Other workshops reflected the global vision of Scouting, with themes covering sustainable development, peace, first aid, and cultural traditions. This variety encouraged participants to explore new skills, reflect on global challenges, and connect with one another through shared experiences.
Hundreds of Rovers and experts organise workshops for each other. We share skills and experiences that transfer well into the future. Later, during the evening programme, everybody gathered together to enjoy each other's company by talking, singing, playing board games and more. This and the regularity of the event create the secret sauce of Watra - the community. Anyone can find something for themselves. With time, Watra became a pillar of Rovering. A place to which we contribute, where we meet, for which we care. It carries us through the years - those better and worse. That's why its yearly cadence is so essential to us.
Co-head of the organising team
Maciej Ładoś
WWF Polska showcasing their work during the event's marketplace.
Maja Wawer

One of the highlights was NGO Day on 22 August, when different organisations from Poland and World Scouting were invited to share their expertise. Among those present were WWF Poland and the Polish Red Cross, alongside other NGOs that offered interactive workshops on their areas of focus. The day concluded with a lively marketplace where organisations showcased their initiatives and inspired Rovers to take action on issues that matter to their communities.

The programme also included the Conference of Rovers on 23 August, where representatives from all regions of Poland came together to discuss and approve changes to the Rover age framework. This democratic process ensured that the voice of young people guided the evolution of the Rover programme.

The closing ceremony recognised the contributions and achievements of many Rovers. Awards were presented to recipients of the Scouts of the World Award, to those embodying the values of Rovering, and to participants returning for their fifth year at Watra. The symbolic act of passing the fire brought the encounter to a close, with wood from this year’s fire set aside to ignite the flame again at the 2026 edition in Wielkopolska.
This place has something special about it. For a few days, we are here together, free from everyday worries, full of joy and energy. But each of us knows that this is not by chance nor just ordinary fun. It is a reward for the work, effort, and commitment we put into our troops and communities. And it is precisely because of this that these moments take on a deeper meaning, they inspire us to return with new motivation and to act even more boldly.
Mateusz and Szymon
Participants, 19 and 20 years old
Four Scouts talk around a campfire.
Aleksandra Trybulska

A year-long journey to Watra

Participation in Watra is not simply about showing up; it is the result of a year-long process of preparation and growth. To qualify, Rover patrols must complete a series of tasks that include carrying out service projects in their communities, organising a camp for their own patrol, and preparing sessions to deliver during Watra for fellow participants. Teams also need to demonstrate that they are functioning at a strong and cooperative level.

This process is divided into stages, with both the organising team and regional Rover departments providing feedback to help patrols improve along the way. In this way, Watra directly supports the quality, resilience, and development of Rover teams across Poland. By the time the encounter begins, participants have already shared a year of work and growth together, making the gathering the culmination of a collective journey.

The encounter was made possible thanks to the support of Erasmus+ as part of the Voices of Change project, the Ministry of Education and the Mazowsze Serce Polski initiative, whose contributions ensured the success of this international and youth-driven gathering.

With its mix of tradition, dialogue, learning, and celebration, the 2025 Rover encounter once again showed the strength of Scouting in bringing young people together, empowering them to learn, grow, and lead positive change.
Voices of Change Rovers Rover Scouts 17-26 Events