WAY UP INTERNATIONAL
ADVENTURE WEEK FOR YOUNG ADULTS IMPACTED BY CANCER
Way Up is a retreat focused on alpine sports and creative activities, designed so each individual can try something new, discover (or rediscover) their abilities, and connect with peers.
Participation is FREE and includes hiking, climbing, high-altitude trekking, yoga, sailing, as well as workshops, cooking, relaxation, and evening campfire gatherings.
Way Up is a project by Associazione Campo Base Non-Profit Organization, which creates retreats and summer camps for adults and children affected by serious illnesses or psychosocial difficulties.
Who can participate
People between 18 and 45 years of age, who have been diagnosed with onco-hematological illness after the age of 15, both out of therapy or still in therapy, depending on health status.
Sports activities are led by experienced instructors and mountain guides, adapted to each participant's needs.
No experience or sporting skills are required.
A high level of spoken English is required, as all activities will be facilitated in English or translated into English from Italian.
The program is delivered in English and welcomes participants of all nationalities, provided they possess a strong conversational level of English and the necessary travel documentation for Italy.
The retreat will be hosted at the medieval castle of Castel Campo in Fiavè (Trentino Region, Northern Italy) at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites and near Lake Garda.
2026 Session
Way Up International - English Program
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Ogni anno Campo Base propone diverse sessioni di Way Up International durante l’estate e l’autunno.
Pubblichiamo le date nei primi mesi di ogni anno.
For full details on programmes in Italian, visit the page dedicated to Way Up.
Italian language programs take place on different dates. See the Way Up webpage for details.
How to Participate
To apply, each person must download and complete BOTH forms A and B below, and submit them via email.
– un modulo lo compila il candidato
– un modulo deve essere compilato dal medico (specialista o di base)
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I moduli andranno poi rimandati a Campo Base via email.
INFORMATION AND FAQs
Participation in WAY UP is FREE for eligible participants who have been confirmed to join after having submitted all forms.
Specifically, the following will be included: all meals, transport (excluding travel to and from Castel Campo), accommodation and participation in the activities on the itinerary.
Travel from and to your home to the pickup/dropoff location (in Verona, Italy) on the first and last days of camp will not be paid for by Campo Base. We are unable to offer travel grants. If an eligible candidate needs to fundraise to sponsor their trip, we can support them by providing information they can share about the program.
Upon confirmation of participation we will send you a list of things to bring.
No technical equipment is required except for a good pair of hiking boots and a medium-sized backpack.
Our programs are tailored to the participants. No specific sports skills or an athletic lifestyle are required.
Our goal is to give participants the opportunity to try new things in a safe environment.
In this case, please contact us at info@asociazionecampobase.org and we can discuss it together.
At Way Up, you can expect to participate in: hiking, sailing, rock climbing and/or artificial wall climbing, mountain biking and/or e-biking, swimming, canoeing, and cave excursions.
But also: sports massage, cooking courses or wine tasting, cultural and sightseeing visits…
And perhaps, if you’re lucky, you might even manage to read a few pages of that book that has been sitting on your nightstand for a while.
In dedicated sessions, there will be a focus on certain activities, but the program will be varied even in these sessions.
Way Up is open to current and former patients of oncology and hematology who were diagnosed at a non-pediatric age, aged 18-45. Participants will always be accompanied by Campo Base staff and professional guides.
Those who can attend for the entire week will have priority.
An important goal of the project is to foster connections and networking among peers: we believe it is important to take the time to experience this opportunity.
This program is designed for patients and former patients. We absolutely recognize that illness affects all members of a family deeply, but unfortunately, it will not be possible to share this experience directly with them.
The only exceptions to this are for those who fit the criteria for the session , and have the necessity of having a personal chaperone for their personal day-to-day needs. If this is your case, please get in touch at aisicc@sindromediondine.it
This will be a space dedicated to yourself, to talk and share (if you choose) your experience and life with others in a different context from your daily life.
You can reach Castel Campo by your own means and park your car near Castel Campo (you won’t need it until departure), or you can arrive at the pickup point in Verona, Italy with public transport.
The staff will help coordinate this aspect when confirming your participation.
This project is designed to spend time with the people you meet. We will spend the evenings together around the campfire, and the “free” moments are intended to be shared with the group.
Although no one is forced to stay anywhere, this will not be a typical vacation.
There is no Wi-Fi at Castel Campo. We ask that you organize your personal and work-related needs so that you can disconnect (almost) completely from technology.
We request that you refrain from using cell phones during activities, meals, and shared moments. As there is not Wi-Fi please be aware you will have to have roaming data to use your phone. Please be sure to have a plan in place before international travel.
The camp can cook with specific products for the celiac disease use equipment that is properly cleaned and prepared, but it does not have a separate “gluten-free” kitchen, meaning it cannot guarantee the total absence of contamination as it does not have separate areas and equipment for food preparation.
We ask that you specify your needs in the forms and provide as much information as possible.
For more details, please email us at info@associazionecampobase.org
Way Up is based at Castel Campo, a medieval castle where we sleep, eat, and carry out some activities. Unfortunately, as it is a historic residence, the castle is currently unable to offer accessible and barrier-free spaces.
We are working on solutions and alternatives and hope to be able to offer more opportunities for everyone in the future. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
The Way Up program, like all Campo Base projects, is designed to be adapted to the needs (including mobility) of our participants. However, we face one limitation: Way Up is based at Castel Campo, a medieval castle where we sleep, eat, and carry out some activities.
Unfortunately, as it is a historic residence, the castle is unable to offer fully accessible and barrier-free spaces.
Reaching the bedrooms and dining hall requires taking stairs, and the terrain, especially outdoors, is uneven (gravel, large stones, slopes, and steps).
We regularly welcome people with mobility, manual dexterity and balance difficulties, but we are currently unable to accommodate wheelchair users. For further details, please contact us at info@associazionecampobase.org
We are working on solutions and alternatives and hope to be able to offer more opportunities for everyone in the future. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
Way Up is open to current and former patients of oncology and hematology who were diagnosed at a non-pediatric age, aged 18-45. Participants will always be accompanied by Campo Base staff and professional guides.