WHAT IS WAY UP?
Way Up is a FREE program open to adults who have had a cancer diagnosis who want to experience the magic of the Italian Dolomites with a small group of peers. This week-long adventure is a week of epic Alpine excursions, outdoor explorations, and a chance to immerse yourself in Italian culture with other awesome adventurers. Way Up is an opportunity for people who have or have had cancer to (re)discover their physical abilities and stay with new friends in a centuries-old castle. On a wider scale, Way Up is working to challenge the cultural taboos that surround illness and individual need for psychological support throughout their experience.
Who can participate
Way Up sessions are open to a maximum of 15 participants. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 45 and have been diagnosed with cancer after the age of 15. Participants must be able to participate in the entire program week.
Our programs are tailor-made to each group, and no particular experience in sports is required.
Campo Base requires that an applicant’s doctor aprove potential participation (they will need to fill out form B) so that we can plan a safe and appropriate program for the group.
A high level of spoken English is required, as all activities will be facilitated in English or translated into English from Italian.
Where the program takes place
The Way Up week takes place at Castel Campo, in the Trentino region of Northern Italy. This centuries-old castle and organic farm is private property and will be of exclusive use of participants. Deep within the woods in Trentino, our home base is ideal for retreating from the daily noise of everyday life and is a place where it is possible to connect with the natural environment and its rhythms.
At the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains and 20 km from Lake Garda, Castel Campo is the ideal location to create a community of individuals that is eager to explore the outdoors the unique culture of this region.
Download the program info packet to learn more and apply by April 30th 2025!
In 2025 we will be offering 3 Italian language programs (Way Up) and 1 English-language program (Way Up International)
Way Up International: September 13th-20th 2025
(Application deadline: April 30th 2025)
For our Italian language programs, see the Way Up page here.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, each person must download and complete BOTH forms A and B below, and send them back by April 30th:
1 – Form A Participant : the candidate must complete this form
2 – Form B Medical : the candidate’s doctor must fill this out
INFORMATION AND FAQs
Participation in WAY UP is FREE for eligible participants who have received an invitation to join.
Specifically, the following will be included: all meals, transportation during camp (excluding travel to and from Castel Campo/the pickup and drop-off point in Verona, Italy), accommodation, and participation in scheduled activities.
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 your participation, we will send you a list of items 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.
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 caving. 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.
Nelle sessioni dedicate, ci sarà un focus su alcune attività ma il orogramma sarà vario anche in queste sessioni.
Way Up is open to current and former patients of oncology and hematology who were diagnosed at a non-pediatric age, and who are between 18 and 45 years old. Participants will always be accompanied by Campo Base staff and professional guides.
In this case, please contact us at info@associazionecampobase.org, and we can discuss it together.
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.
Way Up 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. This will be a space dedicated to yourself, to talk and share (if desired) your experience and life with others in a different context from your daily routine.
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.
Please note that your travel expenses before and after the pickup and drop-off WILL NOT be covered by Campo Base.
We are unable to offer travel grants or pay for travel expenses to and from the program.
If an eligible candidate needs to fundraise to sponsor their trip, we can support them by providing information they can share about the program.
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 required to stay in any one place, 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 gluten-free products and 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 historical building, the castle is not currently able to offer accessible spaces free from architectural barriers. We are working on solutions and alternatives and hope 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, will be adapted to the needs (including mobility) of our participants. Unfortunately, we face a 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 historical building, the castle is not able to offer accessible spaces free from architectural barriers.
It is necessary to use stairs to access the rooms and dining area, and the ground, especially outdoors, is uneven (gravel, large stones, slopes, and descents).
We regularly welcome people with mobility, manual, and balance difficulties, but we are not currently able to accommodate people who use wheelchairs. For more details, please contact us at info@associazionecampobase.org.
We are working on solutions and alternatives and hope to offer more opportunities for everyone in the future. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
The program for Way Up International is run completely in English. For safety reasons, English proficiency is required (B2 or higher or equivalent). We will review this via a short interview with selected applicants.
FAQ FOR FILLING OUT THE FORMS
In the participant form, we ask candidates to be thorough and provide as many details as possible regarding the questions asked. As you can imagine, this information helps us ensure the safety of all participants and structure a program that is as interesting as possible for our guests.
Form B must be completed by the participant’s specialist doctor. If you think you will not be able to see or contact your specialist in time, it is fine for the form to be filled out by your general practitioner.
The participant should deliver Form B to their specialist doctor.
The doctor can either return it to the candidate (completed, stamped, and signed) to send to Campo Base or send it directly to connect@associazionecampobase.org.
If the doctor is unable to put a stamp on it, then we require the form be sent back to us via an official work email by the doctor.
If the specialist doctor is unavailable within the required time, the form can be completed by the general practitioner.
Please inform the doctor filling out the form that they may be contacted if necessary for further clarifications once the forms are received.
For safety reasons, if the candidate is undergoing or has recently completed therapy or has other special conditions, we may require a recent blood test or other updated laboratory tests close to the event.
If it is not possible to send the Medical Form B in time, please send the Participant Form A first and the Medical Form as soon as possible.
For safety reasons, if the candidate is undergoing therapy or has recently completed it, or has other special conditions, we may request a recent blood test or other laboratory exams close to the event.
It is expected that the candidate consults with their doctor when filling out the form.
For further information, please contact us at connect@associazionecampobase.org.
Submitting the form does not guarantee participation in the project. The association reserves the right to create the list of confirmed candidates following its own criteria. For more information, contact us by email at info@associazionecampobase.org.
Confirmation of participation or non-participation will arrive after submitting the medical form.
The chronological order of form submission is one of the factors that the staff of the Campo Base Association uses to determine the list of confirmed participants, so we encourage you to send the completed forms as soon as possible.
Forms should be sent to connect@associazionecampobase.org by the specified dates for each session.
The chronological order of form submission is one of the factors that the staff of the Campo Base Association uses to determine the list of confirmed participants, so we encourage you to send the completed forms as soon as possible.
If it is not possible to send the Medical Form B in time, please send the Participant Form A first, and then submit the medical form as soon as possible.
