WWF Family Camps — Gole del Sagittario Oasis

A summer on the trail of the Marsican bear

In Anversa degli Abruzzi, a small village in the province of L'Aquila nestled at the entrance to the spectacular Gole del Sagittario, the WWF Family Camps return in 2026. This environmental education initiative blends nature, adventure, and awareness. Organized by the Gole del Sagittario WWF Oasis Regional Nature Reserve in collaboration with WWF Abruzzo, the camps invite parents and children to spend four days immersed in one of the most evocative natural landscapes of the Central Apennines.

The Marsican brown bear at the heart of the experience

The common thread of every camp is the discovery and protection of the Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies of the Apennines now reduced to just 50-60 individuals and considered at high risk of extinction. Through direct experience in the field, families learn about the habits of this shy animal and understand the importance of its survival for the balance of the entire ecosystem. As Filomena Ricci, delegate of WWF Abruzzo, points out, "protecting the Marsican brown bear means guaranteeing the future of our region's biodiversity."

The activity program

Each four-day session offers a rich calendar of activities suitable for both adults and children:

• Guided hikes along the reserve's trails, following the tracks of the bear and other forest inhabitants;
• Wildlife monitoring activities and lessons on interpreting animal signs;
• Creative and scientific workshops designed to engage both children and adults;
• Meetings with experts and WWF volunteers dedicated to conservation and best practices for coexisting with wildlife;
• A special meeting with the Reserve Director, Sefora Inzaghi, to uncover the secrets and history of this protected area.

Activities are led by Samuele Giancarlini, a professional environmental guide and tour leader, who accompanies families through the most fascinating paths and corners of the oasis.

The Gole del Sagittario, a WWF Oasis since 1991

The Gole del Sagittario Reserve has been managed as a WWF Oasis since 1991, in partnership with the Abruzzese Institute for Protected Areas and the Municipality of Anversa degli Abruzzi. The canyon carved by the Sagittario River, the sheer rocky walls, and the forests rising toward the upper Peligna Valley guard an extraordinary biodiversity: beyond the Marsican bear, it provides refuge for the Apennine wolf, the wildcat, and numerous rare plant species. It is in this setting, among the villages of the Abruzzo Region, that the Family Camps offer the chance to rediscover an authentic relationship with the mountains and the wild.

An experience for the whole family

More than just a holiday, the WWF Camps are a journey of growth and environmental awareness, where children become little guardians of the land and adults rediscover the value of slowness and silence. The stay takes place in welcoming facilities within or near the reserve, allowing guests to experience the oasis at every moment of the day.