The idea about the initiating of the Balkan Cavers’ Camps appeared in the autumn of 2006 and belongs to the former Vice-Chairman of the Bulgarian Federation of Speleology (BFS) and ex- General Secretary of the Balkan Speleological Union (BSU) and its present President – Alexey Zhalov. The Bulgarian Federation of Speleology undertook its organizing and the first Balkan Cavers’ Camp took place in Bulgaria in 2007. In the following years there were held 8 cave camps: Greece’ 2008, Turkey’ 2009, Romania’ 2010, FY Republic of Macedonia’ 2011, Slovenia’ 2012, Montenegro’ 2013, Serbia’ 2014, Croatia’ 2015. The cycle was closed and again came the turn of Bulgaria. The members of new founded Bulgarian Caving Society, encouraged and supported by the Municipality of Vratsa City, took the initiative to organize the 10-th Jubilee Balkan Cavers’ Camp. The Jubilee event took place in the recreation area “Ledenika”, located 16 km far from Vratza City, Vratsa district, from 21-st to 26-th June 2016. On 21-st June in the hut “Ledenika” the participants began to arrive. According to the registration data, the Camp gathered at least registered 203 cavers from 12 countries from 4 continents: Bulgaria – 77, Greece – 10, Iran – 5, Macedonia – 4, Moldova – 11, Poland – 24, Rоmania – 25, Serbia - 2, Slovenia - 11, Turkey – 10, Ukraine - 24, USA- 2. Among the participants were some VIP persons, like Mr. Efrain Mercado – vice-president of operations of International Union of Speleology and president of FEALC, Alexey Zhalov – President of Balkan Speleological Union, Pavel Kuprich – President of Ukrainian Speleological Association, D-r Kamen Bonev – President of the Bulgarian Caving Society.All registered participants have received a paper back with personal badge, certificate of attendance, poster, logo sticker of the event, T-shirt, Guide book and Almanac of BSU camps and Balkan Speleological Organizations. What is more, near the camp site, were organized guided trips and excursions, free of charge visit of Show Cave Ledenika and Regional Historical Museum in Vratsa. First point of the program was the opening of the Exhibition of the best photos of the 6-th edition of the Balkan Photo Competition “We and Caves”. It happens at 21 st of June - the day of arrival of the participants in the Nature Protection Center “Natura” in Vratsa, where a honorable guest was the vice-mayor of Vratsa Municipality - Mrs. Petya Dolapchieva. In the following days all participants of the Camp had the possibility to visit the exhibition.

The official opening of the Camp took place on 22-nd June at evening time. The opening was honored by Mr. Efrain Mercado – vice-president of operations of International Union of Speleology and president of FEALC, Alexey Zhalov – President of Balkan Speleological Union, representatives of Vratsa Municipality and personally by the mayor and vice-mayor of Vratsa– Kalin Kamenov and Petya Dolapchieva, ing. Nikolay Nenchev – Director of the State Nature Park “Vrachanski Balkan”, A. The event was opened by D-r Kamen Bonev and the official guests welcomed the participants on behalf of the relative institutions.

The next days the program of the Camp included penetrations in some of the most interesting and spectacular caves in Vratsa Mt. – like Barkite 8, Belyar, Zmeyova Doupka, Resnyovete. The penetration in the deepest and most difficult cave in the area Barkite 14 to was canceled because of high level of the water in it. The cavers made only easy trips in this cave. The participants visited also the Studenata Cave and some other horizontal caves, among which were the famous Ledenika Touristic Cave and The Bridges of the God Cave. The cultural program included visits of some natural and cultural monuments like Iskar Gorge with Cherepish Monastery, Bistrec Monastery with the Cave of the Hermits & rock painted icons and Regional Historical Museum. Meanwhile, a second photo exhibition (with the best photos from all 6 editions of the competition “We and Caves”) was installed in the welcoming hall of the Show Cave Ledenika, so all visitors of the cave have the pleasure to see the underground beauties of different countries! The cavers have the chance to be eyewitnesses of the first edition of the National Folk Festival "Ledenika 2016", held from Friday to Sunday in the same area. On the stages of the festival in three days from Friday to Sunday, appear more than 1200 singers, dancers and musicians from various regions across North Bulgaria.During the evening hours on 22, 23 and 29 June were submitted presentations of the foreign and Bulgarian cavers on the following topics:

1. Bulgarian Caving Society (BCS) – Who we are? – Kamen Bonev – Bulgaria 2. When the help is far away - Efrain Mercado - FEALC/U.I.S3. Atlantida Cave – Ukraina - Andrii Pylypiuk , Ukrainian Speleological Association4. "The Unexplored" - Yucatan Underwater Caves – movie – Ivo Kalushev 5. Bulgarians in the underwater caves of Yucatan – Atanas Rusev - Bulgaria6. A brief history of 200 years caving and speleology in Iran" - Vahid Ashrafi – Iran 7. Iranian – Bulgarian joint expedition “Iran 2015” – Heliana Dundarova - Bulgaria 8. Polish exploration in Valbona Valley in Albania - Mariusz Polok –Poland 9. Project "Into the world of caves"– Alexander Stoyanoski- the Exploring Society Ursus Speleos,

FYR Macedonia10. Exploration of the caves along Efrat River Valley,Turkey – Alexey Zhalov-Bulgaria 11. Zolushka - Kishinev Speleological Club “Abis”– Moldova12. Stones – Kishinev Speleological Club „Abis“ – Moldova 13. New discoveries in Optimistusheskaya Cave – Ukraina – Speleo Club – Lvov – Ukraina 14. A geographical web management system for cave and surface land data- Alex Pologea,

Romania 15. Acquaintance with the most spectacular caves of Iran" - Vahid Ashrafi - Iran16. Cave surveying for Android devices - Aleksander Stoev,SC” Puldin”- Bulgaria17. Cave rescue service of Slovenia – Int. cave rescue exercise in Bela Griža (-620 m) by Lea Pavric

- Speleological Association of Slovenia.18. Caving in the above of the clouds- India 2015 - Elena Buduran - AS Sfinx Bucuresti- Romania19. The Caves of Holly Mount Athos – Greece – Alexey Zhalov – Bulgaria20. The knowledge abyss – Kishinev Speleological Club „Abyss”– Moldova

Before the last session of the presentations were declared the winners of the 6-th edition of the Balkan Photo Contest „We& Caves” as follows:Category “People Underground”1st place Elena Buduran, Romania2nd place Remi Flament, France3rd place Peter Gedei, Slovenia4th place Daniel Lee, Russia5th place Gergely Ambruse, Hungary6th place Michele Pili, ItalyCategory “Beauty of the caves”1st place Remi Flament, France2nd place Daniel Lee, Russia3rd place Roberto F. Garcia, Spain4th place Peter Gedei, Slovenia5th place Pavol Kocis, Slovakia6th place Stuart Gardiner, Great BritainThe winner in category “People Underground” was Mrs. Elena Buduran from Romania, who was awarded with diploma and the overall produced from Landjoff Ltd.In parallel took place a demonstration (New Bulgarian Cave Rescue Stretcher from Nikola Landjoff – Landjoff Ltd.) and the workshop “New version of Polish Cave Surveying device Cave Sniper and software Cave Explorer” from Mariusz Polok - Polish Speleology Foundation – Poland.

During the camp were also organized stands of the company “Lafjoff” – the general sponsor of the Balkan Photo Competition “We & Caves” respectively BSU, company “Pulsar Lights” and book store of Bulgarian Caving Society. Colleagues from Poland, Ukraine and Romania also made mini stands offering caving equipment and books.Official eventsOn the last day of the camp – 25th June, in in the Nature Protection Center “Natura” in Vratsa took place the General Assembly (GAM) of the Balkan Speleological Union with participation of the delegates of the regular organizations members of BSU: Bulgarian Caving Society, Hellenic Federation of Speleology, Romanian Federation of Speleology, Slovenian Speleological Association. Representatives of Bulgarian Federation of Speleology and Exploring Society “Ursus Speleos” – Skopje, FYR Macedonia presented as observers. The representatives of the Society “Ursus Speleos” applied for membership in BSU and according Art. 8 of BSU Statute were accepted as members. The members of the Assembly listened and accepted the Report of the Activity of the Union for the period 2015-2016, as well as the Financial Report for this period. The Agenda continued with approval of the Budget for 2016-2017 and later election of new Bureau members (because the giving up of 3 Bureau members). After the discussions with majority were elected new Bureau members with mandate for the next 4 (four) years: Mrs Soohia Nikolakaki (Greece) – Member;Alexander Stojanoski (FYRMacedonia) – Member;Because of lack of candidatures for the post Secretary General and Treasurer, the GAM gave mandate to:Alexey Zhalov – president of BSU, to execute this function till the election of new titular. The GAM of BSU received offer from Hellenic Federation of Speleology to host the next 11-th Balkan Cavers Camp in 2017.

The evening of 25th June, the 10-th Jubilee Balkan Cavers’ Camp was closed with a farewell party, which lasted till late night hours. The 26th June marked the final of this successful event and put the beginning of departure of participants. We hope that the meeting managed to fulfill its main aim – to create conditions for mutual familiarizing of the participants and establishing of deep friendly contacts among the cavers from the Balkan countries.

The successful organization and carrying out of the Camp was a result of the several months’ efforts of the cavers’ of Bulgarian Caving Society. The most active were K. Bonev, V. Guorev, G. Vlaykov, S. Zarev, Y. Angelov, G. Konstantinov, S. Popov, D. Genov, J. Guoreva, V. Todorov, and many other cavers. Special tanks we owe to A. Zhalov – President of BSU, the mayor of the municipality Vratsa - names, Directorate of State Natural Park “Vratchanski Balkan”, Municipal Company “Sport & Tourism”, the host of the Ledenika Hut and the same Restaurant for their comprehensive help. Last, but not the least, we are very thankful to the sponsors – the company of caving equipment “Landjoff”, “Top Geo”, “Verical Extreme„, “Tsvetina”- Mezdra, „Lednisata“, “ Dermikos”, Municipalty Rakitovo, etc., which contributed to the realizing of the event!

Ten of the listed countries, which took part in the event, are members of European Speleological Federation (FSE). The organizers in the face of Bulgarian Caving Society and separately BSU, applied with Euro Speleo Project for support, but due to formal reasons, FSE refuse their request!

Our opinion is that FSE must change the rules for Application of Euro Speleo Projects – because the now days draft is not democratic and works against the interests of all cavers in one country!

Reported: Bulgarian Caving Society