Just as Wildtrails began recovering from months of closure during the pandemic, another disaster struck. In July 2021, the Ourthe River overflowed after days of extreme rainfall, flooding our basecamp in Jupille and turning the valley into a scene of devastation.
Within minutes, water rose up to a meter high in several buildings. A summer camp with one hundred children had to be urgently evacuated. With emergency services overwhelmed, our team organized the evacuation ourselves, bringing every child to safety. Thankfully, no one was injured.
The damage was immense. Equipment and furniture were swept away by the current and scattered across the valley for kilometers.
But in the middle of this disaster, something extraordinary happened: solidarity. Friends, neighbors, families, guests, suppliers, and companies immediately stepped in to help. Dozens of building dryers were sent, and soon nearly eighty people stood ready to clean, repair, and rebuild.
It was a dark moment in the history of Wildtrails — but also proof of the strength of the community around us.
And thanks to that support, we kept our heads above water.
