About us
Camp Zidine is defined by its deep roots in nature and a history of research and education. What began as a field base for studying the coastal world has become a space where community and simplicity are at the heart of every visit.
A place people return to
Far from crowds and the rush of everyday life, Camp Zidine keeps a special atmosphere shaped by people, nature and life by the sea.
Some guests come for the first time, others have been returning for decades. Children who once pitched their first tents here now arrive with their own families. New friendships grow under the pines, strangers become part of a small community and evenings by the sea often last longer than planned.
Camp Zidine is not a place of big animations or a fast pace. Its character is created by people, a sense of belonging and summers that flow a little differently.
Roots in exploration
Camp Zidine did not start only as a place for summer holidays. Its roots lie in a research and educational environment. At first it served as a field research centre of the Biotechnical and Veterinary Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, where students explored the marine and coastal world and life in direct contact with nature.
Over the years the camp opened up to a wider community, but the link between nature, learning and exploration has remained part of its identity.
More than a summer camp
Outside the main summer season, Camp Zidine becomes a place of research, cooperation and education. Research activities, field studies and projects take place here in collaboration with researchers, professors and students from Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana as wellas from other institutions.
Through research, environmental monitoring and sustainable activities, the camp keeps a strong connection between nature, learning and the place in which it operates.
Our team and values
Our work focuses on environmental protection, climate policy and energy efficiency. The team includes ten employees in Slovenia and two colleagues in Croatia, all committed to sustainable and responsible practices. The team leader Katarina has a long‑standing personal connection to Camp Zidine, which helps us understand its cultural and community importance.
We have deep respect for Ivo, whose many years of dedicated work helped shape Camp Zidine into the place people love today. We honour his legacy and aim to build on it with care and responsibility.
The Story of Camp Zidine
The evolution of Camp Zidine from a research centre to a community space.
About Camp Zidine
The origins of Camp Zidine date back to 1964, when it was established as a research and development centre of the Biotechnical and Veterinary Faculty of the University of Ljubljana. It served as a field classroom for studying coastal and marine ecosystems and plants. Over time, the centre gradually opened its doors as a summer camp for faculty staff and their families, eventually becoming accessible to the wider public.
What Camp Zidine means to us
Somewhere along the way, Ivo Olip first arrived as a guest. He stayed. Over the next four decades, he became much more than the camp manager. He became the person who gave Kamp Zidine its identity, energy and soul. For more than 40 years, he cared for and shaped the camp with extraordinary dedication and commitment.
To us, Ivo was the founder, the heart and the driving force behind this small utopia that continued to grow and evolve through the decades. Unique and an incredibly dedicated worker, he created with passion a place where people came searching for something that feels increasingly rare today, peace, simplicity and a sense of belonging.
Looking ahead
Our vision is to continue developing Kamp Zidine as a research and development hub and an open space for students, researchers, and young people. In cooperation with the Biotechnical Faculty and other partners, we aim to explore important themes such as biodiversity, climate change, sustainability, and new approaches to learning and environmental engagement.
At the same time, we wish to preserve the spirit of Kamp Zidine during the summer months as a place open to all guests. Not merely as a campsite, but as a philosophy of a life we all should be living. We believe that people do not need the luxury of walls when they have endless blue horizons before them and are surrounded by people who embrace silence, simplicity and the joy of being together. We prioritise the experience of being in the natural environment over the conventional comforts of a tourist resort.