No decision yet on future of Munich youth camp The Tent, city says

Munich's Social Services Department says it cannot yet say anything about the future of the youth overnight camp The Tent. The camp is under review as part of a citywide process to restructure social services amid the need to save money.

The statement came from Dorothee Schiwy, head of the Social Services Department, in reply to a motion from city councillor Manuel Pretzl of the CSU group. His motion of 26 August 2026 asked for The Tent to be preserved. Schiwy said the city council cannot formally vote on the motion. Under the municipal code and the council's rules of procedure, the matter counts as ongoing business, which is the responsibility of the Lord Mayor.

At its full meeting on 29 July 2026, the city council heard about the process, which aims to secure the future of social services. It instructed the Social Services Department to bring forward concrete proposals by the end of 2026 for restructuring, securing and prioritising social services in the city.

Schiwy said that, given the known need to cut budget spending, the department's central question is how to manage with the funds still available while offering all residents suitable services close to where they live. The department is running the process together with the Association of Independent Welfare Organisations, the Munich City Youth Council (Kreisjugendring München-Stadt) and the Münchner Trichter, a cooperative of independent children's and youth service providers that do not belong to the major associations.

Together they drew up criteria for weighing options. These take account of data, such as the department's monitoring and population forecasts, as well as qualitative professional considerations. City officials have used these criteria to examine existing services for possible changes. Independent children's and youth service providers have also been able to suggest where services could work together, and their feedback will form part of the overall assessment.

Schiwy said no further statement on The Tent is possible until the process is complete.