The Patriot camps (Georgian: პატრიოტული ბანაკი) are state-sponsored summer camps for the teenagers of Georgia. The Patriot camps were initiated by the president of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili in 2005. Each year tens of thousands of young Georgians attend summer camps for ten days, with expenses paid by the Georgian government. Participation is voluntary. In 2007 seven patriot camps will operate.