SUM-A youth activities true to founding fathers' ideals (05/04/97)

SUM-A youth activities true to founding fathers' ideals

by Bohdana Puzyk

NEW YORK - The goal of the Ukrainian American Youth Association (SUM-A) has always been to raise Ukrainian children with Christian ethics and nationalism. To this end, the SUM-A camping experience remains true to its founding fathers' ideals, providing many quality programs for the education of Ukrainian children.

These programs promote self-reliant Ukrainians through spiritual, mental and physical development, and they provide the opportunity for all to develop leadership skills and gain experience for personal growth. The camps also offer children an opportunity to continue to develop their Ukrainian language while making friends from many different areas of North America. All of the children develop a sense of belonging, while learning about the ethnic and cultural background of their forefathers.

Some of the SUM-A camps are:

SUMeniata - A day-camp setting with a full and complete Ukrainian pre-school program.
Overnight - A full camping experience in the traditional Ukrainian spirit.
Survival Skills - "River Camp": the first week is spent learning practical survival skills that are implemented during the second week on a canoe trip at Mount Tremblant National Park in Canada.
Counselor in Training - A three-year program, consisting of three weeks each year. The program includes in-depth studies of Ukrainian language, history and current events.
Sports - The staff of instructors teaches soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming and softball. This program fosters comradeship through a team sports approach, while teaching sportsmanlike conduct and discipline.
Ukrainian Culture - A one-of-a-kind program in the U.S. offering a hands-on experience in Ukrainian traditions, heritage and culture. Children learn Ukrainian dance, bandura, songs, ceramics, embroidery, pysanky, wood carving, gerdany, group theater and traditional cooking. The program is designed to teach the Ukrainian art form while educating campers about the traditional and historical importance of their culture. For the first time this year the camp is being offered to active members of sister-organizations following the same criteria as for SUM-A members.

All Ukrainian children are invited to come and share the fun and excitement of a SUM-A camp. For additional information contact your local oseredok (branch) or the SUM-A central office in New York at (212) 477-3084.

SUM-A camps are held in Ellenville, N.Y. (for information call 212-477-3084); Baraboo, Wis. (773-486-4204); Fillmore, N.Y. (716-671-2317); and Wellington, Ohio (216-749-2894).

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