Ukrainian Homestead: a summer home in the Poconos for guests of all ages (05/05/02)

A Ukrainian Summer: where to go, what to do...

Ukrainian Homestead: a summer home in the Poconos for guests of all ages

by Ihor Czenstuch

LEHIGHTON, Pa. - Nestled in the southern foothills of the Pocono Mountains in northeastern Pennsylvania, five miles from the Mahoning Valley (Exit 34 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, NE Extension) is the Ukrainian Homestead, a piece of Ukraine on 200 acres owned by the Organization for the Rebirth of Ukraine (ODVU).

For over 40 years, this resort in Lehighton, 75 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City, has been a summer home for Ukrainians of all ages from various states and countries.

Since the last decade, this Ukrainian resort has experienced a resurgence of visitors. Adults who spent many summers at the Homestead are now bringing their children, third- and fourth-generation Ukrainians from the coal-mining regions of Pennsylvania are revisiting their roots, and the new-wave Ukrainians are finding a haven at the "oselia."

The Ukrainian Homestead is occupied year-round by skiers, bikers, campers, rafters, hunting and fishing enthusiasts, conventioneers and vacationers enjoying nearby attractions, such as the quaint town of Jim Thorpe and the many ski resorts.

The Ukrainian Homestead offers motel rooms, bungalows, campsites, barbecue areas, a swimming pool, a dance hall and a social club. An active open-air chapel also graces the grounds.

The summer season opens on Memorial Day weekend with a traditional "zabava" (dance) on Saturday and a picnic on Sunday. Throughout the summer, the Homestead hosts four camps: the Ukrainian Gold Cross Children's Camp, Kazka Dance Camp, Voloshky Dance Camp and the Mountain Bike Camp sponsored by Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization's Burlaky (Fraternity). A whitewater rafting and barbecue day takes place in June.

The highlight of the summer is the annual Ukrainian Folk Festival commemorating Ukraine's independence, held on the third weekend in August. Over a thousand spectators come from many regions of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland to experience traditional songs and dance performed by groups from the United States and Canada. Guests feast on Ukrainian foods, view arts and crafts presented by many vendors and enjoy the zabava on Saturday night. This year's festival will take place on August 17-18.

As with many other weekends, Labor Day features a dance. The summer season ends in September with the traditional "pechenia baraboli" (potato bake) and dance.

In addition to summer events, the Ukrainian Homestead hosts a New Year's Eve dance, a Mardi Gras dance ("zapusna zabava"), an Easter bazaar, an Easter dinner ("Sviachene"), a trout tournament, the annual convention of the Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society, a Halloween weekend and a Thanksgiving dinner.

For more information or to make reservations, call the Ukrainian Homestead at (610) 377-4621, e-mail oselia@ptd.net, or visit the websites at www.odwu.org or www.homestead.com.

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