April 29, 2016

Plast summer camps offer character-building plus a lifetime of memories

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Roman Lewyckyj

“Novatstvo” (Plast cub scouts) at the Novyi Sokil camp in North Collins, N.Y.

As school years wind to an end, an entire new generation of Ukrainian Americans heads for Ukrainian summer camps. Many of these are organized by Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. Plast has three flagship campgrounds nationwide – from Vovcha Tropa in the upstate New York town of East Chatham, to Novyi Sokil near Buffalo, N.Y., and Pysanyi Kamin, not far from Cleveland.

Three primary age groups are welcome to participate in Plast camps, provided they first sign up to their local Plast troop (visit goo.gl/f8X8I4 for details). Among these age groups are “ptashata” for children age 4-6, “novatstvo” for children age 6-11 (equivalent to cub scouts) and “yunatstvo” for those age 11-18 (equivalent to scouts). Each of these groups participates in extensive activities meant to develop skills from art and music to outdoorsmanship and teambuilding – all within the context of their shared Ukrainian heritage.

Plast scout camp counselors at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

Andrew Zwarych

Plast scout camp counselors at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

Camps for all age groups will be taking place at each of the campgrounds this year on July 9-30. The experience is rustic, but allows children to connect with nature, make friends for life and, in line with Plast’s mission, become greater contributors to society.

A beginner’s camp will take place at Vovcha Tropa on July 24-30 for children age 6-7 who know Ukrainian and have already begun Plast’s novatstvo program.

Plast’s National Training Camp, abbreviated “KVT,” which helps prepare members for the Plast level analogous to eagle scout, will take place from July 31 to August 6 at Vovcha Tropa.

This year, members of Plast will also have the opportunity to attend a Rock Climbing Camp on August 7-13 in Seneca Rocks, W. Va.

Plast scouts from Pysanyi Kamin camp in Middlefield, Ohio, on a whitewater rafting trip.

Ohiopyle Trading Post

Plast scouts from Pysanyi Kamin camp in Middlefield, Ohio, on a whitewater rafting trip.

The water sports camp – known as “Morskyi Tabir” – organized by the Plast’s Chornomortsi fraternity, will take place at Kelley’s Island State Park in Kelley’s Island, Ohio, on August 6-13. It is open to older scouts age 15-18. There, campers learn sailing, water skiing, kayaking, life-guarding, meteorology and more.

The camp for advanced scouts, “Tabir Starshoho Yunatstva,” before the gateway they built at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

Andrew Zwarych

The camp for advanced scouts, “Tabir Starshoho Yunatstva,” before the gateway they built at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

“Lisova Shkola,” translated as the Forest School, is an intense camp for young men age 17 and older. The camp not only educates young men on how to be counselors for yunatstvo, but it also provides invaluable life skills, develops trust and discipline, and includes in-depth lessons in conflict resolution, interpersonal skills and other real-life capabilities. This year, it will take place from June 25 to July 8 in Hunter, N.Y.

An exhibition drill team of “yunatstvo” (Plast scouts) at Novyi Sokil in North Collins, N.Y.

Roman Lewyckyj

An exhibition drill team of “yunatstvo” (Plast scouts) at Novyi Sokil in North Collins, N.Y.

Lisova Skhola’s counterpart for young women, “Shkola Bulavnykh,” or Counselors’ School, will take place at the same time and place. It teaches young women how to lead camps, run seminars teaching practical and theoretical skills, and fosters unity and growth for those hoping to become counselors for future generations of Ukrainians in America.

There is also a training program for counselors of novatstvo, “Novatskyi Vyshkil,” which will take place at Novyi Sokil from June 25 to July 6.

For more information about any of these camps, or to find out how to sign up to Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, please visit www.plastusa.org.

Cub scouts during their soccer tournament at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

Andrew Zwarych

Cub scouts during their soccer tournament at Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y.

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