July 21, 2017

Traditions continue at Soyuzivka’s Tennis Camp

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Andrij Nychka

Participants of the Soyuzivka Tennis Camp 2017.

KERHONKSON, N.Y. – One of the best things about Soyuzivka that happens every year in the spring and early summer is the sound of children coming to the Soyuzivka Heritage Center to have fun, learn new skills at various camps, and experience the magic of this special place where so many wonderful lifelong memories are formed.

This year’s Tennis Camp, blessed with ideal weather conditions, began on Sunday, June 25, and continued through Thursday, July 6. As usual, the campers, age 10 to 16, stayed at Camp Lviv, which was newly spruced up, including some new bathrooms, thanks to Assistant Manager Stefko Drabyk, who is also the newly appointed camp director at Soyuzivka.

The day campers, who are younger in age and stayed with their parents, also participated. Some campers, like the Bula family, even had parents who attended Tennis Camp years ago.

The staff included the director of the tennis camp, George Sawchak, who is heavily involved with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Middle States Sectional Competitions as a player and sectional captain. He was assisted alternately by Leda Kopach, Tetiana Sawchak (USPTA) certified tennis professional, both past USCAK champions, and Don Kopach, also an accomplished tennis player and USCAK champion.

Campers at Soyuzivka’s popular Hutsul Night.

Campers at Soyuzivka’s popular Hutsul Night.

This year’s counselors included Yana Skorobogatova from New York, Pavlo Busko from New Jersey, Ariadna Louer from Pennsylvania and Anastasiya Dudaryk from Florida. All of them had attended tennis camp in past years.

Completing the staff were Olya Czerkas, dorm supervisor, and Petrusia Sawchak, coordinator/administrator, both public school teachers by profession. They ensured that the children were well taken care of and their needs met.

There were three sessions of tennis instruction each day: the morning session at 9 a.m. (after some exercises executed with music to make it livelier), the 2 p.m. session and the after-dinner session, usually at 7 p.m., with some supervised free-play activities. Campers were given instruction in the basics of tennis: proper strokes, serves, game strategies and court etiquette. A tournament was held in the second week.

Even though the emphasis was always on tennis, there was time for off-court fun activities like swimming, playing games and dancing. As is the custom at Tennis Camp during rainy afternoons (only one this year), the campers were taught how to polka by Ms. Czerkas at the Veselka Hall. This proved to be helpful the next day at the Hutsul Night held on the Veselka deck.

Jumping jacks during exercise time.

Petrusia Sawchak

Jumping jacks during exercise time.

Soyuzivka Manager Nestor Paslawsky understands how popular this evening is among the campers, so he always invites them to the festivities. This is always a favorite treat because the campers get to wear their Ukrainian “vyshyvanky” (embroidered finery) and enjoy Ukrainian-style food. They were entertained this year by “Pan Hryts,” who sang and played Ukrainian favorites on the accordion to everyone’s delight. The campers danced and enjoyed the ambience of the evening.

A banquet was held at the culmination of the camp. Camp organizers always try to create this special event for the campers – a learning experience about social etiquette. Attired in their party clothes, the campers were treated to Shirley Temples and Darth Vaders and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres. Many parents attended the banquet as well. Chef Andrij Sonevytsky was commended for his culinary talents for making the dinner extra special.

During the banquet, the campers received their certificates individually. The camp tournament winners and best camper awards were given to the deserving recipients.

Girls’ Tournament Winners: first place – Natalia Pavlyk, second place – Natalia Bula and third place – Ivanna Voloshchak. Boys’ Tournament Winners: first place – Daniel Bula, second place – Lukas Bula, and third place – Alex Sonyey. In the Mixed Group (boys and girls) first place was earned by Mykola Nychka and second place by Alex Chorny.

The coveted Best Camper Awards were decided by the entire tennis staff based on exemplary behavior both on and off the courts. The winners were Alex Sonyey, Brandon Bula, Natalia Pavlyk and Diana Kozenyatko.

Ms. Czerkas and counselors prepared special “fun” awards for everyone, which added a little levity to the occasion. After dancing, the evening ended with the singing of “Nich Vzhe Ide” (Night is Falling).

The next day the campers met again, with some playing more tennis, and final farewells were exchanged.

Tournament winners and finalists with the camp director and counselors: (front row, from left) Daniel Bula, Lukas Bula, Mykola Nychka, Alex Chorny, (back row) camp director George Sawchak, Natalia Pavlyk, Natalia Bula, Ivanna Voloshchak, Alex Sonyey and counselors Pavlo Busko, Yana Skorobogatova, Ariadna Louer and Anastasiya Dudaryk.

Andrij Nychka

Tournament winners and finalists with the camp director and counselors: (front row, from left) Daniel Bula, Lukas Bula, Mykola Nychka, Alex Chorny, (back row) camp director George Sawchak, Natalia Pavlyk, Natalia Bula, Ivanna Voloshchak, Alex Sonyey and counselors Pavlo Busko, Yana Skorobogatova, Ariadna Louer and Anastasiya Dudaryk.

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