Ukrainian American Youth Association resort hosts "Sumeniata" (08/08/99)

Ukrainian American Youth Association resort hosts "Sumeniata"

by Nusia Woch Kerda
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

ELLENVILLE, N.Y. - This year the Ukrainian American Youth Association (UAYA) resort here is hosting its 43rd summer of camps for members. "Oselia SUM," as it is commonly referred to by members is located on Route 209, about 20 minutes away from Soyuzivka, the estate of the Ukrainian National Association.

This year, the UAYA is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its establishment in the United States of America. The UAYA National executive board has issued special commemorative T-shirts to mark this event. All summer campers are using these shirts as part of their uniform.

UAYA began its 1999 summer program in Ellenville with a three-week intensive counselor's training course (vyshkil) for its older teenage members. On Sunday, July 25, two camps began their sessions: the camp for children age 7 years and older (under the direction of Irene Scheremeta Laschuk) and - "Tabir Sumeniat" for children age 4-6.

The camp for "Sumeniata" (as the association's youngest members are called) is a two-week day camp with a varied program that runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with a recital for parents on Saturday morning. Parents can choose to send their child to the first week of camp, the second or both. About 50 percent of the children remain for both weeks.

The program begins with a morning formation and a breakout into small groups ("royi") for half-hour sessions that include singing, storytime, arts and crafts, organized group play, and introduction to Ukraine and the UAYA. The campers enjoy a morning break and eat lunch together in the camp dining hall, which is adorned with flags from previous years' summer camps.

The afternoon session begins with group singing, followed by additional breakout sessions. The afternoon program during the first week of camp featured the Rev. Bohdan Danylo who acquainted the Sumeniata with religion. Bishop Losten of the Stamford Diocese was gracious enough to assign the Rev. Bohdan to visit and assist our counselors in introducing the Sumeniata to the Ukrainian American Youth Association's motto, "God and Ukraine." Other topics included hygiene, swimming lessons and water play. The afternoon session closed with a snack and afternoon formation.

The program is held in Ukrainian, so that the children may increase their vocabulary of Ukrainian words through their activities in camp.

On Tuesday morning a camp picture was taken, on Wednesday the campers hiked to the river, where they were able to build a dam and catch guppies and frogs, and on Thursday evening the Sumeniata had a dance (zabava) featuring their favorite selections.

The oldest Sumeniata, who will be going on to the regular UAYA camp next year, were able to experience a day and night in the big kid's ("molodshe yunatstvo") camp on Thursday evening and Friday morning with a sleepover under the supervision of Chrystya Woch, Hanya Porada and Kathy Barna. Friday evening was highlighted by a campfire at which the children sang songs and toasted marshmallows.

On Saturday morning they collected their artistic creations from the week and presented a recital for their parents. At the end of the recital each child received a certificate for attending camp and a camp pin to wear on their Sumeniata uniforms. Each child also received a 43-page booklet containing the camp program, list of camp counselors, list of camp attendees, the UAYA prayer and poems for Sumeniata, as well as activities and song sections.

This year's camp was under the direction of Nusia Woch Kerda and her assistants: Irene Bundziak (introduction to the UAYA), Sonia Schur and Olia DeBruin (organized play), Darka Hryckowian and Ms. Woch (arts and crafts), Marianna Zavojska (in charge of 3 1/2 year olds), Dr. Irene Stolar (hygiene), Taras Mazur, Ivan Zayats and Larissa Blaha (swimming instructors), and Maria Slaba and Halyna Shepko (singing). Junior counselors were: Katya Kosiw, Nadia Dlaboha, Katya Doliak, Marusia Popovych and Natalka Stupak.

A total of 75 children attended the two-week camp.

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