More than 250 enjoy 1999 Plast camps at Owassipe reservation (10/10/99)

More than 250 enjoy 1999 Plast camps at Owassipe reservation

by Oleh Skubiak

CHICAGO - More than 250 Plast members, including campers and counselors, participated in educational/recreational summer camps at the Owassipe Scout Reservation near Whitehall, Mich. The camps took place on July 11-31, and hosted Plast members from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon, New Jersey; Washington; and Prague. The program included camps for "novaky" (boys ages 7-11), "novachky" (girls 7-11), "yunaky" (boys 11-18), "yunachky" (girls 11-18) and "ptashata" (pre-schoolers).

The camps were organized by Plast/Chicago and the Western Regional Camp Committee, the latter formed in 1995 to organize and administer camps under the auspices of Plast branches in Chicago, Cleveland and Detroit. The Owassipe Scout Reservation is the oldest and largest Boy Scouts of America campground in the United States, operating since 1912 on more than 7,000 picturesque and pristine acres of campground.

The camps were expertly led by camp directors Christine (Itya) Dziuk, (novachky); Dr. George (Uyo) Gorchynsky, (novaky); Marta Kozbur, (yunachky); Myron Peniak, (yunaky); and Dr. Diana Iwanik, (ptashata). These directors were supported by more than 40 highly capable and enthusiastic counselors from across the United States and Canada.

The Western Regional Camp Committee began operating camps in 1996 at Plast's Pysanyi Kamin campsite near Cleveland. In the fall of 1998 a decision was made to utilize the Owassipe facility as a complement to Pysanyi Kamin. The Owassipe facility provides unique features generally not available at other Ukrainian campgrounds, including access to Lake Michigan and the Michigan Dunes, sailing, canoeing, archery, etc.

Moreover, by rotating campsites and further consolidating camping operations of the three largest Midwest branches of Plast, the quality of the camps, as well as the over-all enjoyment of the camping experience, is enhanced due to access to more highly qualified counselors and to a larger, more diverse pool of campers.

In addition, a very attractive agreement was negotiated with the Boy Scouts of America, which provided for a subsidy by the BSA to make campground improvements necessary for Plast's program purposes.

Planning for the summer 1999 camps at Owassipe had begun in the fall of 1998. The overall planning and execution of the camps was marked by broad involvement and cooperation by Chicago-area Plast members and parents. While nearly 50 individuals were involved in the over-all preparation of the camps, leadership for the effort came from a planning committee led by Oleh Skubiak and including Michael and Marta Charysh, Andrij Durbak, Ms. Dziuk, Diana Iwanik, Marta Kozbur, Areta and George Kuritza, Roman Marushka, Joe Mycyk, Wally Powers, Ivan Shkrobut, George Sambor, Renya Stasula and Luba Skubiak.

During the camp, Mr. Charysh, Marta Shuya-Belkirous, Ms. Kuritza and Joe Mulyk served as camp administrators, while Oksana Hulyk, Ms. Charysh, Lida Marushka and Irka Demus coordinated food services. Renya Stasula, R.N.; Mark Demus, M.D.; Peter Liber, M.D.; Ostap Kashuba,; and George Kuritza, M.D., provided medical care during the camp.

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