"Old paths, new ideas" is theme of rigorous counselor training camp for young women (08/12/01)

"Old paths, new ideas" is theme of rigorous counselor training camp for young women

by Dora T. Hapij

LEXINGTON, N.Y. - Many of us may go through days at camp not taking into account the ideological value of experience. This year's "Shkola Bulavnykh" (Plast camp counselors' workshop for young women) gave college-aged girls the opportunity to do just this: to think about Plast from a different perspective and to question things that have always been taken for granted.

Traditionally the female and male Plast camp counselors' workshops have been held in the United States every year as separate camps. However, recently there has been talk about combining these workshops into a co-ed camp. Such a combination, although possibly beneficial, would also be unfortunate. At single-sex workshops, older girls often have opportunities to practice leadership skills unlike in any other surrounding.

Keeping in mind that this might be the last exclusively female workshop, the head counselor of the 2001 Shkola Bulavnykh (ShB), Julia Szyszka, a member of the Pershi Stezhi sorority, organized the camp around the theme of the importance of women's decisions in everyday life and allowed every camper the opportunity to develop her leadership capabilities.

This year's ShB took place in Lexington, N.Y., on a plot of land owned by the Lisova Shkola (the camp counselors' workshop for young men). On June 23, 13 campers arrived from Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Newark and Washington. It was an eager group, ready to rough it in the wild. To reach the campground, the girls had to cross a river, while carrying all of their camping gear on their backs. At first, the campsite was a bare plot of land. But by the end of the second day, the campers had put up their tents, the kitchen, the flagpole, an outhouse and other necessities.

Once they had prepared their new home in the woods, the young women began their lecture-discussions (hutirky). Prior to arrival, every camper had to prepare projects on two given topics. Throughout the duration of the camp, each girl was given four opportunities to present the prepared material to her peers. There was a twofold goal to this exercise: to make sure that all campers had the basic training in pioneering, camping, cartography, wilderness survival, outdoor cooking, first aid, signalization, wildlife studies, hiking and marching, and to teach these topics to future campers.

In the evenings, campers and counselors would discuss various methods of leadership and the role of women in varying cultures throughout the world. Afterwards, they would sit around a bonfire singing and learning Ukrainian songs. Such evening singing most often reflected the moods of the day.

One bonfire, however, was exceptional. On June 30, a Saturday evening, the girls organized a bonfire to celebrate the feast of Ivan Kupalo (a midsummer mixture of Christian and pagan traditions). They hid in the woods, much like forest nymphs, singing "Hey na Ivana, hey na Kupala." Soon enough, their guests (members of Plast from Hunter and members of the Ti Shcho Hrebli Rvut Plast sorority) walked down a lantern-lit path going through the. Hrycyn's property. The girls then led the guests to their bonfire, into which they placed the figure of Marena. Then they threw their wreaths into the river, and drowned the mythical Ivan. Just as Ivan drowned, the participants got drenched by pouring rain. Not distracted, the campers and guests sat under ponchos and umbrellas singing and enjoying themselves late into the night.

This year's ShB was blessed with a large group of counselors. All enjoyed their assigned positions, and enjoyed showing their charges what it means to teach by example. The counselors included: Isia Stadnyk (Pershi Stezhi), Michelle Gast (Chortopolokhy), Dora Hapij (Lisovi Mavky), Dania Snihur, Ada Helbig (Chortopolokhy) and Charita Petrina (Pershi Stezhi). On the weekends, members of the Ti Shcho Hrebli Rvut sorority came out to help with lectures.

The 2001 Shkola Bulavnykh comprised a wonderful blend of different characters and personalities. One could often hear sounds of laughter during various activities throughout each day. Every bonfire evoked all sorts of emotions, and no discussion was ever without valuable contributions.

On July 5 the workshop came to a close. The counselors named the first-place winners in categories of leadership, attitude and knowledge. And, after good-byes were said, all went their own ways to be counselors at Plast camps throughout the United States.

A unique counselor workshop, Shkola Bulavnykh educates college-aged girls in a variety of Plast-oriented topics. This year's group of campers proved with their enthusiasm that under their leadership younger Plast members are assured a fruitful future.

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