Children enjoy Ukrainian heritage and fun at Soyuzivka camp (09/02/01)

Children enjoy Ukrainian heritage and fun at Soyuzivka camp

KERHONKSON, N.Y. - Fifty children ages 4-10 took part in this year's one-week Chemney Fun Center day camp at Soyuzivka, enjoying arts and crafts, sports, singing and Ukrainian dancing.

Other activities included singing and roasting marshmallows at a bonfire, the Chemney Camp Olympics and a field trip to a nearby farm where children picked blueberries, enjoyed a hayride and visited a petting zoo.

The children and their parents were also treated to the sights and sounds of the Ukrainian National Association resort's own Hutsul and Odesa nights, where they ate and danced and were entertained with live Ukrainian music.

On Saturday, July 14, the camp concluded with a program at the Veselka Hall called "How the Veselka Got Its Colors." The story was created and narrated by camp director Marianka Wasylyk. All the campers sang throughout the story, and when the Veselka finally got its colors the campers danced.

Ukrainian dance instruction by Andrew Oprysko was part of the campers' daily schedule. Other camp assistants included Bohdanka Puzyk, Nadia Hrynovetz and Tatiana Flis, and Lesia Bida, Andrij Kedyuluch and Karolina Kalinowski served as counselors. Parents of the campers also assisted as "helping hands" during the weeklong program.

At the closing ceremonies UNA First Vice-President Stefko Kuropas thanked the camp director, Ms. Wasylyk, and the counselors for their dedication to Ukrainian children. He also urged parents to continue coming to Soyuzivka and stressed the importance of their membership in the UNA.

UNA Advisor and Branch 88 Secretary Stephanie Hawryluk was present to give each camper a gift and a certificate from Soyuzivka. Former manager of Soyuzivka Dan Slobodian and UNWLA President Irena Kurowycky were in attendance to watch their grandchildren perform in the program.

Ms. Wasylyk thanked the parents and management of Soyuzivka, John Flis, John Kocur and Sonia Semanyszyn, for all their help and wished everyone a safe trip home and "Do pobachennia" until next year.

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