EDITORIAL: A farewell to summer (09/09/01)

EDITORIAL

A farewell to summer

By now, all our kids have returned from camps and summer vacations, and our students are back in school. It was yet another summer full of activities that are so much a part of being Ukrainian in North America. Why? Because our summertime activities - often "disguised" as pure fun - cap off the school-year activities of Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian children and youths.

Whether it's a youth camp organized by Plast or SUM, counselor training courses, a bandura or dance workshop, Ukrainian studies courses at Harvard, or even an educational trip to Ukraine, the intent and the effect is the same: such activities build on and augment our children's learning experiences during the other nine months of the year.

Summertime also creates indelible and priceless memories of friends from all parts of North America and beyond, of shared experiences like hikes, bonfires, sports events, etc., of challenging activities and mastered skills. It presents opportunities to develop leadership qualities, self-confidence, teamwork, independence, respect, love of nature and an appreciation for all of God's creation.

Summertime activities provide for our children's spiritual, emotional, physical and intellectual needs. They forge a connection between our children and our Ukrainian society. Thus, they are invaluable in our children's upbringing and in their development into adults and full-fledged and valuable members of our community.

Many of the folks who organize and conduct the diverse summer activities that our kids and youths are so fortunate to have are the "good citizens" of our community who contribute the time, effort and, yes, money that enables such activities to be held. You know who they are. They're the ones up at the camp before anyone else sets foot on the grounds, busy painting barracks, mowing the lawn and installing new plumbing; they're the ones buying and preparing the sports equipment; they're the ones who plan summertime programs, as well as the ones who search out the staffers to carry them out; and they're the ones who serve as nurses, office help, kitchen workers - you name it.

Many, many more others are young people themselves, dedicated members of various organizations who pass up much more lucrative employment opportunities to make our camps and workshops run. Where would we be without these counselors - these "bratchyky" and "sestrychky," "podruhy" and "druzi," "vykhovnyky"? Their efforts are largely taken for granted, even though they are the one ingredient (besides the campers themselves) without which our camps could not be held at all.

So, as the summer comes to a close, we offer this appreciation of all it has to offer. At the same time we offer all summertime volunteers and workers, as well as supporters of summertime activities a hearty thank-you. What would summer be without them? Certainly very different - perhaps the word "impossible" is a more apt description.

And, dare we think it? Perhaps the summertime commitment noted above will encourage some of us to make similar commitments during the fall, winter and spring. Help is always needed in our community organizations. So, why not roll up your sleeves (that's both literally and figuratively speaking) and pitch in? Why not give a little extra in donations to the organizations whose services you use and/or whose contributions you value?

And maybe, just maybe, all of us working together will tap the source of a renewed dedication and determination to work for the betterment of our community and for its brighter future.

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