"Wind of the Steppes" Plast camp based on Kozak traditions (12/21/03)

"Wind of the Steppes" Plast camp based on Kozak traditions

by Serhiy Letenko

DONETSK OBLAST, Ukraine - This summer, in an area that is the pearl of the Ukrainian steppes, a Plast youth camp called "Wind of the Steppes" (Stepovyi Viter) took place for the fifth time. The campsite was located in an area filled with Ukrainian history. Here, once upon a time, occurred the events described in "Slovo o Polku Ihorevim," when these lands belonged to the Kalmiusk regiment of the Zaporozhian Kozaks.

Today, many years after these events took place, you can once again hear the neighing of horses and the calling of Kozak names. This year more than 50 girl and boy scouts, or "plastuny," from all corners of Ukraine came together to learn theoretical and practical skills on all aspects of organizing scout units and also to experience the spirit of Ukraine's past.

Plast youths from the oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Lviv and Kharkiv applied to take part in one of three levels of training, each of which has it's own tasks and requirements: training of troop leaders with the aim of practicing leadership of small groups for scouts age 12-14, training of company leaders for youths age 15-16 in the organization of large-scale events, and training of camp leaders for plastuny over age 16 providing skills necessary to organize plast camps.

In addition, the scouts listened to well-prepared seminars on leadership, self-education and self-organization. Every participant of "Wind of the Steppes" was encouraged to earn as many merit badges in practical scouting as possible.

Each camp troop has a name in honor of a famous Kozak leader and has its own traditions. The best overall result at this year's camp was achieved by the troop called "Khmelnychenky." Furthermore, other troops achieved good results in separate contests. These were the troops "Polubotky," "Mazepyntsi," "Baidy" and "Sahaidaky." The camp leaders also have names taken from the Kozak era, such as "koshovyi" (the commander of a sub-unit of the Kozak army and the name of this camp's commandant), "oboznyi" (quartermaster), "kashovary" (cooks - literally porridge cooks) and others.

The plastuny went through an extensive educational program about the Kozak era including: a one-day troop boating trip in chaiky (Kozak boats), training and competitions in shooting with small arms, and orienteering and camouflage contests. There were interesting soccer and volleyball tournaments, as well as general sports competitions for those attempting to complete a sports merit badge.

Everyone will remember the hike, which the participants in training for company leaders organized in the beautiful Ukrainian steppes. Every scout tried to overcome obstacles in the terrain with the help of climbing gear. And probably, an activity everyone enjoyed most of all, was learning how to horseback ride, a skill without which no Kozak was considered a real warrior.

The scouts also learned how to take care of a horse and how to harness them, as well as how to prepare food, etc. They were very interested in the Ukrainian martial art of Boyovyi Hopak and had training sessions practically every day. Everyone was fascinated in learning the ancient art of Kozak solo combat and how to use a sabre.

There was singing of merry and soulful Kozak songs in the evenings and engrossing camp fires with themes such as Kozak traditions, songs, fun, history and others. The ecclesiastical seminars by Father Oleksander were very instructive and interesting. Father Oleksander talked with the campers about goodness and mercy and also held the camp liturgies.

Scouts say that in order for a camp to be successful, two things are a necessary: a beautiful wooden camp gate and a beautiful camp song. The scouts constructed a gate atop which all the participants of the camp fit, and named the camp song "Wind of the Steppes," which was a real hit.

First in the training of troop leaders came Plast member Volodymyr Haliley (Mykolaivka, Donetsk Oblast), Plast trial member Yurko Chushak (Stryi, Lviv Oblast) and Plast member Svitlana Anisimova (Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast). First of the company leaders was Plast pathfinder Dmytro Shchelkonohov (Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast).

All parts of the camp program were in one way or another related to the history of the famous Ukrainian Kozaks, who added a whole heroic era to Ukraine's history. An important goal of "Wind of the Steppes" is fostering national pride, knowledge and respect for national history, the traditions of our ancestors.

Those who would like to contribute to the growth of Plast in Ukraine may send donations to the Conference of Ukrainian Plast Organizations, c/o Dr. G. Slusarczuk, 67 Bayberry Drive, Monroe, NY, 10950-5607 (made out to "Fond Nachalnoho Plastuna). Dr. Slusarczuk may be contacted by phoning 845-782-0977.

(Translated by Roma Zubenko)

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