Hundreds of Plast youths travel to Vovcha Tropa for summer camps (08/08/04)

Hundreds of Plast youths travel to Vovcha Tropa for summer camps

by Peter Steciuk

EAST CHATHAM, N.Y. - In July the Vovcha Tropa campground welcomed hundreds of children who made the trip to idyllic East Chatham, N.Y., to participate in the Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization's annual camps. From July 10 to 31, Vovcha Tropa was abuzz with activity, as six camps shared three busy weeks in tents and barracks at the wooded site on Sayre Hill Road.

The camp for novaky (boys age 6-10) was called "Poshuk Sutnosti Halatuna" (Quest for the Meaning of Halatun). The theme was the story of a boy in Ukraine entrusted with the care of a powerful sword called Halatun after the destruction of his village. He embarks on a quest to learn about the powers of the sword and comes into contact with groups like Ninjas and Vikings, from whom he learns a variety of lessons. Camp Director Justin Matijcio, 21, of Wilton, Conn., said the theme was intended to teach the children to respect something greater than themselves.

The novaky also took a field trip to the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville, N.Y., where they learned about the history and science of flight, and built their own hanggliders.

The novachky (girls age 6-10) named their camp "Hrai Sopilko Hrai" (Play, Flute, Play), and the camp song was to that melody by popular Ukrainian singer Ruslana. Camp Director Christine Stawnychy of Milltown, N.J., and the rest of the staff introduced the girls to the culture, music, dance and traditions of the Hutsul region of Ukraine.

The camp took a trip to the Verkhovyna resort in Glen Spey, N.Y., where the novachky experienced Hutsul crafts, food, dance performances and art exhibits.

The camp for yunachky (girls age 11-15) was called "Kamianoyu Syloyu Stanemo Bryliantamy" (With the Strength of Rocks, We'll Become Diamonds). According to Camp Director Christina Baranetsky, 22, of Short Hills, N.J., the counselors taught the girls to use their inner strength to become diamonds, one of the strongest and most beautiful materials in the world.

This year's camp set itself apart by demonstrating a talant for pioneering, building a very impressive "brama," or gate-like structure, by lashing together logs with rope - a classic scouting activity.

The yunaky (boys age 11-15) called their camp "Bez Zakhodu Nema Zakhodu" (Without the Endeavor, the West Can't Be Reached). Said Camp Director Paul Farmiga, 22, of Clifton, N.J., "The journey from east to west is full of adventures, and as one unified body we can face the good, the bad and the ugly."

The yunaky and yunachky went on a joint hiking trip, with half of the campers heading to Mount Greylock State Reservation and the other half to Pittsfield State Forest, both in Massachusetts. The trip to Pittsfield State Forest also included a day of canoeing on Onota Lake, during which the campers became quite proficient at righting flipped canoes.

There was also a co-ed camp for 15-to 16-year-old scouts that called itself "Khvyliu Trymai" (Keep the Wave). According to Camp Director Laryssa Hud, 22, of Philadelphia, the symbolic theme was meant to start "waves" of friendship, creativity and other qualities that the campers would hold on to for years to come. In addition to orienteering, pioneering, scavenger hunts and other traditional scouting activities, the camp traveled to Saranac Lake, N.Y., for two days of canoeing, and to Albany, N.Y., for a day of rock climbing.

In addition to these camps, there was a preparatory camp for children too young for the full three-week camps. This camp, under the supervision of Camp Director Christine Kozak of Canton, Mass., lasted one week.

For the four largest camps, the number of children ranged from 78 for the novachky to 93 for the yunaky, with the novaky and yunachky at between 80 and 90 children. The camp for older yunaky and yunachky had 26 campers, while the preparatory camp had 13.

This year, the Vovcha Tropa campground welcomed four counselors from Ukraine as part of an initiative by the National Plast Command to bring Plast counselors from Ukraine to the United States for various camps. The counselors were: Olha Herus of Lviv, Yaroslav Lavriv of Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Zoreslava Bahniuk of Lviv and Oleksander Svystun of Lviv.

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