KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The 46th annual Chornomorska Sitch Sports School, hosted at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center, concluded its two-week camp on August 1 with a traditional luncheon. The camp attracted 54 boys and girls for the first week and 47 campers for the second session.
The great weather during the two weeks helped ensure the camp’s success, as did the work of the camp directorate, instructors and supervisors, who contributed to the campers’ record-setting achievements that surpass the work of the past decades.
Three years ago, the camp integrated an hour-long singing instruction as a part of its daily schedule. It is difficult to keep the campers interested, however, many of the English-speaking campers enthusiastically learned and performed songs at weekly bonfires and concerts that marked the end of each camp session that were attended by the many parents. Singing instruction was by Oksana Telepko (during the first week) and Inessa Dekajlo (during the second week), both professional artists from Ukraine. For some, this is the only opportunity for them to learn the Ukrainian language.
Soccer instructors included coach Rob Howell, assisted by Zachary Bakun (a member of the Sitch men’s team); volleyball instruction was by Ivanka Grynyk, with assistant instruction by Eric Kuzmirek; tennis instruction in the first week was by Dr. Oleh Slupchynsky, who was joined by Andrew Cymbal, and during the second week, Andrew Kyzyk, Daniel Kyzyk and Katrusia Slupchynsky; swimming was led by Paul Kozak, one of the most medal-winning swimmers for Sitch.
The Sports School’s camp directorate in front of the monument to Ukrainian poetess Lesia Ukryinka.
Thanks to the work of the camp instructors, the playing level of campers was elevated in their chosen sports. During an exhibition soccer match with an American club, the Sports School camp tied 3-3 in the youth division and the older players won 11-4.
The Sports School camp directorate included: Omelan Twardowsky, president of Chornomorska Sitch; Katya Kucyna, camp director; Yarko Twardowsky, administrator; Taissa Bokalo, girls’ supervisor; Mr. Kozak, boys’ supervisor; and Armen Skulsky (from Kyiv), assistant and camp photographer.
At the conclusion of each camp session, instructors awarded medals and recognition of special achievements. The names of recipients will be listed in the Our Sport journal, which is published annually by Chornomorska Sitch.
The Sports School was also made possible with the cooperation and support of Self Reliance Ukrainian Federal Credit Union branches in Whippany and Newark, N.J., as well as the Self Reliance New York Ukrainian Federal Credit Union and the SelfReliance Ukrainian American Credit Union in Clifton, N.J.
– Translated by Matthew Dubas.