Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of UYA Camp “Veselka”

On Sunday, July 21, 2024, on parent visitation day, the campers celebrated the 70th anniversary of UYA Camp “Veselka”

The celebration began with a Divine Liturgy at the chapel of Saints Volodymyr and Olga. His Eminence Bishop Brian and Father Borys Hemon, chaplain of the UYA Mississauga Chapter, came to the camp to pray and thank God for the opportunity to be together in the midst of nature and to remember all the campers and families who have had the pleasure of spending time at the camp over the past 70 years. The bishop blessed the medals of St. Benedict and gave them to each camper as a memento, along with a card, so that everyone could remember this important day and the bishop’s visit in the future.

After the Divine Liturgy, all the campers had free time and were able to spend time with their parents and families. Some ate lunch in the parking lots, some  visited the cabins, some swam in the newly renovated pool, some played volleyball,  soccer or basketball on the sports field, while some rested in the shade under a tree. It was great to see so many families enjoying the day and the beautiful weather. It was especially nice to listen to parents and grandparents reminisce about their days at the camp and the campers could truly realize that they were the third or fourth generation to attend the camp since 1954.

Taras Tataryn, had come to the camp a few days earlier to teach a workshop on building model rockets. Exactly 70 campers took part in the class and together they built 70 rockets on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the camp. On Sunday afternoon, the boys and girls came to the sports field, and with the help of his enthusiastic assistants, including Bishop Brian himself, the 70 rockets flew into the sky. As they parachuted back down to earth, the younger campers chased them around the field.

After the activity was over, the campers returned to their cabins to prepare for the role-call, dinner and a festive bonfire, while the parents continued to socialize while waiting for the evening program. The campers were pleasantly surprised when they came to get their food during dinner in the dining room and met not only the familiar faces of Marika Huska, Melinda Semkiv, Yulia, Zoryana, Ina, Liliyan, Sharon and Maxym, but also saw Bishop Brian again, who helped with the food distribution.

After dinner, a large inflatable “Mykyta the Fox” from Buduchnist Credit Union stood next to the kitchen, and the campers took a photo together. Buduchnist Credit Union, lead by its new chief executive officer, Mr. Demian Snih, helped to make the evening campfire special and festive with its sponsorship. Mr. Snih together with the Camp Director, Irka Shust, took part in the opening ceremony to light the fire while singing the traditional song “Sumivski Vohni”.

The bonfire itself was more than three meters high and was built by counsellors Lukian Hrycyshyn, Michael Haruk, and parents, Mr. Stepan Stetsky and Mr. Taras Danylak. The Camp Program Directors, Larysa Woloszanskyj and Lesya Hrycyshyn, greeted everyone present and handed over the program to the mc’s,  Natalia Bruciak and Nazar Vilkhin. They first invited the girls’ groups “Sunflowers”, “Mermaids”, “Bandera Girls”, “Butterflies”, “Mighty Mice” and the boys’ groups “Chickens”, “Potato Brothers”, “Riflemen” and “Courageous Cossacks” to perform their group songs and humorous skits. Everyone had a good time and the members of the Camp Committee distributed ice cream and anniversary cake to all present, which were generously sponsored by Buduchnist Credit Union. The bonfire ended with wonderful fireworks, sponsored again by Buduchnist Credit Union and organized Larysa and Adrian Woloszanskyj  and Wlodko Dejneka, and the singing of “Nich Vze Ide” in a large family circle. All the campers returned to their respective cabins happy. Many of the campers were wearing anniversary shirts with the UYA Camp Veselka emblem embroidered on them, which they had ordered earlier during the Spring Festival in June, so that they would have a beautiful memento of the 70th anniversary of the Camp Veselka for many years to come.

For the parents, the celebration ended on Sunday evening, but for the campers, the celebration continued the following week thanks to the Ukrainian Credit Union, which sponsored a carnival on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Camp Veselka with huge inflatable playgrounds that campers could enjoy all day long. The carnival ended with delicious snow cones for all participants. It was a joyful day full of fun that perfectly concluded the celebration of the 70th anniversary of CYM Veselka.

The Ukrainian Youth Association should be proud of our 70th anniversary of the camp and should not forget our founders who had the clear vision to provide such a magical and unique place for  youth. At Veselka camps, memories and lifelong friendships are created and at the same time, patriotic spirit and love for one’s roots and one’s homeland are strengthened. We are very grateful to all the founders and hundreds of volunteers who have contributed in large or small ways to the development and running of camps at our wonderful Veselka site over the past 70 years!

Eerka Shust -Camp Director

 

Additional fotos can be found here: Vidpo 2024 week 1 & Vidpo 2024 – week 2.