Recreational & Educational Camp “Illuminating Path” at Werchowyna

The sharp, pleasant scent of new wooden bunkbeds in two of the barracks and sparkling white clean new washrooms and showers in the craft and younger campers’ cabin, known as McDonald’s, greeted excited children as they arrived for the start of the 2024 summer camp season. This third summer following the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russia has meant continuing management of the massive upsurge in CYM membership throughout Canada. It continues to bring new life to branches, not to mention spawning fledgling initial groups in territories which have long since ceased to function, but the logistics provide an ongoing challenge. In anticipation of greatly increased numbers of campers, Verkhovyna campground underwent extensive renovations to provide all who attended with the best possible camp experience.

Hot and lazy July weather was par for the course as over 70 campers and almost 20 staff spent two weeks, July 14-28, 2024, forming friendships, breathing mountain air and baking in the sun, all while deepening their understanding of God, Ukraine, and their own call to learn their own skills and talents needed become community leaders of tomorrow. The theme of this year’s camp was “The Luminous Path” and was dedicated to our heroic band of CYM soldiers. The solid and challenging program consisted of daily sport, music, crafts, games, swimming as well as lessons on great Ukrainian historical figures. Special events included outings to Arbraska and bowling, zabavas in the kiosk, camp Olympics and a very special midnight game for the oldest campers.

Camp directors consisted of Tanya Choly and Natalya Schturyn alternating for the first week, then Nykola Hanych for the entire second week. Program director was Laryssa Luszczki and Melania Schturyn filled the role of personnel manager or bunchuzhna. All three of the latter, although veterans of camp, were new to their roles and had to juggle the lack of music and craft facilitators, plus having no dedicated nurse during the second week, with the ongoing everyday responsibilities of camp. Despite this, their obvious cohesiveness and trust of one another made an admirable governing trio for the unprecedented number of camper-participants.

Counsellors, too, were an impressive bunch. Victor Kuzyshyn and Olivia Kiszczuk as head counsellors for the boys and girls, along with able counsellors Tessa Stecyk, Bohdana Olyva, Luka Newland and Danylo Radovenchyk, worked tirelessly to make the children’s camp experience extraordinary. They were helped by an enthusiastic team of junior counsellors which included Julian Harasymovych, Danylo Podolian, Tymur Pekar, Dariia Radovenchyk and Adelia Sydor. The care team was rounded off by unflagging helpers Vasylyna Molodtsova, Kateryna Nemtsev, Adriana Rzepka, Timmy Kutash and Julia Nemtsev. This incredible group of young people remained steadfast on the front lines while dealing with the challenges of working with campers both day and night.

The many volunteers who supported camp at Verkhovyna were invaluable. Daria Hanycz, head of the CYM Montreal branch camp committee, plus her many helpers who searched high and low for staff who could commit to attending, logged countless hours organizing and administering camp minutiae both before and during camp so that things would flow seamlessly onsite. Creative head of the kitchen staff Taras Figol and his army of cooks made certain that the children would have both nutritionally balanced and very tasty meals and snacks during their two weeks away from home, coping marvellously even when the fresh air and exercise multiplied young appetites by three. Fr. Ihor Oshchipko faithfully made the weekly trek from Montreal to attend to the spiritual needs of camp and lead Sunday Divine Liturgy.

It would be a shame to omit the youngest and most endearing group of campers. Sumeniata were prevalent at camp, travelling in a ragged line from place to place, busily engaged in crafts, activities and stories in the kiosk, leaping and running on the playground, digging and splashing on the beach. This first year with longer hours meant that they were part of the fabric of camp life for most of the day. Roksoliana Fik the first week and Nataliya  Kostiv and Melania Sztyk the second week smoothly and competently ran a lively and stimulating program for the little ones while managing to get them where they needed to go in a timely manner.

Big smiles on the faces of happy campers greeted their parents at the end of two glorious, exhausting weeks of camp. As always, time had flown much too quickly; hearts had been refreshed by patriotic songs and minds and bodies strengthened by a reset from the sensory and technological oversaturation of daily life. As lunch ended and the time came to depart, the tears flowed freely. The transformative experience of camp had come to an end, but the lessons and personal growth would be brought home to enrich the lives of all who attended.

Natalia Schturyn

For additional photos see the camp album: Werchowyna.