Recreational overnight camp “Voice of Youth” at Camp Veselka – July 13-26 2025, Halton Hills, ON

The Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) around the world is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. The UYA was initiated in 1925 in Kyiv, Ukraine and 100 years later the UYA is operating in 13 countries and organizing summer camps for children with Ukrainian roots. 

In honour of this anniversary, in this article, you’ll learn 100 fun facts about summer camp at Camp Veselka, from its participants, staff, and program as well as a camp favourite activities and pastimes to its benefits for campers and their parents. 

1.The theme for the first week of day camp was Insects.

2. Camp Veselka near Acton, Ontario has opened its door to campers for 71 years.

3. This year at Veselka there were 106 overnight campers and 30 day campers, respectively.

4. Day campers were aged 4-6 years old

5. Overnight campers ranged from 7- 13 years of age.

6. The girls outnumbered the boys 66 to 40.

7. The Camp Director was Adelia Spytkowsky (UYA Hamilton).

8. The Camp Program directors, Larysa Woloszansky (UYA Mississauga) and Lesia Hrycyshyn (UYA Etobicoke) organized an amazing and jam-packed program.

9. The Day Camp Program Director, Tamara Hrycyshyn (UYA Etobicoke) not only organized the program, but rode the bus with the kids every day. 

10. Other staff, counselors and campers came from all over southern Ontario – Ottawa, Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Guelph, Hamilton, St. Catherines and London.

11. Day campers’ favourite insect were spiders.

12. The theme for the second week of day camp was Ukrainian folk tales.

13. Day campers’ favourite character was Kolobok.

14. Day campers’ favourite folk tale to dress up for and re-enact was Ripka.

15. Campers were not permitted to use cell phones during camp. 

16. All camper wore navy blue UYA 100 anniversary T-shirts on hot days instead of uniform shirts and ties. 

17. There was a heat wave in the first week of camp and with humidity temperatures soared to over 40 degrees.

18. Everyday campers competed for the cleanest cabin, the best singing and sportsmanship.

19. At roll call, special flags and medals were awarded to winners of all the competitions.

20. Everyday campers were given special tasks to do around the 100th anniversary.

21. In the morning everyone did 100 sit-ups during morning exercises.

22. Campers attempted to hold the plank position for 100 seconds.

23. Every group had to build a structure with 100 pieces of Lego.

24. Each group wrote a camp story with exactly 100 words.

25. Each group went on a scavenger hunt to collect 100 things.

26. Campers favourite activity at camp was swimming.  

27. Campers second favourite activity was volleyball.

28. Badminton took third place.

29. Boys like to spend a lot of their free time on the basketball court or soccer field.

30. This year all campers honed their volleyball skills and did a lot of drills.

31. Campers favourite song was an original song “Voice of Youth” to the melody of David Guelleta’s “Forever Young”

32.Arts and crafts took place in the old kitchen that was decorated with the campers art projects.

33. Girls made a traditional motanka doll craft.

34. Boys made mosaics out of glass tiles.

35. Everyone at camp made key chains and bracelets with Ukrainian lettered beads.

36. All students attended an art class with a professional artist.

37. The youngest cabin of boys spent a lot of their free time catching frogs.

38. One cabin made water filters using rocks, charcoal, gravel sand, and plastic water bottles.

39. The younger campers learned about pond life from a visiting local expert.

40. BCU Financial sponsored a Carnival Day for the 100th Anniversary.

41. The most popular activity was the dunk-tank.

42. The second most popular activity was the waterslide.

43. The favourite treat at the carnival was cotton candy.

44. The second favourite treat was an ice cone.

45. Campers were allowed to purchase 2 treats daily at the tuck shop.

46. The least favourite flavour of freezies was grape.

47. During cabin campfires, campers made Oreo smores.

48. There was a big bonfire in honour of the 100th anniversary.

49. Campers made a display of the number 100 with candles next to bonfire.

50. The program included a lot of Ukrainian traditions.

51. Girls searched for the mystical flower during the evening of Ivana Kupala.

52. Younger campers searched for fire flies during the festivities of Ivana Kupala.

53. For Ivana Kupala girls and boys held hands and jumped over embers of a fire.

54. The campers were visited by mystical creatures which included water and forest nymphs during Ivana Kupala.

55. The campers burned effigies of Maryna and threw an effigy of Ivan into the pond where the girls were setting out their flower wreaths that they made earlier during the day.

56. The campers attended mass on Sundays celebrated by Fathers Toma Hrywna and Borys Hemon.

57. The campers re-enacted a traditional Ukrainian wedding where two campers from the oldest cabins were “married”.

 58. The campers baked and decorated a korovay, a traditional wedding bread.

59. The camp cook, Larysa Choly and her team prepared a Ukrainian feast for the wedding which included perogies, cabbage rolls, patychky and borscht.

60. The campers celebrated the wedding and danced in the kolomeyka cirle showing off their spins and high kicks.

61. The campers enjoyed a Ukrainian dance party on the new patio of the kitchen to end the first successful week of camp. 

 62. The campers had role call every morning and evening. 

63. The Ukrainian and UYA anthems were sung daily.

64. Campers in each cabin created their own cabin song and marching routine that was performed in front of the whole camp on the first night.

65. It only took 22 minutes to assemble the whole camp for the annual camp picture on the stage.

66. Parent volunteers came up on Wednesday evening to make the campers and staff a barbecue.

67. The winner of the camp talent show from Cabin 2 blew everyone away with his piano playing.

68. The campers explored caves and the lake at Rockwood Conservation area during the field trip.

69. Bohdanka Hontar and Larysa Stech organized and overnight sleep over in tents at Rockwood for boys and girls from the oldest cabins 

70. The campers all took part in the camp-wide field game where they were able to capture the Ukrainian flag.

71. Every cabin had a mascot and spent an evening at a mascot and dance competition.

72. The campers tested their knowledge of the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian facts at a Family Feud event.

73. Parents visited children on the middle Sunday and stayed for a Ukrainian barbeque and bonfire.

74. Every day 3 campers were chosen to raise the flag.

75. Every day cabins were assigned kitchen duty after meals.

76. Cabin groups took group pictures in unique setting around the camp for the camp yearbook.

77. Campers spent time in the garden eating raspberries and currants.

78. The most popular place to hang out for campers were the swings at the playground

79. Campers enjoyed a Ukrainian movie night in the newly sound-proofed kitchen.

80. Campers benefited from attending camp in many ways.

81. Campers developed self-assurance and confidence.

82. Campers made lasting friendships and learned to socialize without cell phones.

83. Campers became more independent as they explored their own interests.

84. Camp offered opportunities to learn new skills.

85. Campers leaned to work with others.

86. The program encouraged physical activity.

87. Camp taught resilience and in turn promoted personal growth.

88. Leaders provided positive role models.

89. Activities encouraged creativity.

90. Challenges at camp enhanced problem-solving skills.

91. Opportunities at camp promoted leadership.

92. New activities that children may not have a chance to do at home encouraged exploration.

93. Campers learned adaptability.

94. Campers leaned discipline and responsibility.

95. So many activities promoted teamwork and collaboration.

96. Campers learned to make good decisions in a group setting. 

97. Campers learned about their culture, religion and history.

98. Campers made an important connection with other Ukrainians.

99. Campers became more dedicated member of the UYA.

100. Campers left the camp as better and more informed and patriotic Ukrainians.

Irene Shust-Dankowycz & Lesia Hrycyshyn

Additional fotos can be viewed here – Week 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/vyNZpkeeZVCG5JLi6 and Week 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/WSH9ApLwByu5GzFJ8  

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