Community Leaders Visit Future Leaders in Ukrainian-American Youth Association Camp

Community Leaders Visit Future Leaders in Ukrainian-American Youth Association Camp

Ellenville, NY – The Ukrainian-American Youth Association (CYM)’s Vykhovno-Vyshkilniy tabir has just concluded the second year of a new, ambitious, leader-creating program on CYM’s campgrounds in Ellenville, NY. An educational camp meant to raise the next generation of Ukrainian community teachers and leaders, this year’s camp, under the direction of Komendant (Chief Supervisor) Chrystyna Kobyleckyj and Holovniy Vykhovnyk (Curriculum Supervisor) Dmitri Lenczuk, saw visitors from several Ukrainian organizations in the span of its two weeks. The visiting leaders, mostly under the “Providnytstvo” (“Leadership”) class of the camp, included Jurij Mykytyn, President of the Ukrainian-American Youth

Association (CYM); Stepan Kaczurak, President of the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine (ODFFU); Mykhajlo Sawkiw, President of the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) in the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA); and Marijka Polischuk, the newly-elected President of the Education Council of the World Board for the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM). It was a distinct honor to also host the 4th President of the Youth Nationalist Congress (MNK) of Ukraine and a current coordinator of the ATO volunteer organization “Vilni Liudy”, Serhiy Kuzan, who was also a main speaker at the annual Sviato Heroyiv commemoration organized by the ODFFU. Each of these community leaders shared their experiences in their positions, the projects their organizations have made, and future plans that will affect the campers and the Ukrainian-American community as a whole.

During the camp, spanning from June 26th to July 9th, the CYM campers were not only uniquely exposed to the example of community leaders, but had taken part in practical and experiential leadership roles in the form of a “Taborova Uprava” (Camp Council). Consisting near-exclusively of third-year campers, the Taborova Uprava, with the help of mentor counselors, coordinated all of the events that took place during the camp. The different paths a camper could take reflect the paths a member of CYM can take once one turns 18 years old: “Vykhovnyky” (Teachers), Suspilnyky (Community Leaders), Mykhnarodnyky (International Community Leaders), Kulturnyky (Cultural Organizers), and Ratnyky (Physical Activity/Sport Organizers). By organizing into committees that had representation in the Taborova Uprava, campers got a better understanding of the way community activism works in the real world by practicing in a controlled setting with mentor counselors to help in the process.

This year’s Vyshkilniy Tabir was dedicated to the Act of June 30, 1941, which was proclaimed by Yaroslav Stetsko in Lviv and re-established Ukrainian independence under the directive of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (Banderites). The official name of the camp, “Shliakh Vilnykh Liudei” (“The Way of Free People”), was chosen in part to honor the current fight in Ukraine for the freedoms often taken for granted in the United States, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famously identified four freedoms: the freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Each day of the camp had a daily virtue, ranging from “selflessness” to “timeliness” to “faithfulness”, which were cherished and practiced in order to more firmly establish CYM’s values in the hearts of each camper.

The projects organized by the campers were numerous. The ambitious Kulturnyky organized a maskarade on the first night of the Taborova Uprava’s existence, along with a traditional Ivana Kupalo celebration. The Vykhovnyky, focusing on teaching the camp something new, prepared a Sviatochniy Apel (Commemoration) in honor of the Act of June 30, 1941, a formal program with songs and skits for a vatra (bonfire), and pins for the 30th anniversary of the “Cymeniata” camps on the Ellenville campgrounds. The Mizhnarodnyky were divided into two committees: the greeting committee for the visiting rock group for the Nadiya Ye Festival, Antytila, and a committee that organized a scavenger hunt/“war game” that simulated the battle for Donetsk Airport. The Ratnyky, in addition to building the bonfire and lending manpower to other groups, organized an Olympic-style “strong man” competition that challenged campers physically and mentally. The Suspilnyky worked to fund the camp projects through simple fundraisers and more complex ones, which included a volleyball tournament that was co-organized by the Ratnyky. For the second year in a row, the Suspilnyky collected plastic water bottles to recycle in New York state depositories. For $0.05 per bottle, the group was able to raise $142 that went directly to Mr. Kuzan’s ATO volunteer organization, Vilni Liudy. 

In addition to the Taborova Uprava program, the CYM campers had many other unique opportunities. One of the identifying qualities of the camp is its tie to the “Obmin” (Exchange) program with the Ukrainian Youth Association in Ukraine. This year, Vykhovnyk Lesia Holyk of the Ternopil branch taught campers about the basic fundamentals of modern Ukraine, including its economics, music, film, and more. Joining her were two campers from Ukraine, Darka Symchych and Anya Berezovska, who shared some Ukrainian CYM traditions and learned some American ones in the process. The campers had a unique opportunity to meet and greet the Nadiya Ye headlining band, Antytila, who were thrilled by the energy exuded by the camp. As in years prior, the camp also took part in the Sviato Heroyiv commemoration organized by the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine, in addition to performing at the end of the Nadiya Ye Festival.

Joining the Vyshkilniy Tabir this year was the newly organized Starsho-Yunatskiy Tabir, named “Kraina Vilnykh Liudey” (Country of Free People), dedicated to the Ukrainian actor Ivan Mykolaichuk.  These campers, albeit with a separate program that included terrain discovery and outdoor activities, worked together with Vyshkil and participated in most of the activities coordinated by the Taborova Uprava. Under the direction of their Holovniy Vykhovnyk, Viktor Kurylyk, the new camp was an astounding success. These two camps together numbered over 100 campers.

With so much accomplished in a mere two weeks, all campers and Komanda members were exhausted, though delighted with the success of the camp. The exiting third-year campers are well on their way to officially joining the Ukrainian-American community as teachers, organizers, and leaders of the future. Reminded to do so often, campers were encouraged to begin thinking about their roles as active members of this community. With their values developed and with some experience to draw from, the campers left prepared and well-equipped to face challenges and hardships that may face them in their journey for the freedom and dignity of Ukraine. 

by Dmitri Lenczuk