JENKINTOWN, Pa. – This year’s summer camps of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization were very different from prior years due to COVID-19 and the quarantine measures limiting and restricting the number of overnight campers.
Under the direction of Plast U.S.A.’s head of camps, Roman Lewyckyj, leaders of all three Plast campsites organized a one-week virtual camp for their cub scouts (novatstvo) and scouts (yunatstvo).
Over 350 participants, comprising campers and their counselors, took part in the organized online camps hosted by the individual campgrounds, which culminated in an online weekend bonfire that was open to anyone who wanted to participate.
Nearly 20 percent of the campers attended more than one week of virtual Plast camp.
The Plast campground Pysanyi Kamin in Middlefield, Ohio, hosted the first week of online camp (July 5-11); Vovcha Tropa in East Chatham, N.Y., hosted the second week (July 12-19); and Novyi Sokil in North Collins, N.Y., hosted the third week (July 19-25).
Each camp had its own unique online program, and campers were able to obtain several merit badges by performing their projects from home and sharing photographs and videos. Many projects, including those in cooking and crafting, were showcased on Plast’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
Following completion of one or more weeks of online camp, each camper received a commemorative T-shirt, as well as a badge designed by older scout Julianna Lyktey.
In addition to the three-week camp for cub scouts and scouts, the Plast sorority Spartanky organized a one-week virtual camp for the youngest cub scouts, which was held August 3-7. This camp, normally held at Vovcha Tropa, is usually well-attended as it offers first-time campers a precursor to what lies ahead in a full three-week sleepaway camp.
Source: Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization U.S.A.
