In total, more than 70 camps will be held in Lviv Oblast this year.
During this year’s layer camp season, the Lviv region hosts a record number of campers. About 2,500 young men and women, novices and novices will participate in camps of various levels and orientations during the summer.
On them, young people will learn to live among nature: spend the night in tents, cook food over an open fire, understand maps, build camp structures without a single nail, study the flora and fauna of the camping area.
In total, more than 70 camps will be held in Lviv Oblast this year. More than 100 stratum educators are involved in their organization. The holding of 14 camps was supported by the Lviv Regional Reservoir Center.
“We supported them financially, materially, informationally, logistically. The day before, a meeting was organized where all safety points of the camps were discussed, legal and organizational points were agreed upon. They helped to find instructors and prepare programs,” says center director Olga Prykhodko.
Plast educators organize leisure time for young people. All of them are aware of the risks and the high level of responsibility, because running a camp during wartime is a lot of challenges. But not making a camp is not an option. Despite all the difficulties, educators are looking for formats and ways to help young people experience the charm of playing in nature. In addition to the main program, which traditionally should be included in the stratum camp, this year, the educators emphasize a lot on the fact that the Russian-Ukrainian war is currently taking place. In an interactive way, they explain the reasons, the course of hostilities, and tell the stories of platoon soldiers who were killed by the Russians. Many conversations about the history of Ukraine, its culture and traditions, about the meaning of the state, its symbols, about the role of Ukraine in world history.
Usually foster carers take special vacations to devote 10 days to raising foster children. They come up with legends of the camps, develop competitions, make talks, and instruct the youth to learn new things, express themselves, get out of their comfort zone, gain strength and feel the magic of layering.
“This year, a lot of stratum educators will not be at the camps. They are also among nature, also in field kitchens, also in uniforms. But not in the stratum, but in the military. Despite the fact that the number of senior platoons organizing camps has decreased, the number of camps, on the contrary, is increasing. Those who remained in the rear assumed all responsibility. This is twice the load. But it’s worth it. Education of young people cannot be put on hold. You can’t wait for victory. Plast survived two wars, a ban on activity, but flaking did not stop, just as the flaking camps did not stop. Once again, we want to thank all the kindergarten teachers for the crazy work they put in for the kindergarteners. And the Armed Forces of Ukraine, that we have the opportunity to conduct them,” emphasizes Olha Prykhodko.
Camp programs also include the usual first aid, cartography, and cooking classes. Educators also introduced new conversations. Such as weapons science, drone control. In addition, they talk about public speaking, time management, and psychology.
“Floor camps are more than useful summer entertainment and healthy leisure time. It is a kind of school of life in difficult conditions, it is a place where children and young people become independent and learn self-reliance. It is no accident that among those who are defending Ukraine today, there are many plastuns and plastuns. It is very important that, despite all the difficulties, the stratum tradition of camping not only continues, but also develops,” said the head of the youth and sports department of Lviv OVA Roman Khim’yak.