Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) -- Stamford

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First CYM Fall Family Outing
October 8 - 10, 2011 at Oselia in Ellenville

Opening Apel

Blessed with bright sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures, the first ever Ukrainian American Youth Association (CYM) Osinnya Rodynna Prohulka (Fall Family Outing) took place from October 8-9, 2011 on the grounds of the CYM Oselia in Ellenville, NY. The weekend outing was organized by Branch 54 of CYM “Khersones” in Stamford, CT and was open to all CYM members between the ages of 6-12. Nearly 30 children and 40 parents participated in a variety of exciting outdoor activities.

The weekend began with a formal CYM Apel and went on to include an introduction to reading maps and how to use a compass. The lecture was followed by a fun, fast-paced and highly competitive field game (terenova hra) that involved parent/child teams. Similar in nature to the popular American television program “Amazing Race”, the terenova hra gave the children an opportunity to use their newly acquired skills. Switching gears, the children were given a basic introduction to Ukrainian heroes of the 20th century and their relevance today in a “meet and greet” fashion on the “Mohyla Heroyiv” (Grave of Heroes) on Oselia. For those readers who have never visited Oselia, busts of such Ukrainian leaders as Stepan Bandera, Yuriy Shukhevych, Evhen Konovalets and Simon Petlura are located on top of the Mohyla and the children were able to both hear about and actually see who these important historical figures were. Later in the afternoon, participants also had an opportunity to learn about the most familiar astronomical constellations and build their own simple telescopes to take home. Once darkness overcame the Oselia, children were given an unique opportunity to see the constellations they’d heard about earlier in the day using a real, high-powered telescope. In a genuinely friendly and familial spirit, the evening’s activities included an impromptu zabava under the stars to lively tunes spun by DJ’s and participating fathers from Stamford, CT, Andriy Solonynka and Vasyl Kudyba. Before retiring to their tents for the night, parents and children cozied up to the bonfire, sang songs and enjoyed the perfectly clear, starry evening.

Following Mass at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church in Kerhonkson, NY on Sunday morning, the rest of the program continued. On Sunday, the children discussed basic first aid and practiced bandaging up a splint on a partner. The day also included a lecture on the beginnings of CYM, renewal of the organization in the diaspora and how the children, as present-day CYM-ivtsi, are an important part in of today’s nation-building. Finally, the day wrapped up with a mini hike exploring Oselia and ended with an overview of tying basic knots. Of course, no Ukrainian weekend would have been complete without the occasional friendly soccer scrimmage between parents and the kids…and any free moment was spent in such a fashion!

Many thanks go to the Administrators of CYM Oselia who facilitated the outing, to all the CYM parents who helped organize the weekend and especially to the guest lecturers who participated: Jurij and Ihor Stecko, Victor Kurylyk, Taras Hnatyshyn and Stephan and Petro Priatka all from CYM New York City, Ihor Mirchuk from CYM Philadelphia and Severyn Hummeny from CYM Stamford, CT. Overall, everyone walked away from the Prohulka feeling like they’d grown closer to one another as a CYM family. The general consensus implied that this would absolutely become an annual tradition!