In Canada, a discussion of vanishing Jewish heritage in Ukraine ...

No. 18
THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2010
17
A Ukrainian Summer: where to go, what to do...
Plast’s “Tabir Ptashat”: engaging preschoolers since 1989
by Oksana Isajiw
CHICAGO – Plast Ukrainian Scouting
Organization’s “Tabir Ptashat” originated
in 1989 at Soyuzivka and has been held at
the Ukrainian National Association’s
Ukrainian heritage center every year since
its inception.
Tabir Ptashat was the special project of
Neonila Sochan, who as a very hands-on
grandmother and equally active Plast
member, understood the lasting value of a
day camp program for children between
the ages of 4 and 6, which would focus on
fun and socialization within the context of
the children’s Ukrainian language and heritage.
An additional objective was to prepare
the children for future participation as
Plast “novatstvo” (children age 6-11).
The administrators of the camp are
members of the Plast sorority Pershi
Stezhi.
Typical daily activities are games,
nature walks and presentations, storytelling,
singing, and arts and crafts. Central
to the concept behind Tabir Ptashat is the
exclusive use of Ukrainian by all participants.
It is a strictly adhered to requirement
that all participants be conversant in
Ukrainian and that all activities take place
in the Ukrainian language.
Like the “ptashata” that the camp is
named for, young campers flock to
Soyuzivka in late June for the first session
or in early July for the second session,
accompanied by parents, grandparents
and sundry extended family members
who participate in the camp program
as counselors and assistant counselors.
Customarily, the two camp sessions
have a unifying theme selected months
beforehand by the respective chief counselors.
Each session’s activities relate to
the common theme.
The theme for Tabir Ptashat in 2009
was traveling to and learning about other
countries. The camp’s culminating activity
took the children around the world in
Soyuzivka’s big tent. Counselors and volunteer
parents manned stations that presented
interesting facts about the customs
and geography of countries such as
Egypt, Argentina, India, and, of course,
Ukraine.
Often, as a grand finale to the week’s
activities, the children participate in a
stage performance that reflects the common
theme.
Tabir Ptashat campers are organized
into small groups according to age. In
keeping with the camp’s name, each
group is named for a bird. The bird is featured
in the children’s group ritual, which
the children perform at camp assemblies.
The ritual consists of an original song and
a mime, accompanied by the wearing of a
lavishly decorated hat.
Many children will participate in the
two sessions of Tabir Ptashat this summer.
Like the participants of close to 40
sessions before them, the children will
return home with memories of new
friends, new songs, many interesting
experiences and very unique hats.
For information about Tabir Ptashat
readers may contact: Oresta Fedyniak,
2626 W. Walton Ave., Chicago IL 60622;
telephone, 773-486-0394.
Children enjoy a crafts activity at last year’s “Tabir Ptashat” at Soyuzivka.