Introducing camp “Hart” — a place where the hearts unite, and where the love for Ukrainian culture and heritage is fostered.

It is a place where the participants can truly challenge themselves, and develop their strength and endurance. In our camp, every participant can foster the following attributes in themselves: willpower, resilience, and unbreakable spirit. It is a place where you can find new friends, expand your knowledge, and take part in amazing adventures. Our camp isn’t just a great time — it is an opportunity for young individuals to grow — and it simultaneously instills the crucial patriotic values. It teaches you the skills that you can use to overcome any obstacles in life. It is a path to a better YOU.

The goal of our camp is to foster patriotism, willpower, discipline, and resilience among the young participants, between the ages of 13-17 years old, as well as teach them the necessary survival skills in a camping environment. As they spend time together in tents, and being engaged in various stimulating challenges, the participants will connect profoundly, and develop a sense of team spirit and responsibility, and will learn the importance of helping each other.

The camp’s program features various challenging activities, aimed at developing leadership traits, survival skills, and self-sufficiency.

The participants will get a chance to test their endurance in strenuous conditions and overcome different challenges, which will contribute to their personal growth and character development. The camp will also teach the youth about being eco-friendly and aware of their environment, and how to interact with nature in a meaningful way. It will provide favourable conditions for self-improvement, will help improve the children’s physical and mental health, self-esteem, and faith in their own abilities to overcome life’s obstacles. All of this will help them become self-sufficient, confident, and responsible individuals.

Participating in our camp program will let the children unite in the pursuit of a common goal, as they develop a sense of patriotism and improve their willpower. Staying in tents overnight and performing various tasks during the day, will help them form friendly connections and team spirit. While completing the assigned tasks together, the participants will learn the importance of collaboration, as they work together as a team. Being separated and put into several teams will create a feeling of responsibility to each other and a sense of interdependence. Mutual completion of tasks and challenges in a stimulating environment will strengthen the children’s trust in each other, and will help establish strong bonds, and develop meaningful friendships, as a result.

The camp’s program is filled with activities, and is aimed at the discovery and development of mutual interests and valuable skills, and contributes to strengthening social bonds between the participants. All of these factors help create a positive environment to unite the children in pursuit of a common goal, to seek growth and self-improvement.

UNYF Edmonton organized an unforgettable camp for patriotic education for children aged 12 to 17, called “Hart” in Ukrainian, which directly translates as “temper”, and in this context means to instill moral and physical resilience in the face of difficulties. This event took place in a beautiful natural setting in Alberta on the premises of the Kyiv’s-K-Hi Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Camp just outside of the city. During these three incredible days, camp participants immersed themselves in the natural beauty and spirit of patriotism, learning new Ukrainian values and strengthening their sense of patriotism.

Lectures and self-defence became an essential part of the camp’s program. Children not only had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of Ukraine’s history and current events, but also learned important self-defence skills. This is a crucial aspect of shaping responsible and independent individuals.

However, the “Hart” camp was not just about learning. Quests, historical tests, and sports competitions created unforgettable memories for the participants. During these activities, they developed their teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving skills and understood the concept of sports competition. In short, they toughened themselves both morally and physically.

Children also had the opportunity to live in tents, which further contributed to the development of independence and responsibility. With the guidance of camp leaders and organizers, they learned to create their own schedule, prepare food, and ensure a comfortable and safe living environment. Over these three days, the leaders and children became one big family, and camp participants were able to gain valuable experience and skills from their mentors. In the evenings by the campfire, each participant had the chance to experience the charm of theatrical art by participating in the staging of Ukrainian plays.

Most importantly, during the “Hart” camp, children discovered new aspects of Ukrainian identity and patriotism. They deepened their knowledge of the history and culture of Ukraine and Canada, as well as understood the importance of patriotic values.

All participants of the “Hart” camp left this journey with new knowledge, friends, and unforgettable memories. This camp was a significant step in shaping a young Ukrainian patriotic generation that will proudly defend their country and its values in the future.

By successfully organizing this camp, the UNYF created a historic event that no one before us had ever done! Therefore, next year’s “Hart” camp will be even larger, and more impressive and unforgettable.

We can’t wait, and hope you’re excited too!