Latrine, 2006 All of the buildings at Novyi Sokil Ukrainian scouting camp were built to resemble village homes in Western Ukraine. This building houses male and female flushing toilets and showers.

Novyi Sokil Welcomes You, 2023 All the signage at camp is in Ukrainian, except for the notices by the New York State health inspectors. The signs are stored away each year and well maintained by the stewards of the camp. This sign, along with fake sunflowers, a traditional symbol of Ukraine, were left behind after a popular Ukrainian folk band visited the camp.

Khustka, 2022 This Ukrainian Scout is wearing a “khustka”, or traditional Ukrainian scarf over her T-shirt, shorts and jeans. The scarf is an important and beautiful symbol of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. I have one in black that is machine printed like in the photo. But historically khustkas are passed down through generations as a sacred item. Often we think of a Ukrainian babushka wearing a scarf on her head.

Vatra, 2022 Like other scouts, Plastuny (those who participate in Plast) learn how to build “vatras” (campfires) for evening activities. For this fire, all of the teen campers wore Ukrainian embroidered shirts for Ivana Kupala. This is a summer ritual based in Paganism where wreaths are weaved and songs are sung late into the night.

Here We Use Only the Ukrainian Language, 2018 The camp is conducted all in the Ukrainian language, and the scouts are publicly rated on their language effort daily. This giant sign exists as a reminder of why they are there: to spend three weeks immersed in Ukrainian culture. Behind the sign, the older campers are gathering for singing practice. Song and recitation of Ukrainian are often practiced in preparation for evening campfires or when parents come to visit.

Nina, 2018 Nina poses for me on the deck of her barracks, showing off her badges she has earned through her summers attending camp. The number eight represents her troop in New York, and she gets new “vidznaky” (swag, or the buttons on the shirt pocket) for each camp she attends. They make a satisfying clinking sound.

Sunday Mass, 2023 Those who are part of Plast are generally Ukrainian Catholics and prayers are sung every morning and evening, and mass is attended weekly. The local priest from Buffalo comes in to give a full mass at the “kaplytsia” (outdoor chapel.) Scouts have to stand the entire time no matter what the weather. They stand “at attention” for certain prayers and can then stand “at ease” for the remainder of the service. There is a lot of movement from the younger kids but the older scouts have developed stamina.

Zelenskyy Way, 2022 This image was made five months after Russia’s full scale invasion into Ukraine. Zelenskyy is a controversial figure amongst Ukrainians, like any leader, but it was important for these scouts to hang this sign in solidarity. There is a lot of waiting and hanging out in between activities, often times Ukrainian music is also playing in the background on a stereo.

Kupyl, 2006 My mom attended Novyi Sokil in the 1950s when it first started and remembers having to bathe and swim in the small creek that borders the land. Eventually, a pool was installed that is now salt water and quite nice. Morning swim lessons are always daunting in the cool forest of Western New York, especially for those who are not strong swimmers, but “kupyl” (free swim) in the afternoon is a delight.

Emilia, 2023 Traditional Ukrainian costumery is reflected in crafts and activities at camp, focusing on embroidery and flower wreaths. Here, Emilia hailing from Chicago, poses for me on the deck of her barracks on the final day of camp which includes a song performance and traditional scouting ceremonies in their uniforms.

Manicure, 2023 The counselors are incredibly immersed in their Ukrainian culture at home in the US or Canada and bring their commitment to being Ukrainian with them, and it’s inspiring to the young campers. Here, a counselor got a special manicure before camp with the colors of the Ukrainian flag and the “tryzub” (trident, or Ukrainian coat of arms) that symbolizes a modern Ukraine.

Odnostriy, 2022 The campers don’t wear their “odnostriy” (uniform) all the time, but do change in and out of them several times a day. There is a certain technique to rolling their bandanas that is passed down every summer by the older generations. It involves grasping the triangular bandana at two corners, whipping it around, and using your teeth to pull it straight.

Blue and Yellow, 2022 There is a comfort to showing up to summer camp and having things still be the same, like the fresh smell of the woods, the signage, and shrill sound of the counselor’s whistle demanding you come line up on the lawn. Similar themes, like Ukrainian flag motifs, emerge each year during arts and crafts time.

Brama, 2022 Attending Novyi Sokil means hard work and no alone time, especially for the older campers who sleep in tents and focus on pioneering projects. Every year they have to build their “brama” (gate) to their camp that teaches them construction and teamworking skills. When I was there as a teen we were also made to sit watch for two hour shifts in the middle of the night. It was cold and scary, and we generally just had to look out for racoons or kids sneaking off into each other’s tents.

Homesick, 2023 Our generation was shipped off to three weeks of camp in the woods in the 80s and 90s with virtually no contact with our parents. I feel so deeply for the kids who are having a hard time, because this was me for the first several years. Kids are plucked from the deep comfort of their soft beds and screens to exist in the woods, sometimes struggling to speak Ukrainian. By the end of the three weeks kids usually want to stay after they gain a sense of resilience and belonging.

Time Capsule, 2022 The administration building is the headquarters for the folks running the camp, who are often using their vacation time from work to be there. A list of phone numbers hangs on the wall, some of these people are deceased, some haven’t been to camp in many years, or it’s that pizza place that closed during the pandemic. But they hang there as a testament to the stewardship of a cultural enclave that has kept this place alive.

Zbirka, 2022 When the shrill whistle sound is accompanied by the shouting of the word, “Zbirka!” it means it’s time to get up and get running to meet up for the next activity. These two friends were waiting together for swimming, ready for anything.

Oselia, 2022 There is a sense of order that accompanies a military-like sense of conducting daily activities. Groups gather in straight lines and walk from one place to another holding the same structure on the grounds, or “oselia.”. There is chatting and camaraderie and laughing and scolding from the counselors like at any camp, but visually it resembles training for combat, which is why the organization started in the first place: to defend Ukraine against the invading Russians.

Plast, 2022 Plast, which is what Arianna’s shirt reads, is an organization that has chapters all over the world. Born during great social and political upheavals in Europe, Ukrainian Plast came into being to fulfill specific national aims, unlike other Scout organizations.

Tysovksy and Shevchenko, 2022 The founder of Plast, Dr. Oleksandr Tysovsky, and Taras Shevchenko, the foremost Ukrainian poet of the 19th century and a major figure of the Ukrainian national revival reside in the dining hall annually, looking over the campers as they eat.

Pershi Steszi, 2022 As you climb through the ranks of Plast, you can join special troops with different agendas, and you get a special kerchief, like this one. This group of women are part of “Pershi Steszi” (First Trails) and they focus on educating young Ukrainians by leading camps.

Prapor, 2022 Raising the Ukrainian “prapor” (flag) every morning is part of the camp’s ritual since the beginning. The flagpoles remain year round and the campers learn how to properly fold and store the flag, and sing the accompanying songs.

Novachka, 2022 A young scout poses for me on her way back to her barracks. The uniform requires long brown socks, brown shoes, brown skirt or jumper, and the tan blouse. Many troops have a stash of these uniforms they hold onto to loan to campers for the summer.

Parents Weekend, 2017 Parents and siblings can come visit one Sunday in the three weeks, and after a long display of marching, drumming and performances in the hot sun, the parents take the kids out to a restaurant or to Buffalo’s mall for a taste of the real world. They come back to relive their own camp memories around a big fire.

Velyka Vatra, 2017 It’s customary for the older scouts to spend days building a “Velyka Vatra” (Big Fire) for parent’s weekend. Everyone hopes for dry weather, and sometimes it is covered with a tarp. There is a chant like song that is sung as a scout goes to light the fire: the fire’s burning, the fire’s burning, look at it, look at it! We are Ukrainian Scouts who are singing, who are singing.

Younak, 2022 A teen scout waits for marching drills to commence on the lawn in front of of the latrine.

Obeed, 2022 The uniforms create a consistent look to the camper year after year. When they are in their street clothes, the era of the photograph is apparent. So many campers, including myself, flirted and waited in line for lunch, or “obeed,” over many decades.

Eirik, 2022 Eirik from the DC area poses for me during Ukrainian Day, when everyone wore their embroidered shirts and did even more Ukrainian things than usual.

Znymka, 2022 Every year I take a big group photo, or “znymka,” of the campers. At camp there is a lot of waiting for your peers to be ready for group activities.