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ARS Summer Camps, from Europe to the Caucasus…
For the First Time, ARS Summer Camp in Artsakh

6 September 2009 | Leave a Comment

The Armenian Relief Society of Thrace and Greek Macedonia opened the doors of its camp in Khalkidiki one more time, to serve the Armenian youth in two consecutive sessions. The first session took place from June 27 to July 15 with 60 youngsters from Thessaloniki and Thrace. For 18 days, the campers enjoyed the hospitality of the ARS within a healthy setting, filled with educational activities.

: Artsakh, crafts

: Artsakh, enjoying nature

: Artsakh, Freedom Fighter visiting as lecturer

: Artsakh, celebration

: Khalkidiki, raising of the flags

: Khalkidiki, cultural heritage

: Khalkidiki, education

Immediately after the closure of the first session and based on the ARS, Inc. Youth Exchange Program, young Armenians from various parts of Greece, Armenia, Cyprus, France, Sweden, Great Britain, Lebanon and the United States arrived in Khalkidiki for the second session of the ARS Camp, which went from July 15 to August 2. The total number of campers was 120. During two and a half weeks spent in Khalikidiki, the young campers followed a program of physical and mental activities, forged new friendships and got acquainted with the lifestyle and character of Armenian communities in various parts of the world.

The camp’s daily routine was a succession of sports, raising of the flags, prayer, breakfast, cleaning of the camp, swimming, lunch, sports, crafts, singing and dancing, educational, discussion, supper and social gatherings. The participants enjoyed the warmth of the ARS family in Northern Greece, in the splendid mountainous region of Khalkidiki, on the seashore of the Mediterranean.

During the same period and miles and miles away from the thickly forested peaks of Khalkidiki, the ARS “Soseh” camp was held in the equally beautiful village of Patara. Answering a request by the ARS in Artsakh, the ARS Western Region USA’s Regional Executive Board and a number of ARS members of the same entity had undertaken financing the camp, while 15 members of the ARS in Artsakh undertook the organization and servicing of the youth as camp monitors, cooks and educators. The camp organizers were assisted by the authorities of the Nagorno Karabagh Republic.

The “Soseh” Camp held three sessions, each serving 60 children for a period of 10 days. Beside relaxation, the 180 participants in the ARS Camp in Artsakh had a chance to engage in sports, competitions, social activities, walks and to listen to educational about Armenian history and culture. The success of the camp can be measured by the expression of one of its participants: “the fairy tale was too short…”

Soon the ARS, Inc. International Office in Boston announced that donations for next year’s “Soseh” camp in Artskah started coming in…

It is worth noting, that thanks to the ARS, Inc.’s Youth Exchange Program, implemented every summer, Armenian youngsters from various communities participated also on the ARS Camp in Bellefontaine, France, the AYF Camp Haiastan in the Eastern USA and the AYF Camp in the Western USA.