PLAST Builds Hearty Leaders

by Zenia Turkewych Miner

This August the Canadian Rockies will welcome Plast scouts.

In the middle of a forest, by a shimmering lake or rumbling river, on top of a mountain or at the  bottom of a glorious valley, we come to appreciate the beauty of nature and to understand a power beyond ourselves. Wherever we hike, our cell phones are off and hidden. Their use is forbidden. We communicate among ourselves and with Mother Nature in all her splendour. We talk, joke and sing a lot. And the songs have memorable melodies and meaningful words. Some songs are traditional Ukrainian folk songs, some are military UPA marching songs, but most of the songs have been written especially for the youth in Plast. These Plast songs celebrate all that is joyful in scouting, being part of things grander than ourselves, patriotism and courage, and yes, even falling in love. Some Plast songs are just playful and silly. Whether marching along in single file on a long hike or when sitting by a campfire, we always sing to express our feelings and to build solidarity. Plast has developed my musical appreciation and talents.

Endurance is fostered in all Plast activities such as mountaineering, canoeing, portaging, bicycling and hiking. Performance standards are set that make everyone stretch beyond his/her comfort zones. At the end of any “tough” camping experience, a great sense of accomplishment is felt by each participant and new goals can be set. Camaraderie and friendships are nurtured as plastuny work in pairs and teams to overcome demanding survival challenges. Through hardships, we test ourselves and learn to assist others in reaching their goals.  The outdoor camping activities stand foremost in my memories when reflecting on my experiences with Plast over 10 years. According to my parents and school chums, I am a great traveller because I pack self-sufficiently and pack only as much I can carry. I never complain about motels and hotels that are chosen because, of course, every accommodation is a step up from a wet tent. Plast has definitely made me a more efficient and tolerant traveller.

“Plast was founded in 1911-12 in Lviv, Ukraine on the model of Boy Scouts established in Great Britain in 1907. The founder of Plast, Dr. Oleksander Tysovsky incorporated into Plast scouting values, methods and means but gave the organization a national face by using Ukrainian symbolism and a nomenclature related to Ukrainian history”(Plast website). 

Plast Canada is a member of the world-wide Plast community. Every five years, Plast organizes an international jamboree. In 2007, such a jamboree “UMPZ” was held in Grafton Ontario where over 1,000 Plast Scouts assembled from countries such as Germany, Austria, Ukraine, Poland, the USA, Australia and international networks.

Every three years, Plast Canada organizes a national jamboree and this August 2009, such will be held in Jasper, Alberta and Kootenay, British Columbia. From ages 12 and up, Canadian plastuny will experience mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies, see glaciers and drink from turquoise mountain rivers. We will meet and befriend Ukrainian plastuny from all over Canada and forge friendships that can last a lifetime. Uniquely, when we visit the Ukrainian Heritage Village in Edmonton as one of our field trips, we will learn about the history, struggles and achievements of Ukrainian pioneers in their prairie settlements.

Along with outdoor scouting experiences, Plast is known as a Ukrainian youth association that connects Canadian youth with their heritage and develops their leadership skills while simultaneously teaching good citizenship.

“The aim of Plast is to guide youth to be competent, responsible and valuable citizens of  local, national and world communities and to foster the development of leadership skills. Plast uses      proven tools of self-development which are incorporated into all its activities - meetings and gathering, hiking and camping. Plast summer camps are the high point of the year’s activities     and provide youth with opportunities to develop responsibility, self discipline and teamwork”       (Plast website).

My hurtok, named Andromeda, has organized diverse activities that benefit the Ukrainian community at large. We organized a float for the parade during the Toronto Ukrainian Festival parade held in the Bloor West Village; we organized a celebration of St. Nickolas day for the elderly at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, and we marched and demonstrated along with the entire Ukrainian Canadian community in Toronto during the Orange Revolution.  Plast helps us to learn about the importance of service and initiative so that we are better able to make a difference in our local community, in Canada, as well as in the country of our heritage. The Plast Motto: “Act powerfully, finely, prudently and swiftly” presents a useful template for achieving success in a demanding world and applies equally well in diverse circumstances.

For further information about PLAST contact:

2199 Bloor St. W.

Toronto, ON M6S 1N2 Canada

Tel: 416-763-2186