Less Distance, More Survival Skills: Teenages from Scouting Camp-2018 Once Again Conquer the Carpathians

It’s been five days since this year’s Teenage Scouting Camp went backpacking to the Carpathians, and participants of the previous scoutings are clearly visible among the freshmen (this year, the number of participants almost doubled, and many of them came from the Ukrainian cities other that Kyiv): they are more disciplined and better at following instructions. But the boys (their age varies between 12 and 17) eagerly share their experience, and are good role models for them.

This year, due to numerous requests from the participants of the previous camp-2017, the encamping will be done twice. Tha, of course, shortens the overall distance they’ll cover, but on the other hand allows a better practice of survival skills, like choosing the place for the camp, setting the tent, lighting a campfire, cooking over an open fire, etc. Today, the young men are to conquer a mountain, where they are to get a vitamin bonus: picking and eating berries.

In their backpack lie only bare essentials: a sleeping pad, a sitting pad, a safety bowl and a safety cup, water bottle, utensils, a folding pocket knife, a change of clothes, socks, undergarments and footwear, hygiene products and a raincoat. And, of course, a stock of provision one person: each one is responsible for carrying his own stock of food.

Last year, having walked and climbed enough and gaining blisters,many boys said upon returning home they would never sign up for something like that again, no way, but… But they changed their mind in less than a week, when the weariness was gone, leaving them with only bright memories. At that very moment they started asking their parents to sign them up for the next backpacking tour!

Their parents say that the voices of their kids in rare telephone conversations are tired (for it takes plenty of effort to do the scouting part and at the same time take care of their everyday needs on their own), but happy, and the mothers, while listening to joyful tales of their boys’ adventure, are already trying to figure out how they will wash all that.

On the meanwhile, the scouting camp proceeds, with another three of Carpathian peaks still to be conquered. It bears reminding that the group is escorted by an experienced guide, several camp counselors and a doctor.