Summer Camp of 1947 in Stratford, NY

Summer is a time for travel and rest, summer camps, pilgrimages, and holidays. 

The camp, that took place in the summer of 1947 in Stratford, NY, was for orphaned Ukrainian boys from Europe who ended up in the United States because of the war. The camp was organized by the Ukrainian Catholic Relief Committee (headquartered in Stamford, CT) and led by Bishop Ambrose Senyshyn. It was held at a Ukrainian Catholic vacation house for two months, from the beginning of July to the end of August 1947. 

The camp offered the participants not only the chance to live amidst wonderful nature, reminiscent of the Carpathian Mountains, and the opportunity to swim in the lake and engage in various games and exercises, but also lessons in the English language, Ukrainian history, and literature. The children, aged between 10 and 18, had been unable to continue their studies at school due to the war and had lost their parents, creating a great need for education and formation. Therefore, the lessons were designed to help them adapt to a new country while preserving their Ukrainian language and identity. 

At the end of the camp, all the boys received certificates for the knowledge they had acquired, along with many new friends and memories of a summer spent in wonderful nature.