This July, the New York "Tsarskoe Selo" Chapter of St. George Pathfinders of America (SGPA) held its 75th summer camp for Russian Orthodox youth scouts on its territory in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, and on the shores of the Great Sacandaga Lake in Upstate New York. This year, the organization also celebrated the 110th anniversary of the founding of the ladies’ branch of the organization, which began in 1915 in Kiev.

The three-week camp was preceded by youth leadership courses offered to those young scouts ages 14 through 16, taking their first steps toward joining the adult leadership in making the camp experience both enriching and fun. Upon conclusion of the leadership course, a growing number of scouts arrived for the summer program rich in theoretical and practical matters, including classes in Russian History, Scouting, and the Law of God, as well as hands-on instruction in scouting basics such as orienteering, campfires, knots, and other lessons.

On Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of July, campers were delighted to welcome Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad. His Eminence officiated All-Night Vigil and celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by the camp’s spiritual counselor, Priest Andrew Podymow (cleric of Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY), and Protodeacon Alexandre Sarandinaki (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ). The open-air surroundings of the camp’s Great Martyr George Chapel were filled with the joyful singing of the choir, comprised of the camp’s scouts, under the capable direction of Matushka Eugenia Podymow.

On Saturday evening, Metropolitan Nicholas joined St. George Pathfinders in their annual Day of Remembrance of the Fallen Faithful (in Russian "DPV") ceremony, which this year added the name of Scoutmaster-Subdeacon Lazar Djurdjinovic, who reposed only a week prior on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul. His name was sorrowfully added to the list of scout leaders and others who hold a special place in the history of the Organization. Later, His Eminence sat with the youth at the campfire and shared his thoughts on faith, love, and humility as he spoke to the assembled group about the life and death of the Holy Royal New Martyrs (whose memory was celebrated several days prior, on July 4/17). The following morning, Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated Liturgy and served a litia for Scoutmaster-Subdeacon Lazar on the ninth day of his repose.

The scouts enjoyed many exciting experiences during the three-week camp session, including an overnight hike on the camp’s more than 300-acre territory and a pilgrimage to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, where they venerated the relics of their patron saint, the Holy Great-Martyr George, visited the Russian History Museum, and spent time touring the monastery grounds. For the first time in many years, the trip was organized in a way that allowed the younger campers, the Squirrels and Wolf Cubs (campers aged 8-10), to visit the monastery as well.

As is the case every summer, after the last campfire, many of the campers were saddened that camp was coming to a close. Many experience an inexplicable sense of being refreshed: living outdoors, praying in the open-air chapel, making friends with tentmates, and segregating themselves from cell phones and the noise and grime of the outside world. St. George Pathfinders programs extend throughout the year, and campers were encouraged to actively participate in balls, hikes, and other gatherings in the fall and winter. And with the numbers of Bunny Scouts ("zaichiki", ages 0-7) and younger campers ever growing, the Organization looks forward to an even better camp season next year.

For more information about the New York chapter of SGPA, feel free to reach out Scoutmaster Gregorii Galitzine at ggalitzine@gmail.com.