This past summer, members of Plast NSW gathered for an unforgettable camp, “Річка Вільного Серця” (River of a Free Heart), held at Little River, Webbs Creek in New South Wales. Taking place from 29 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, the camp brought together participants from Australia and abroad for a week of challenge, growth, and connection to nature under the banner of Plast Australia.
Activities pushed the yunaky beyond their comfort zones. They learned to construct rafts, build pulley systems, and create shelters using only minimal equipment. Days were filled with hands-on experiences such as canoeing, fly fishing, swimming, mud running, and transporting gear across the river. One of the most memorable challenges was an overnight hike, where participants had to select their own campsites and build shelters using tarps and ropes, working in small groups with leaders following behind.
As yunachka Mila Karlingchuk shared:
“At the last tabir summer camp 2025–2026, we did lots of fun activities. The main premise of the camp was learning to survive in nature without tents and minimal equipment… Overall, I really enjoyed this camp and, as always, had an amazing time.”
“Річка Вільного Серця” was more than just a summer camp—it was a space where young people learned not only how to survive in nature, but how to rely on one another, grow in confidence, and carry forward the spirit of Plast.
Novatsvo: Commandantky – Pl. Sen. Anastasiia Ivanets, Stepovi Vidmy and Pl. Sen. Natalka Oleksyn, Bluzkavky; Bunchuzhnyi – Pl. Sen. Tomas Milenovych Lisovi Chorty; Bulava – Pl. Sen. Tanya Tkachuk, st.pl. Danylo Kasanchuk, Braty Mowgli and st.pl. Mila Pastuzhak (from Canada).
Yunatsvo: Commandantka – st.pl. Solomiya Syvak, Stepovi Vidmy ; Bunchuzhnyi – st.pl. Yaroslav Khudych, Chota Krylatykh (from Canada); Pysar – st.pl. Roman Zharovskyi, Chornomortsi (from the United States), Bulava – st.pl. Julia Manchester, Stepovi Vidmy and st.pl. Daniella Sywak.
With gratitude, we thank Pl. Sen. Mikkal Sveum, our Referent of Vykhovna Pratsia, along with Ben Low and Fernando Charnis, for delivering activities that fostered resilience and built lifelong skills for our yunatstvo and novatstvo.
