Ukraine has a rich and storied history. It has long been associated with its northern neighbor of Russia. In fact Kyiv was the original capital of the Kievan-Rus' empire dating from the 700s. In 1991 it once again became its own country. Even though it has faced many difficulties in the ensuing years, the resourceful and dedicated citizens have come a long way in a short period of time. For more information please see the write ups under Ukraine on Wikipedia

Location: Chernihiv is located about 150km north of Kyiv in the rolling hills of northern Ukraine near the Belarus/Russian/Ukrainian borders.  The camp is located in a forested area near the city and has a full size soccer field as well as a basketball court, auditorium and other activity centers.  There is ample space to relax and engage in building relationships with the Ukrainian campers and staff.

Ukraine is undergoing a transition in government.  As I write this a new president is being sworn in to the office and with him will come a host of new policies and procedures.  As guests in their country, we need to be careful to observe their laws even if we disagree with them from our point of view.  Such action would not only discredit our work, but potentially bring reprisals against our hosts.  Neither of these outcomes is acceptable.  Peter said it very well in 1Peter 2:13-17.

Conversational English:  Each year we have a wide variety of English skill levels but they fall into three fairly broad categories:  beginners; intermediate; and advanced.   These can be further broken down depending on the number of students in each classification.  One of our goals is to have a student/instructor ratio of 10:1.  This facilitates our goal of enhancing their oral communication and listening comprehension abilities.  Many of the campers have had English (especially grammar and vocabulary) in schools taught by a non-native speaker but have not had a chance to practice their oral communication with native American English speakers. 

Bible Study: We see a very interesting phenomenon in the world in that it hates “Christianity” or “________ Church” (You fill in the blank.), but it wants to know about Christ.  Christ promised that if He were lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself.  As think about this verse, my responsibility is not to skillfully convince anyone of anything, but only to lift Him up.  The Bible Study planned for use this year is entitled “Visits with Jesus.”  Through this study we can do exactly that.  I encourage you to click on the link and view/download the study as you prepare for this exciting time.

Application:  I have revised the application form and introduced a new “Release Form.”  Please fill out the application form and submit it to me.  I will have a filled in copy of the release form for you to sign when we meet each other.   

Group Activities:  What would camp be without other activities?  Sports, smores, and relaxation are all part the camping experience.  It wouldn’t be camp without skits and other presentation.  Of course who could forget good food?  Come prepared to join in the fun aspect of camp also. 

Costs: approximately $2500. The cost has been approximated based on the availability of a $1900 airfare to Kyiv from Denver.  Those of you who have worked with ticket agents understand the variability of ticket prices from day to day as seats are added or removed from each fare class and as countries change tax structures.  The other variable in the cost figure is insurance.  This is dependent on your age and sunk costs for the trip.  If all of this is confusing, don’t worry about it.  A $200 deposit (fully refundable) is required with your application.   A $1000 will be due on or before 1 May 2010 and the balance due on or before 1 June 2010.  If any of these dates pose a problem, please feel free to contact me.  I will be happy to work with you. Payment for your trip costs can be made through our on line donation system.  In the comments field please put “Ukraine.”  If you send a check, please put your name on a separate piece of paper and not on the check.

Travel:  27 Jun – 10 July 2010. Vasily K., our host, has asked that we arrive and leave basically as a group and not spread out over several days on either end of our engagement.  I am planning for our group to arrive in Kyiv around 13:00 Monday June 26th and depart on or after 13:00 on Saturday July 10th.  Please contact me individually if you have a special requirement.  I will plan on making all ticket arrangements unless notified.  You can easily reach me by email at aelt@ACCTS.org or by telephone at 303.985.8808.  My cell phone number is 303.520.4439.

Scholarships: The Ukrainian exchange rate as of today is 8:1 which is about the same as last year.  Unfortunately the cost of food and other necessities of life have increased which makes it much more difficult for the average Ukrainian.  Once again we will be supporting a scholarship program for the campers.  With a full camp the scholarship need will be $10,500.  If you or your church would be willing to help with this fund, please click on the donation tab on our home page and follow the instructions.  Be sure to mention “Ukraine Scholarships” in the comments field.

Travel Documents: Your passport should be valid through Jan 2011 and have several blank pages for immigration stamps etc.  If you don’t have a passport or don’t meet the above requirement, today is the day to start working that issue.  Contact your local Post Office for details.  Airlines are double checking your passports before allowing you to board and obviously will not permit you to board without this important document.  Most Post Offices have the applications and picture taking equipment and will help you fill out the forms etc.  It is an easy process, but you need to start working the problem today.  As of today, visas are free and issued at the airport upon entry.  I will be tracking this item as they may revert to requiring applications prior to travel.

Questions:  If you have questions, please feel free to contact me at aelt@ACCTS.org or by telephone at 303.985.8808 or my cell phone at 303.520.4439.