Plast camp - Sokol museum

The Sokil Plast Camp-Museum is the oldest and most famous home of Plast, which was dedicated in 1926. The Sokil Plast camp-museum is located on the left bank of the Limnytsia River near the village of Hrynkiv, Rozhniativ district, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast (70 km from the oblast center). The mountain at the foot of which Sokil is located is called Siglis ("sharp forest").

Professor of the Stanislav Gymnasium S. Levytskyi noted that the founding of the largest stationary Plast camp near the village of Osmoloda in 1924 marked the beginning of the creation of a permanent instructor center, which played a significant role in the development of the theory and practice of Plast camping. It served, however, as a home for any Plast member who, one way or another, by the will of fate, came to these lands. Thus, "...wandering Plast members who came from time to time from the mountains found shelter in separate rooms." "Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky rented the place to Plast for 100 years for a symbolic price of 1 zloty per year. In addition, he donated an area on Mount Sokil and 5 hectares of land "for the development of a Novak camp" to Plast for life and provided financial assistance. Along with camping, the main form of local history and tourism work in Plast was traveling around the native land. One of the leaders of Plast, O. Ivanchuk, emphasized that travel and excursions contribute to physical development and health, educate spiritually and aesthetically, since "nature with its kinds of life, forms of beauty, its history, geography and inexorable rights, is now becoming the main basis for a man's spiritual education." I. Chmola, a recognized organizer of Plast summer and winter hiking trips, noted that "one should pay due attention to travel, because it allows one to learn not only the surroundings of the camp, but also brings Plast members closer together, accustoms them to the conditions of close coexistence, and travel reveals the best good and bad omens." The program of all Plast camps included one- and multi-day trips. For their realization, "the favorite places are the Horhany (Vysoka, Syvulia), as well as the Maniavsky Skete...

Given the social importance of the camp and its historical value, in 2009 Sokil was recognized as a monument of cultural heritage of Ukraine. Every year (until 1939), camps for youth were held here, which were of great importance for the national education and physical training of young people during the Polish occupation. Dozens of Plast members camped at Sokol; each of them remembered the unique charm of scouting among the Carpathian peaks and the troubled Limnytsia.

"Sokil is a treasure and a historical cradle of Ukrainian Plast, a forge of Plast members' character. In an effort to preserve the memories of Sokil, after World War II, Plast members in the new countries of settlement founded two Plast homes with the same name: Sokil in Victoria, Australia, and New Sokil in New York, USA.

In 1990, the Plast members returned to Sokil. Since then, the priority has been to rebuild the Sokil camp-museum as a Plast home to meet the needs of Plast in conducting summer camps, training, seminars, etc.

The Home Management Board is responsible for the development of Sokol, the formation of the guidelines for its activities, and the determination of its priorities. Its staff is formed jointly by the Main Plast Bulava and the National Plast Council of Ukraine.

[email protected] - Director Volodymyr Semko. The contact person is Ivan Smyk.