August 25, 2011
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Antranik Scout Camp Hosts 400 Scouts in Armenia

  • Participants and counselors at the Antranik Scout Camp, 2011
    Participants and counselors at the Antranik Scout Camp, 2011.

AGBU's Antranik Scout Camp in the Lori region of Armenia, which is four years old, continues to be a hub of the world's largest nonprofit organization's international scouting activities. This year, the camp welcomed 400 scouts from AGBU troops in Aleppo, Beirut, Damascus, Kamishly (Syria), Los Angeles, Montevideo, Tehran and Yerevan.

Under the leadership of AGBU-AYA of Lebanon's Executive Director Kevork Santourian, Antranik opened its doors from June 30 - August 2, 2011, for three sessions that allowed the scouts of Armenian heritage to explore Armenia's beautiful nature, visit its landmarks, learn scoutcraft, volunteer their time for community service projects, and form friendships with other youth.

This year, the AGBU scouts were joined by the newly formed "Haiki Serund" (The Generation of Haik) representative group of Karabakh.

The opening of the first session took place on July 3, 2011 and the official flag ceremony was attended by Reverend Father Torgom Tonikian, diocesan vicar of the Gugarats Diocese, officials of the Lori region, and numerous guests. Participating in the first session were the groups from Tehran, Montevideo and Beirut, as well as the preparatory group from Yerevan. The groups from California, Aleppo, Damascus and Kamishly participated in the second session, while the groups from Yerevan and Karabakh formed the participants during the third session.

The scope and outreach of this AGBU program in Armenia continues to expand each year, as exemplified by the first-time participation of scouts from Montevideo. The Uruguayan scouts, like every AGBU group, added their own personality to the camp activities. The group, which has an obvious love of music, performed a musical adaptation of "Ourakh Avanum" (In Happy Town) in the neighboring city of Vanadzor and they composed a special song for the Antranik Scout Camp, which has already turned into a popular march.

Antranik Scout Camp participants spent unforgettable weeks in the homeland, helping to forge their Armenian identities and a love for a land they were unfamiliar with. During their visit to Holy Etchmiadzin, they were also fortunate to receive the blessing of His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians, and see the history of a place they had only heard about in books and on the Internet.

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