For the August hike of our "Klubok" travel project, a strong team of 21 teenagers aged 13–16 from Zaporizhzhia came together. Most of the group consisted of children enrolled in the Zaporizhzhia Lyceum with Enhanced Physical and Military Training "Zakhysnyk".
That is why we decided to plan a more complex and longer route: Yasinia — Shysa polonyna (overnight stay) — Mount Petros (2020 m) — Holovcheska polonyna (2 overnight stays) — Mount Hoverla (radial hike without backpacks) — traverse of Petros — Rogneska polonyna — Shumneska polonyna — Lviv University biological station (overnight stay) — Menchul polonyna — campsite in Kvasy (2 overnight stays).
Despite the children having no prior hiking experience, they handled the task successfully. The second day of the hike was the most difficult, as they had to climb Mount Petros with backpacks and descend from it to the Holovcheska polonyna.
The next day, we headed to the summit of Hoverla via the "col" without heavy backpacks, so climbing Ukraine's highest mountain was no longer difficult for the children.
On the descent to Kvasy during the penultimate day and night, it started to rain. On one hand, this added extra challenges; on the other hand, it was an important experience of hiking life.
At the end of the hike, the children spent time at a cozy campsite in Kvasy, where a hot shower, sauna, and swimming pool awaited them, along with barbecue, camp games, and recovery after the hike.
We thank everyone who helped organize this trip—the fifth one this year, free of charge for children from the frontline city:
Erich and Janice from the USA, Lindsey from the UK, and other donors of the "Happy Child" Charitable Foundation, thanks to whom meals, transfers, gear delivery, and organizational expenses were covered;
Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration and Svitlana from the Department of Social Protection for organizing the travel and gathering the group;
Ukrzaliznytsia for providing free tickets;
The "Zakhysnyk" Lyceum;
Wonderful guides Pavlo and Alina, as well as Denver, a volunteer from the USA;
All participants of the hike and their parents.
Let me remind you that we organize such events solely thanks to your support. Because of you, children get a break from shelling and air raid sirens, experience the mountains for the first time, and conquer their first peaks. Children learn how to use camping equipment in various weather conditions and at different altitudes, and they communicate with each other and with experienced guides.
To continue this program in the autumn and next year, we urgently need your support.
