While Lord Baden-Powell successfully built the natural interests and responses of youth into an organized worldwide youth movement, it was the Founder of Ukrainian Scouting, Dr. 0. Tysovsky, who adapted the universal Scout principles to the needs and interests of Ukrainian youth.

Unlike other Scout organizations of the world Ukrainian Scouting UKRAJINSKY PLAST-came into being to fulfill specific national aims. Born in 1911, during the decade of great social and political upheavals in Europe, Ukrainian Scouting underwent great trials in the first half-century of its existence thus developing typical and unique features of its own.

The first Scout troops were formed in the largest city of Western Ukraine, Lviv in 1911. The Movement spread rapidly to the other cities and towns and by 1913 the first Supreme Scout Council had been formed and the first textbook published.

Shortly after its founding, the organization had to face the dreadful storms of World War I, which brought about the collapse of the two powers occupying the Ukrainian territory, the Austro-Hungaria monarchy and the Czarist Russia. The indomitable will of the Ukrainian people for national freedom clearly crystallized itself in the formation of the Ukrainian National Republic in 1918.

Subsequent years witnessed a great up swing in the Scout Movement, as it spread into the towns and communities where it had been previously unknown, mainly in the central provinces of the Ukraine. Hundreds of boys, inspired by the noble ideal of Scouting, volunteered to join the armed forces fighting on several fronts in defense of freedom and independence. Many gave their lives for the very principles of Scouting, -- service to God and Country.

It was at this time that Ukrainian Scouting first requested international recognition, but was denied on political grounds. In the late twenties external pressure on the part of the Polish authorities seriously impaired further growth of the Movement and eventually led to an outright abolition of Ukrainian Scouting in 1930. It was impossible, however, to eliminate a twenty-year-old Movement with a simple official decree and thus Plast continued to flourish in that part of Ukraine under Czechoslovak rule, maintaining a close laison with the underground Scout units in other parts of Western Ukraine.

The occupation of the central Ukraine by the Red army led to an immediate abolition of all Scout activities. Thus Ukrainian Scouting was the first to suffer what later became the fate of many Scout Associations throughout the world. In the Western Ukraine, despite its occupation by foreign powers, the Scout Movement emerged from the ruins of war with renewed vitality.

The reactivated Supreme Council convened the first conference of Scout leaders, conducted training camps, organized the first National Jamboree, started publications for Scouts and leaders. There were four fully functioning branches within the Movem6nt, Cubs, Scouts, Rovers and Scouters. Through its various activities --Scout camps, hikes excursions, cultivation of folk arts and customs, and the good deeds, -- Plast enjoyed a widespread support and confidence of the Ukrainian community at-large. A fundamental guidebook for Scout activities was published and permanent camping grounds for Cubs and Scouts were established.

Ukrainian Scouts took part in the World Jamboree at Arrowe Park in 1929 and as part of the Czechoslovak contingent in the 4th World Jamboree at Godollo in 1933, attempting to make the World Scouting aware of the suppression of free Scout activities in the Ukraine.

In 1938-39 night descended again upon the Scout Movement. But Plast managed to survive the war and began to flourish again in the refugee camps under the occupation of the Western Powers. By l916 its membership exceeded 10,000 and it was a fully developed and functioning organization, consisting of separate Boy Scouts and Girl Guides branches. Regular camps for Cubs, Scouts and Rovers, training courses for leaders, variety of Scout publications, including a Ukrainian translation of 'Scouting for Boys' and finally the most successful commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Movement in 1917,--these were the highlights of Plast activities at that time.

Ukrainian Scouting became a member of the Displaced Persons Division of the Boy Scouts International Bureau. A delegation of over 40 Scouts and Scouters participated in the 6th World Jamboree at Hoisson in 1947 and a smaller group in the 7th World Jamboree at Bad Ischl in 1951.

After the mass resettlement of Ukrainians in 1948-50 Plast has been reorganized and its branches permanently established in a number of western countries with large Ukrainian communities, such as the United States of America, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany and Argentina. The Movement struck roots in the soil of the new homelands where, with marked success, it continues to flourish and expand. It carries on the traditions of Scouting developed in the Ukraine and enjoys a full understanding and an unquestionable support of the community it serves.

It was through this generous support and the self-sacrifice of the leaders that Plast acquired permanent training and camping centers, local and district Headquarters buildings, effectively tackled the problems of leadership training, conducted every year numerous camps for Cubs, Scouts and Rovers and published several journals and leaders' manuals.

Ukrainian Scouting was represented at the 9th World Jamboree- at Sutton Coldfield in 1957, at the 2nd and 3rd World Indabas and at the 10th World Jamboree at Makiling Park in 1959. Scouters delegated by the Executive Council participated as observers in the 16th and 17th International Conferences in 1957 and 1959 respectively.

In the summer of 1962 Ukrainian Scouting celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a National Jamboree on its own permanent campsite at East Chatham, USA, in which over 2,000 members as well as Scouts of other national Associations participated.

All duties in Ukrainian Scouting, from local to the National Council levels, are performed entirely by voluntary workers, whose devotion to duty, intelligence and good will are mainly responsible for the substantial success achieved by the Movement.

Scouting started in Ukraine over fifty years ago, has stood the test of time despite the great changes which have taken place. The versatility of Scouting has enabled it to meet the difficult challenges of history and to continue to render a useful service both to the Ukrainian society at-large and to World Scouting.

Plast, a Ukrainian youth organization closely allied with the principles of Scouting, but with its own distinctive Ukrainian national character, was founded in Ukraine in 1911. This organization had to undergo great trials in the time of the First World War, the Revolution and the struggle for the independence of Ukraine, all of which events ended with the partition of Ukraine among four foreign powers.

Under Soviet occupation (1922) all Scout activities were forbidden. In the Rumanian-occupied Bbkovina, the development of Plast was likewise hampered. In spite of numerous obstacles, Plast developed rapidly under Polish occupation. A fundamental guidebook for its activities by Dr. 0. Tysowskyj, appeared as well as other publications. But the Polish government outlawed Plast in 1930. Only in that part of Ukraine under Czechoslovak rule and in Czechoslovakia itself among Ukrainian immigrants there, did Plast flourish and continue its existence until the Second World War.

When the Soviet Union began to crumble, Scouting appeared clandestinely. The first Plast camp was organized in the summer of 1989 and was raided by the Soviet secret police (KGB). Several Scouts were beaten and arrested. Nevertheless, Scouting and the Plast persisted. When the Ukraine declared themselves independent in 1991, Scouting flourished in every corner of the country.

Ukrainian Scouting-Plast will be celebrating the 85th anniversary since the first scouting units appeared in Ukraine in 1911. The Scouts of Ukraine will celebrate this historic event with a Plast Jamboree.

Scouting is Spreading Rapidly in Ukraine. Ukrainian Scouting-Plast was renewed in Ukraine after the formation of the Independent Ukrainian State, less than 5 years ago, in 1990 — at first mainly in western part of Ukraine, but it is now rapidly spreading throughout Ukraine — as of December 1995, the Scout movement. Plast has spread throughout the entire country. Already, there are working Plast councils in practically every oblast (province) of Ukraine, in every major city and town, as well as in many villages.

Meanwhile, other Scouting groups have been spontaneously appearing, mostly in the eastern and southern parts of the country. Most of them participated, together with Plast, in the Ukrainian delegation to the World Scout Jamboree in Holland in 1995. As we mentioned earlier, at the present time, talks are being held among the various Scouting groups in the Ukraine about the possibility of forming a unified National Scouting Association.

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