Homenetmen Jerusalem organizes its 36^th Annual Camping in the forest of Latroun

August 16^th, 2004

     More than 60 scouts representing the three Homenetmen branches of Jerusalem, Haifa and Jaffa took part in the 36^th annual camping that took place in the forest of Latroun. Organized by the Jerusalem Homenetmen Scouts Committee the camping began on the 9^th of August and ended on the 14^th.

      The main theme of the 36^th annual camping were the concepts of discipline and order. The Jerusalem Homenetmen Scouts Committee worked very hard in order to realize this goal. The camping committee represented by Yeghp.Raffi Yezeglian, Yeghp. Rupen Nalbandian, Yeghp. Harout Baghamian and Yeghp. Bedross Der Matossian   made all the arrangements prior to the camping in order to realize their goal. Special permits were taken from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Public Affair to hold this annual camping. In order to run the camping the Scouts’ Committee adopted the decentralization approach . Therefore, the scouts were divided into two main groups: Khanasor and Lisbon. The Camping Committee named Yeghp. Armen Alemian as the   leader of Khanasor (ages 7-14) and Yeghp. Bedig Baghamian  as the leader of Lisbon group (ages 14-22). It is worthy to mention that the Khansor group wore the red T-Shirts and the Lisbon group the blue T-Shirts while the leaders wore the black T-Shirts. The two groups in their turn were divided into 8 groups. The four groups representing the Khanasor group were Nigol Tuman, Kevork Chavush, Armen Garo and Serop Aghpuir while the four groups representing Lisbon group were Simon Vratsian, Tro, Karekin Nejteh and Antranig. The camping committee also appointed Yeghp.Zohrab Krikorian as responsible for the physical exercises and Taikwando. It is worthy to mention that during the camping period the above mentioned groups fulfilled a couple of essential tasks such as insuring the cleanness of the camp, preparing the food, gathering wood for the fire and guarding the camping during the late hours of the night.

     This year the camping committee determined some rules and regulations that were essential for the appropriate behavior and the discipline of the scouts. Thus, whoever disobeyed these rules was punished by the appropriate punishment assigned by the camp committee.

     This year the Camping Committee also prepared a very rich and interesting schedule for the scouts. The program included a variety of physical, cultural and educational programs which aimed at elevating both the moral and the physical aspects of the participants.  Thus, the scouts played a variety of educational games, visited some worthy sights, learned a couple of Homenetmen songs, made some interesting handcrafts and watched two interesting films.

     The closing ceremony of the camping was held under the patronage of His Beatitude Patriach Torkom Archbishop Manoogian. More than 200 people from Jerusalem, Haifa, Jaffa and representatives of the different scouts groups attended the closing ceremony. The host of the closing ceremony was Kuir. Christine Najarian. Yeghp. Armen Alemian made the opening speech and welcomed the participants and the attendees to the closing ceremony of the 36^th annual camping of the Homenetmen. The closing ceremony included a couple of songs and poetry performed by the scouts and speeches delivered by Yeghp. Harout Baghamian (representing the Camping Committee) and Yeghp. Serop Sahagian the Chairman of Homenetmen. In their speech Yeghps. Sahagian and Baghamian emphasized on the importance of paying more attention to the current condition of the Armenian Youth.  Both of them raised their concern regarding the difficult challenges faced today by the Homenetmen in their mission for the physical and moral education of the Armenian Youth in the 21^st century. Moreover, Yeghp. Sahagian thanked the Camping Committee for organizing the 36^th annual camping and for realizing their primer goal which dealt with the concept of self-discipline. In addition,  2 Kailigs and 4 Arenush joined the ranks of the H.M.E.M Scouts during the closing ceremony. The latter ceremony was conducted by Yeghp.Toros Tahmazian.

      It is worthy to note that a big fire broke out during the last day of the camping in the forest of Latroun. The Homenetmen scouts once more demonstrated their spirit of dedication by participating with the firemen in extinguishing the fire. Thus, the camping ended on the 14^th of August leaving behind sweet and unforgettable memories.

     Flags             Setting the camp      Group picture                 visiting Latroun vank

 Flags         Armen and Zohrab  at work       morning                   Visiting Tank exebition    

 vank Latroun            Dimensions          Artistic picture       Children's activity      During a lesson

                                  trip to swimming pool                                              Harout at work

                                  Different camp activities                                          Dinner is ready

                            Group pictures of the khanasor and Lisbon teams

Volleyball game              Learning armenian songs                       Tekwando lessons

                    Camp closing ceremony with his beatitude Arch. Torkom Manougian

Yeghpairner Armen, Harout and Serop giving their speeches         Camp leaders 2004                

         Homenetmen scouts participating with the firemen in extinguishing the fire.

Copyright of pictures by B.D.M. and R.N.