The Everyday Life of the Summer Camp.

The members of “SOS Culture” program  youth clubs with Yerevan Zoo Eco club members spent a full week in Odzun participating in the Summer Camp. All 50 participants were gathered in Odzun to learn about the cultural monuments of Lori region by studying photos, journalism, video art, participating in different courses such as cultural tourism, intercultural communication, leadership, ecology. 

Each day was always expected. Mornings were filled with the energy of sport and a healthy life style. A group of children was taking classes of yoga art; another group was participating in the morning gymnastics, while the third group was practicing folk dance.

After breakfast participants continued their day attending various courses that transmitted not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical skills to be able to use everything they have learnt. After having their first lessons on taking photos, videos and journalism, separate groups were formed based on the participant`s interest, so they could have opportunity to choose the course they are most interested in.

Two days of the summer camp were full of excursions to the cultural-historical sites of the Lori region. Samvel Karapetyan, the director of the Research on Armenian Architecture Foundation, was accompanying the participants during these two days. The first day the participants visited St. Nshan church in Odzun, where local priest Ter Vrtanes talked about the history of the church and the village. After visiting Odzun the participants continued their way to Horomayr monastery.

Next day the first stop was Hovhannes Tumanyan`s House-Museum in Dsegh, where participants went deeper in Tumanyan's biography, his creative path. They also visited St. Grigor Bardzrakash monastery. Passing a short way in the forest they saw an incredible view of the abandoned and ruined monastery. Learning about the history of the monastery, participants tried to read the old scripts with Samvel Karapetyan’s help.

Helping each other and overcoming the difficulties, we moved from Bardzraqash to Qobayr. Tired of the road the participants could rest there and enjoy a beautiful architectural site before leaving for the next site - Sanahin monastery, where the participants not only learnt about the history of the monastery, admired its beauty, but also observed the sad situation of the great architectural and cultural monument. Most of the participants were surprised to learn that House-museum of the Mikoyan brothers is located in Sanahin village. Together with the museum director they had a small tour in the museum, learnt about the heroic path of the famous brothers.

The next days were full of various courses: highlighting the role of ecology in everyday life and the preservation of cultural monuments, the participants had a full day of theoretical and practical ecology training.  The training course in the forest is the most desired. First participants got to know the characteristics of the forest before exploring the forest dwellers, particularly insects.  Having necessary equipment they involved in the process to identify and differentiate them. Days were filled with experiences and impresses. Read about the impressions and achievements of the participants.