History of Camp NORR in the U.S.A
The first session of camp NORR in the United States opened in 1967. During the first two years, the camp operated on land that was generously offered to our organization by a Russian Orthodox foundation. This land was located in the Catskill Mountains near the town of Monticello. Protopriest Seraphim Slobodskoy, then rector of the Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY, actively participated in this initiative, helped in every which way, and was the spiritual leader of the organization right up until his death in 1971.
The first two years clearly showed that it was vital to acquire our own land. Thanks to the efforts and energy of a small group of people, appropriate land was found and purchased in the spring of 1969. Much work needed to be done in order to be ready for the camp opening in July. First, a kitchen and slab for the dining area were built, as well as hot water showers in the boys’ and girls’ camps. All this was possible only through the hard work and volunteer efforts of parents, young adults, and friends. It is hard to imagine today how this area looked in 1969. Small houses or bungalows (“dachi” as they were called) stood along the road, along with a three-story house and a spacious building, the so-called clubhouse. There was also a small house behind the clubhouse, which was used for storage. Instead of today’s chapel, a tent was set up to serve as an altar on the field above the flagpole near the stone wall. The worshipers stood in the open air. The wooden flagpole stood much lower than the current one. A large canvas tent located above the dining area often leaked under large amounts of pooled rainwater, making it necessary to move tables and prop up the corners of the tent with benches. Instead of the large swimming pool, there was a much smaller, shallow pool. In the years that followed, our volunteers bubbled with work, building with their own hands the chapel, large swimming pool, filter house, a fully equipped kitchen, ball fields and courts.
As the years went by, much more was built – a pavilion over the dining area, a new pool in the place of the old one, a basketball court, new showers, new tent platforms; also, new tents were purchased – too many things to enumerate.
It is a joy to see young families, originating from campers of the early years, bringing their own children and continuing to volunteer helping with this important, but challenging cause.
Some of the activities that NORR campers have enjoyed include trips to historic sites such as the West Point Military Academy, days at various lakes for swimming and canoeing, one day hikes in the mountains for all campers, 2 and 3 day hikes for older campers and participation in local town parades. Popular activities in camp include soccer matches for all ages including spirited games against parents and alumni, volleyball, swimming and water-polo, steal the flag games, “NORR Olympics”, basketball tournaments, etc. Evening activities consist of singing, board games, movies, group discussions on history and recent events and good natured camaraderie.
Each year, one of the highlights of the camp season is the “celebration” weekend when campers march in a festive parade, become members of the organization in a solemn ceremony, sing around a campfire and remember those who have served in the organization before them. This weekend comes to a wonderful conclusion on Sunday with a joyous afternoon during which every single camper participates in a dancing and singing performance for all parents and guests.
History of NORR
The National Organization of Russian Explorers or NORR (from the Russian abbreviation), was modeled after the ‘Poteshnii.’ When Peter the Great was growing up, a group of boys his age were assembled as his companions and playmates. They became known as Poteshnii. They came mainly from the villages of Preobrazhenskoe, Semionovskoe, and Ismailovskoe. As with many boys their age, their favorite games were war games, such as attacking and defending fortresses. This was the foundation for three future Guard regiments – the Preobrazhensky, Semyonovsky and Ismailovsky regiments, which served very loyally up until the 1917 revolution.
By the time Peter the Great came of age, the Poteshnii, became a military force. Grand princes served in Poteshnii detachments during the reign of tsar Nicholas I. During the rule of Alexander II, work in the ranks of the Poteshnii continued with a new generation. The failed Russo-Japanese war roused Russian society, summoning a strong nationalistic reaction from the Russian people. It was realized that patriotic-based education was needed. In 1908, Lutskevich, the inspector of public schools in the city of Bahmut, organized a detachment of Poteshnii. On Easter Sunday of 1910, the heir apparent, Alexei Nikolaevich, became honorary commander of this detachment, and Lutskevich was awarded high honors. In the summer of that same 1910 year, in St. Petersburg, almost three thousand Poteshnii were present for a review. The Poteshnii movement quickly grew all over Russia. Detachments of Poteshnii sprang up in all sorts of educational institutions. At the same time, at the Alexandrovsky Military Academy in Moscow, company commander Zaharchenko organized a detachment of ‘Razvedchiki’ (Explorers as the Poteshnii movement was now known). On their head gear, they wore the Opolchenski cross – a symbol of Christianity and Orthodoxy, as well as, a symbol of honor, dignity, and security of the homeland. In 1911 in Kiev, the great Russian patriot, Peter Arkadievich Stolypin, reviewed a parade of Poteshnii a few hours before his assassination.
Among Russian diaspora, the idea of the Poteshnii was revived by Colonel Pavel Bogdanovich, formerly of the Regimental Staff of General Kutepov. There were branches in the Far East, France, Bulgaria, and Morocco. After the mass movement of Russians to the United States, work was again renewed. With much help and active involvement of Protopriest Seraphim Slobodskoy, the organization was registered in New York State and in 1967, the first summer camp opened in the Catskill Mountains.