“Tent Camp” 3
DAY 1
Stepanavan — a place that already feels like home to us, since we’d already had two tent camps here last year, and this is now our 3rd time the road has brought us back. There’s not much need to describe Lori’s beautiful nature, since everyone already knows it. 17 noisy, curious and quick-witted kids set off on the road. Reaching Stepanavan, we pitched the tents and got our things settled in fairly short order. After the Yerevan heat, it felt like real paradise here, though the weather slowly began to change. Even so, that changed weather was still far more welcome than Yerevan’s heat. The weather’s little surprise didn’t stop us from going through the rope challenge park and loosening up our muscles, getting ready for the trials of the days ahead. Working through one difficulty after another, the kids managed to overcome every obstacle, and — most importantly — their own fears. Because of the rain and hail, we weren’t able to light a campfire. When we finally settled into our tents and wanted to sleep, we realized the owl didn’t agree with our decision, since its lively calls wouldn’t let us drift off. The whole night went by to the accompaniment of pouring rain, thunder, and the occasional flash of lightning.
Day 2
The rain stopped at 8:30 in the morning, which meant we wouldn’t have to force any changes to the schedule. After breakfast, feeding the rabbits, and some drawing, we set off for Pushkino Gorge. After the rain, nature’s scent was even stronger, and very pleasant. Against the many shades of green, wild raspberries stood out in red, tempting the kids to step out of line for a taste. We reached the riverbank and had our practical lesson. Thanks to it, we learned how to cross a natural river obstacle using rope and other technical equipment. Here it’s important to have strong arms, since once you’re hanging from the rope, you have to move yourself hand over hand from one end to the other using your own strength.
We returned to camp, and after a few routine chores, started sorting the firewood we’d gathered and dried in advance for the campfire. The crackle and warmth of the fire drew all of us in around it. After another beautiful day, we went off to sleep, but the owl didn’t share our intention and tried, with its calls, to keep us awake — in vain. By 11 pm the camp was in a deep sleep …
Day 3
To be a guest of Stepanavan’s pine forest and not visit the town itself would have been a real oversight. So off we went to walk around town. The town’s cleanliness and calm atmosphere made us lose track of time, and we ended up late for lunch. We finished our walk around town admiring the beauty of the Dzoraget River and its namesake gorge from a bridge. Despite our high vantage point, the river’s roar still reached us thanks to how full it was running. After a short rest, we moved on to the second half of the day. This time we had a climbing session. Some overcame their fears, some managed easily, and some got there through real effort — but everyone climbed. Even though the chance of falling is minimal, that fear still exists at some subconscious level, which is exactly what pushes you to stay focused and use every resource your body has. Trusting the rope, or the grip of a rock under your foot or in your hand, isn’t such an easy thing. But our professional instructors know their craft, and they’re able to help everyone get through the hard parts.
And, as always, to the beautiful calls of an owl we wrapped up the day and set off for the world of dreams.
Day 4
Every day brings something new and beautiful with it. Today was no exception — Mount Archasar was waiting for us. We packed our backpacks, “armed” ourselves with water and hats, and set off. Climbing a mountain in summer isn’t so easy, since the heat makes walking harder. But our determination was greater. The path through the forest brought us out into open ground, where we began walking along the forest’s edge. Gradually the grass grew taller, rising above the children’s heads. As Archasar’s rocky peak started coming into view up close, we felt a new surge of energy and began climbing the steep slope faster, already walking among the trees. At the top it felt as though we were simply still in the forest — there was no real sense of having reached a summit. But once we stepped out into a small clearing free of trees a little further down, where there was also a cross, the feeling changed completely. From up there the view was stunning — taller mountains in the distance, the town of Stepanavan, winding mountain roads, the furrows of nature … Mount Archasar is a very beautiful mountain, and from a distance it looks impossible to climb because of the dense forest and rocks. We managed to reach the summit, overcoming every trial — the heat, the tall grass, the nettles, at times the very dense trees, and hardest of all, the thirst that came from running out of water so quickly.
As a result:
Ascent: 517m
High point: 1799m
Low point: 1451
Distance: 9.26km
Day 5
We hardly noticed how we’d already reached day 5. Between packed schedules, good moods and good friends, the days went by so fast that we could hardly believe the days of departure were getting close. Return or not, we still had things left to do. Today’s plan was going through the rope challenge park and climbing. Thanks to our earlier practice, we got through the rope challenge park more easily this time. This kind of training develops balance, flexibility, decision-making, and courage. And in the evening we had a climbing lesson. One way or another, almost every sport we’ve spent a long time practicing develops willpower. But in climbing, when the goal feels so close and tangible, every single time we put in our maximum effort to reach it. Rock climbing shapes the body very well, and the secret is that during climbing, every muscle is working. Day five turned out to be a good one too, filled with training, games, songs and conversation around the campfire. We should also mention that it was the girls who lit the campfire, and they did a very good job of it.
Day 6
Nature is a wonder that makes a person’s life beautiful and helps us live. We admire nature’s uniqueness and beauty — nature is health and strength, a source of energy, a home that gives selflessly. Moving from one corner of nature to another, we sometimes run into obstacles on our path, and we need to know how to get past them. To arm ourselves with this knowledge, we had two practical lessons — crossing a steep slope and crossing a swamp. Sometimes slopes have such a sharp incline that rope and other equipment are needed to make the climb or descent safe. After tying the ropes, all of us started climbing and descending the slope with the rope’s help. And right after this training, we tackled the swamp obstacle. The exercise was done on a simulated swamp. And it was just as well it wasn’t a real one, since it took some of the kids a second or third try to get across — if it had been a real swamp, they’d have ended up soaked)). The day ended with the gentle smoke of a dying campfire and the calls of an owl as we went off to sleep. The children were already asleep when the rain began. Stepanavan welcomed us and saw us off with its rain.
Day 7
The day was as much a joy as it was tinged with sadness. The kids were happy they’d get to see their parents, but sad to be leaving camp. Over all these days we’d grown very close. Every evening we played badminton, duck hunter, halamula and other games, sat around the campfire, sometimes got a little upset with each other and made up again. Some of the kids complained they wouldn’t be able to sleep in a bed, since they’d gotten used to sleeping in a tent and a sleeping bag. Over these days we got to know some of Lori region’s most scenic spots — Stepanavan, Pushkino Gorge, Mount Archasar — made new friends, strengthened old friendships, learned new skills, and grew close to nature. After a productive seven days, we returned to Yerevan, where every child would go on to shape their own beautiful day.
