Scout Ready. Armenia Proud.

Written for AGBU Impact Magazine 2025 by Araks Kasyan. Photography by Davit Hakobyan & Ruben Otyan.

On a cool summer morning, as sunlight filters through the forests of Lori, young voices rise in unison—singing, laughing, calling out to one another. Some have traveled thousands of miles, others only a few hours, but all have gathered for one purpose: to connect, to learn, and to belong. This is the AGBU Antranik Scout Camp, a place where distance fades, and the simple act of being Armenian takes on powerful new meaning.

The AGBU Antranik Scout Camp, nestled in the lush mountains near Lermontovo village in Armenia’s Lori region, has been bringing together Armenian youth aged 13 and older from across the globe since 2008. Each summer, the camp becomes a vibrant hub of cultural exchange, skill-building, and friendship—uniting Armenian scouts under the AGBU motto: In Unity is Strength.

As scouts run across the field, their T-shirts boldly declare, “The scout is always ready”—a phrase that perfectly captures the spirit of the camp itself.

“This camp is more than tents and hiking trails—it’s a bridge between the Diaspora and the homeland,” says Gayane Manukyan, Director of AGBU Diaspora Youth Programs. “Scouts already have camps in their home countries, but this one is different. Here they meet others like them, but with different accents, traditions, and experiences. They learn from one another, form lifelong friendships, and see Armenia not just as history, but as a living, breathing part of their own identity.”

This year, 90 scouts made the journey, with Armenia’s own scouts serving as hosts for visiting groups from Argentina and Syria. Both guest delegations overcame enormous logistical and financial challenges to attend. “Until the very last day, our Syrian scouts weren’t sure if they could come because of air strikes in Damascus,” recalls Manukyan. “The Buenos Aires group prepared for two years to make it here. When I see their determination, I am deeply moved. It shows how much this camp means to them.”

The camp is designed to do far more than teach survival skills. Over two weeks, scouts hike mountains, learn first aid and self-defense, but they also immerse themselves in Armenian culture through song, dance, cooking, and history workshops.

Excursions take them beyond the campgrounds, deepening their connection to the homeland. This year’s trips included visits to Haghpat Monastery, Dsegh and the home of poet Hovhannes Tumanyan, Lake Sevan and Dilijan along with a special day in Yerevan visiting Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, Yerablur Military Pantheon, and the AGBU Armenia offices before experiencing the capital’s vibrant culture.

“And they never seem to get tired,” Manukyan laughs. “They’re scouts—energy is part of their nature. Even after hiking all day, they sing and dance at night.”

For Alex Adjemian, who has been a scout since childhood and now leads the Buenos Aires group, bringing Armenian scouts from the other side of the world to Armenia was both a triumph and a deeply emotional experience. “We came from one of the farthest Armenian communities in the world, with 17 young scouts and scout leaders,” he says proudly. “It was not easy—Argentina’s economy is difficult, and we had to organize fundraisers just to afford the trip. But the moment we arrived, the other groups greeted us shouting ‘Argentina!’ and hugged us. In that moment, we knew the journey was worth it.”

Adjemian says that the scout movement is inseparable part of his life. “Scouting teaches discipline, leadership, but most importantly it teaches us to love our Armenian identity. In Argentina, we struggle to preserve our language and culture because we are so far from the homeland. But after this camp, our youth go home proud, inspired, and more determined than ever to keep our traditions alive.”

For Garin Shakelian, a camp leader born in Syria and raised in Armenia, scouting is more than an activity—it’s a family legacy. “My grandfather was involved in AGBU’s Armenian Youth Association (AYA) in Syria. When I got the chance to participate here, I realized it was a tradition passed down to me—and I love it,” she says.

From Armenia’s hosting scout group, Shakelian describes the extensive preparation that makes the camp possible: “We start planning right after the previous camp ends. We teach scouts dances, songs, rope skills, leadership. Leaders like me design games, presentations, and challenges. The purpose of being a scout is to always be ready—to lead, to make choices under pressure, and to enjoy life. The camp gives scouts not only friends but also life skills they carry into adulthood.”

The experience also deepens cultural appreciation—even for those living in Armenia. “I’ve lived here for 18 years, and even I discovered new aspects of our culture this year. Imagine what it gives to scouts from abroad,” notes Shakelian.

For scouts from war-torn regions, the camp offers a rare chance for peace, community, and joy. Sarin Kaptanian from Latakia, Syria, has attended multiple camps. “In Syria, for years, we couldn’t organize camps at all. When we finally could, it was a joy just to meet members from other branches. And here in Armenia, I’ve gained brothers and sisters from places I never imagined. That’s the power of AGBU—it’s one big family.”

It was not easy—Argentina’s economy is difficult, and we had to organize fundraisers just to afford the trip. But the moment we arrived, the other groups greeted us shouting ‘Argentina!’ and hugged us. In that moment, we knew the journey was worth it.

She adds, “This camp teaches endurance and resilience. You face physical challenges like long hikes and even sunburn under Armenia’s strong sun, but you push through. We learned self-defense, climbing skills, even cooking. I’ll never forget making manti together—it was delicious! And when the camp ends, I already want to come back next year. That’s how meaningful it is.”

Garen Dirarian knows the camp better than almost anyone. Born in Aleppo and later moving to Armenia, he has been part of the Antranik Scout Camp from its very beginning—first as a participant, then as a leader, and now as an organizer. “I know this camp stone by stone, hill by hill,” he says with a smile. “It’s home to me.”

For Dirarian, the camp’s mission is simple but powerful: disconnect youth from their screens and reconnect them with each other and with their roots. “For 15 days, they live without the internet, and they rediscover what it means to communicate face-to-face, to laugh together, to rely on one another,” he says.

The camp has even become a place where lifelong bonds—and even families—are formed. “Since 2008, more than 15 couples who met here are now married, with children of their own, living all over the world. That’s the kind of life-changing experience this camp can be.”

The Antranik Scout Camp is just one stage in AGBU’s youth development cycle, designed to create confident, community-minded leaders. As scouts grow, they transition to AGBU’s Global Leadership program, and ultimately AGBU Young Professionals networks.

“For many Diaspora youth, it’s a challenge to keep language and culture alive,” says Manukyan. “But here in Armenia, everything feels natural. They speak Armenian, see the homeland with their own eyes, and their entire perspective shifts. That’s why this program is so important.”

She adds, “Every time I see these kids, I feel grateful to their parents for raising such wonderful young people. And I’m proud AGBU can support those parents by providing programs that nurture not just skills, but identity and pride.”

On the final night, scouts gather around the campfire, arms around each other, voices lifted in song. Some cry softly, already missing friends they’ve only just met; others quietly promise to return.

“We arrived as strangers,” one scout says, “but we left as one family.”

That is the true power of the AGBU Antranik Scout Camp: transforming two short weeks into a lifetime of memories, pride, and purpose. It is a place where new leaders are born, and where Armenian identity is not just preserved, but strengthened.