Azaria Kotelko Antosh

Hello, my name is Azaria Kotelko Antosh and I am delighted to be this year’s Director at Green Grove Camp! I attended the camp from ages 7 through 14 and went on afterward to work as a counselor for three years. Not surprisingly, Green Grove Camp holds a special place in my heart and it is my favorite place to be during the summer!

I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree in Ireland, but I return home to Saskatchewan for the summers. I am passionate about the environment and the outdoors and in my free time, I love camping, canoeing, and hiking. I am excited to share this love for nature with the campers and inspire them to appreciate and explore the beauty of the outdoors.

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, I have had the opportunity to travel to Ukraine three times. My Ukrainian heritage has always been important to me and I love learning about Ukrainian traditions, language, and arts. I also grew up Ukrainian dancing so I can’t wait to help everyone learn some new Ukrainian dance steps! One thing I cherish about being Ukrainian-Canadian is the wonderful, involved, and supportive community we have.

I am looking forward to meeting and getting to know each and every camper this year! Building connections with campers is one of the most rewarding aspects of being at Green Grove Camp. I can’t wait to hear about your stories, adventures, and what excites you about camp. Some of my favorite memories as a camper include swimming in the lake, making new friends, dancing at the ‘забава’, and having surprise water fights (hint hint)! A funny memory of mine from camp is the time I got кара and had to cut the grass with a pair of tiny sewing scissors!

I grew up playing the piano and the accordion, though I’m a bit rusty since it has been a few years since I’ve played either instrument. Hopefully, I can brush up on my accordion skills before camp starts so that I can play some tunes for everyone.

One thing that I have tried but would NEVER try again is pickled herring. Only the force of a baba at Christmas time can get someone to try that.

Whether it’s singing songs together around a campfire, learning Ukrainian dance, or simply enjoying each other’s company, I look forward to creating unforgettable camp experiences together. See you in July!