What is Plast?

Most of this was taken either from Plast Canada or Plast USA.

Introduction

Plast is a co-ed scouting organization that started in 1912 and is now active in 25+ countries. Plast is a Ukrainian youth organization for patriotic, inclusive self-development. Patriotic, because Plast nurtures a love of the Ukrainian community and fosters a willingness to work for its well being. Plast members are effective citizens of countries in which they live. Inclusive – because Plast encourages its members to fulfill their potential, able to both act independently and to cooperate in a group and acquire leadership skills. Plast encourages continuous self-development. Plast depends on the work of volunteer counselors, the assistance of parents and the support of the Ukrainian community.

Plast Seattle is a part of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization – USA (Plast USA). Plast USA was incorporated in the State of Michigan in 1950 and is a 501 C3 nonprofit organization. The territory in which activities of the corporation are conducted is the United States of America.

The lylijka, or the Plast logo. It’s a combination of the typical scouting fleur-de-lis and the Ukrainian tryzyb.

Plast Objectives

A scout receives his patrol neckerchief – Winter 2025

The foundations of Plast, outlined by its founder Dr. Oleksander Tysovskyj and expanded during Plast’s early development, are built on universal ethical principles and a commitment to Ukrainian cultural heritage. They are rooted in ideas of personal growth, community service, and national identity. These core values are briefly expressed in the Three Principal Obligations of the PLAST Scout:

  1. To be faithful to God and Ukraine,
  2. To help others,
  3. To live by the Plast Code and obey Plast leadership.

Plast doesn’t discriminate among its members by education, faith, social or economic class. Anyone who recognizes Plast’s principles, strives to live by them and aims for the standards set by Plast’s goal is welcome to be a member.

Plast doesn’t teach specific religious doctrines, but encourages its members to practice ethical and moral principles common to many belief systems. Plast respects diversity of faith and does not discriminate based on religious affiliation. It asks its members to live in accordance with positive universal values and the ethical tenets of their own belief system, whichever that may be.

The character traits of the Plast Code:

  1. Keeping one’s word
  2. Conscientiousness
  3. Accuracy
  4. Frugality
  5. Fairness
  6. Politeness
  7. Brotherliness and well-wishing
  1. Equanimity
  2. Usefulness
  3. Obedience to Plast leadership
  4. Attentiveness
  5. Caring for one’s health
  6. Loving and caring for beauty
  7. Positive thinking at all times

Clearly, Plast does not limit itself to keeping its youth involved in Ukrainian culture, but aims to raise exceptional citizens of Ukrainian society. This is why it demands more from its members.

Plast scouts hiking around Mittenwald, Germany as part of the Plast Global Jambaree in 2017 (UMPZ 2017)

To learn more about the Three Principal Obligations of a Plast Scout and the organizational structure of Plast, visit Plast USA’s English page.

For an excellent (and short!) write up of Plast’s amazing history (like why are we in so many countries), check out Plast Canada’s English site.

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