SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, CALIFORNIA – The nonprofit organization is a community for Armenian kids and adolescents to participate in scouting and athletics with each other and volunteer members, being offered to over 1300 Armenian Americans.
Massis has continued for nearly 45 years and has benefitted the Armenian American community greatly, especially for parents who want to get their children more involved with Armenian culture early on in their lives.
Their Scouting Division specifically invites anyone from ages 5 to 17 years. According to the Homenetmen Massis website, the organization creates memories spanning a lifetime through their outdoor adventures and exciting life lessons, welcoming anyone interested.
The program includes weekly meetings that “develop the scouts’ character and improve their leadership skills” while simultaneously learning about Armenian culture along with their peers. Scouts also go on monthly field trips that promote love for the outdoors.
On April 21st, the scouts met together in O’Melveny Park for their weekly scouting activities; the volunteers arrived early to help set up the event which was set to start at 10 a.m. and lasted until 1 p.m.
Activities for the day were planned months in advance as the schedules were created every quarter; the theme for the day was teamwork.
The exercises themselves included body warm-ups, team-building activities such as fake minefield, strategically going through holes between ropes, human pyramid stacking, and creating a short play in under 30 minutes to act out in front of their peers.
Some of the scouts’ parents stayed to watch what activities were planned, enjoying how involved the kids were throughout all of the activities.
Christine, who wished to be referred to by just her first name, was one of the parents who oversaw the activities for the day, actively taking pictures of her children participating.
“I wanted them involved in the Armenian community since they go to an American school,” says Christine. “We love the volunteers. I mean without them this wouldn’t be here. They treat them like their little siblings almost, but also show leadership.”
As the Massis scouts developed their outdoor and social skills, the scout leaders actively kept each other up-to-date with any issues and ideas in order to make it a smooth experience for the kids. They adjusted accordingly and made the experience memorable for all of the kids.
The most memorable moment by far was their new chant “Blue microwave lion the third!”
Scouts can find opportunities to advance within Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Homenetmen Scouting system, earning ranks that not only become resume builders for college and jobs but also life-long skills. Yet regardless of their ranks, volunteers have always been willing to help the Massis Scouts grow.
With its 45th anniversary coming in October, Homenetmen Massis continues to look for new ways to bring the Armenian American community together through its scouting and other athletic programs, especially as the new generation grows in Los Angeles.
