From June 19 to 23, 2026, the Happy Child Charitable Foundation organized a four-day hike through the Vyzhnytsia National Nature Park for 17 children from frontline and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Due to the war, all of them were forced to leave their homes and currently live in Chernivtsi Oblast.
The journey began with an excursion to the office of the Vyzhnytsia National Nature Park. The children learned more about the natural wealth of Bukovina, the features of local forests, their inhabitants, and the work of park staff in preserving unique nature.
The next day, the participants undertook the longest hiking route — from the tent camp in the Stebnyk tract near Berehomet to Mount Kinashka. During the day, the group covered nearly 23 kilometers along mountain trails. The children were greeted by picturesque panoramas of the Carpathians, dense forests, and an unexpected find: an old oil well right in the middle of the mountains.
The third day was dedicated to exploring the natural landmarks of Bukovina. The children visited the Blue Lake in the village of Ispas, which strikes visitors with its exceptionally transparent water. Despite the summer heat, the water temperature here is only about 5–6 °C. Afterwards, the group visited the "Ozeriya" tourist complex.
The trip concluded with recreation by the lake in the Sukhyi tract within the Vyzhnytsia National Nature Park. Warm water, a equipped beach, and a safe zone for children who do not yet know how to swim made a wonderful ending to several eventful days.
Such trips are much more than just recreation. For children who have experienced occupation, evacuation, or lived under the constant threat of shelling for a long time, they become an opportunity to restore emotional strength, improve health, learn teamwork, overcome their own fears, and discover the beauty of Ukrainian nature.
The "Klubok — Children's Tourism and Development" program, implemented by the "Happy Child" Charitable Foundation, has been helping children discover Ukraine through active tourism for many years. Hiking develops endurance, independence, responsibility, mutual assistance skills, and gives positive emotions that children lack so much during the war.
We sincerely thank all benefactors who support our program. It is thanks to your help that children from frontline and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine can get acquainted with the Carpathians, learn tourism skills, make new friends, and forget about the war at least for a few days.
Unfortunately, there are significantly more children wanting to take part in our hikes than the foundation's financial capabilities allow. Therefore, we will be sincerely grateful to everyone who supports the "Klubok" program and helps give new journeys to even more children.
