This is not your usual summer camp. Even cell phones are not allowed in. Here in a village in the Poltava region of Ukraine, the traditions of the Cossacks are brought to life.

[Natalia Prystup, Camp Instructor, "Cossack Fortress"]: 

"A long time ago a tribe of Amazonians lived in our country. They were called Polyanytsi and they lived in a region of Kievan Rus.

They were women-bogatyr, or warriors, who could fight better than men. Women were even in the army of Prince Svyatoslav."

The camp for boys has been around for 10 years. But girls were recruited only last year. 

The girls also join in with horse riding, archery, and battling with sticks.  

[Victoria Sherstyuk, Camp Instructor, "Cossack Fortress"]: 

"I was amazed. Last year we had better results than boys…”

[Maiya Petrova, Camp Instructor, "Cossack Fortress"]: 

"When the Cossacks came to fight, women stayed in the settlements. They did all the housework, raised children and protected the village from the raids. While there are no longer any raids in our time,  these young Cossack girls do not worry as they can protect themselves". 

[Masha Kolyada, Camp Participant]: 

"It is funny and interesting to learn how to fight. Perhaps you can protect yourselves from the boys a little bit." 

The boys train separately. 

[Denis Glushchenko, Camp Participant]: 

"We rarely see them. They are in class and we are in class." 

Besides the physical trainings, the girls are taught to navigate in the forest and to collect medicinal herbs. They also learn embroidery and doll making.

Every year, more children attend the "Cossack Fortress." Children from Russia and even the U.S. come to the camp to get a real taste of the genuine Cossack lifestyle. 

NTD, Kyiv, Ukraine.