Flag Ceremony at the Byurakan Camping Site

On December 5, 2000, the Government of Armenia allocated a plot of land in Byurakan with an area of 20,000 square meters that was turned into a camping site. The land used to serve as a campsite with a few cottages and the most basic communal facilities. With financial contribution from the Homenetmen Central Committee and the efforts of consecutive Homenetmen-HASK Committees, it was reconstructed into a modern campsite with all the necessary facilities.

In 2011, the Government of Armenia allocated another plot of land, with an area of one hectare, adjacent to the camping site in Byurakan. This was followed by the expansion and renovation of the camping site with the financial support of the Government of Armenia and the Pyunik Charitable Foundation.

The official opening of the renovated camping site took place on August 22, 2014 in the presence of Serzh Sargsyan, the President of the Republic of Armenia, the RA Ministry of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, Gabriel Chemberjian, the President of Pyunik Foundation, members of the Homenetmen Central Committee, and the Homenetmen-HASK Committee.

The Byurakan camping site has hosted the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Pan-Homenetmen General Jamborees (in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018) and several local Homenetmen-HASK jamborees.

The Puragan camp was renamed as “Karnig Mgerdichian Scout Camp” on October 30, 2021, in the memory of the untimely death (January 6, 2021) of former Homenetmen Central Committee Chairman Yeghpayr Karnig Mgerdichian.