Vivekananda Family Camp 2011...

Vivekananda Family Camp 2011

Numbers in Hinduism: Symbolism and Significance

What’s in this year’s Anubhav:

Director’s Message

Camp Song

VHP Prayer

Group Pages

Assorted Camp Pictures

Anubhav

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Director’s Message:

The Week’s Forecast:

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Hari OM All-

Each year, families and friends from around the country gather at our Timber Trails campsite to celebrate our Hindu culture and values at the Vivekananda Family Camp. Every year our education team works diligently to develop a rigorous curriculum that will provide our children with a new perspective on Hindu Culture. This year, we studied numbers in Hinduism and each group learned about the significance of numbers within our religion.

Even though rain joined us for the first two days our camp, our spirits were not dampened. We actively engaged ourselves in our education and discussion classes. In our classes, we not only learned about the significance of numbers in our own religion, but how this development has become the foundation of modern Western science. After exercising our minds, we also exercised our bodies in both yoga and Hindustani games. Campers also had a unique opportunity this year to participate in a camp wide scavenger hunt. Outside of our education and discussion classes, we had the opportunity to develop lasting friendships and spend time with family.

As volunteers we had the opportunity to fully engage ourselves in seva, the act of giving back to our community. This is a unique time for us as adults, as we can interact not only with children, but also our peers.

Each year when I come to this camp, I am awed by the dedication set forth by our volunteers and the sheer joy of our campers. I sincerely hope that the friendships made this year will last a lifetime, and I look forward to seeing you all in the coming years.

Until next year, Munish Desai, Camp Director

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Camp Song: Eesh Hame…

Translation: Ishwar gives us everything, let us also learn to give to others.

The sun gives us light, the wind gives us new life, To extinguish our hunger, the earth gives us bountiful harvests. Let us learn from them and perform actions that will benefit others. Ishwar gives us everything, let us also learn to give to others… In the parched heat of the afternoon, the trees always give us shade. The fragrant flowers always give us sweet-smelling garlands of flowers. Let us learn from the life of the ever-sacrificing trees, to work towards the welfare of everyone. Ishwar gives us everything, let us also learn to give to others… Let us teach the un-lettered, let us give our voice to the silent, Let us encourage those who are left behind to come forward, Let us cultivate the feeling of equality in everyone, Let us light the lamp of hard work, and create a new light of awareness. Ishwar gives us everything, let us also learn to give to others…

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VHP Prayer:

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VHP Prayer (continued):

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K Group

“This is my fourth year of camp. It is a lot of fun. My favorite part is waterfront and I saw sea turtles! I made lots of new friends and I will come back again. Also, the food is really, really good!” – Gobind, going into 2nd grade this fall

Gobind, Caleb, and Aarav

After waterfront we head to

games, where we laugh and play

without our brains

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A Group

“I love every part of camp, especially games. My favorite game is Guru! This is my 3rd year I love making new friends. In our class and discussion sessions we made a family tree, a rocket, and hanuman toys” –Mansi, going into 5th grade this fall

To the left is some of the A Group completing an activity during the

Fun Adventure!

A mix of A and B groupers canoeing together during

waterfront

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B Group

“My favorite parts of camp are waterfront and eating. This is my 1st year and I’m loving it. I’ve made lots of new friends and hope to see them again next summer” –Sameer, going into 6th grade this fall

One of the group’s projects of the week was to build rockets with paper, a film canister, and alka

seltzer!

B groupers colored in pieces for the Toran project

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C Group

“Camp was fun, I’ve made so many friends. I came on the last day last year and decided to come this year. I learned a lot in my classes about things I would’ve never thought about; Numbers in Hinduism. I had fun painting the VHP Camp banner, and yoga really wakes you up in the morning!” – Nidhi, going into 9th grade this fall

C and D group girls playing outdoor games

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D Group

“Meeting new people is awesome, I love interacting with people I don’t know and becoming really close friends with them. This is my 4th year of camp and I look forward to it every year. My favorite part of the day is waterfront when I play basketball with my new and old friends. Outdoor games is a lot of fun too, especially when we play Kabbadi.” – Karan, going into 11th grade this fall

Some D groupers learning about numbers in Hinduism

C and D group boys (above) and girls (right) playing outdoor

games

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Junior Volunteers

Melissa playing dhol at the campfire JVs join in the fun of C and D

group games

Melissa and Sailaja demonstrate a yoga pose for the B, C, and D groups

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“This is my daughter‘s and my first year of camp and I think it is a great experience. There are lots of new people to meet and friends to make. The kids are amazing and are such good helpers. My daughter is having a blast and we are both sad that the week is almost over. This camp is very well organized and the food is very, very good! On a scale of 1 to 10 of fun, I would rate it a 10/10. My daughter and I are looking forward to next year’s camp!” – Priya Aunty

Volunteers

Uncles goofing off!

Below are the volunteers doing Surya Namaskar as the

sun rises

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Assorted Camp Photos:

D Groupers work on a project Sailaja saying prayers at outdoor games

Outdoor games!

Kayaking in the water during

waterfront

Aarti mayhem (above)

Campfire festivities

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Assorted Camp Photos (Continued):

Uncles asleep on the couch…as usual

Tanisha doing a

yoga pose

Hanuman and

Lakshman taking victory

over Ravan at

the campfire

K and A group morning yoga!

Everyone getting ready for the Fun Adventure Challenge!

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Above, some campers participate in the evening

Cultural Show.

Hasit Uncle helping out in the kitchen

Campers showing off their film canister rockets

D group “paying attention” in class

Relaxing in a kayak

Playing outdoor games

Assorted Camp Photos (Continued):

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Canoe and Kayak Race Day!

Vivekananda Family Camp 2011...

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