June 2008 Archives

After a nearly sleepless night, campers awoke around 9:30ishhh (really, it was around 10-10:30) to get ready for the Closing Ceremony, which was scheduled to begin at 10:30am. Campers, counselors, staff and parents gathered in the lounge of Turman dormitory to reminisce over the last week's accomplishments. Counselors prepared superlative certificates for each of their campers, which were presented during the Closing Ceremony. The superlatives brought many smiles and tears, as all of Camp Ayandeh relived highlights and memories of the past week together.

Though the Closing Ceremony wrapped up by noon, campers, counselors and staff lingered with their goodbyes. Goodbye is always the most difficult part of camp, but we tried to remind campers that though we cried and we were sad, today is not "goodbye." It is "hello" - hello to the new friendships that will only grow stronger as the one year between now and Camp Ayandeh 2009 progresses. It is "see you later," because Camp Ayandeh will be here next year. We don't know where yet - give us at least a week's worth of break before we start planning Ayandeh'09! - but as soon as we do know, we will be sure to let you know.

On behalf of the staff, we just have to say that there really aren't the words to describe Camp Ayandeh 2008, but we will try. This week was incredible. The counselors and staff were constantly amazed and impressed by the maturity, the insight, the intelligence, the kindness, the passion and the energy that our campers brought to the table throughout the week. We feel that we taught, but also learned. We got as much as we gave. Camp Ayandeh 2008 was such an extraordinary experience for us all, that we have still not been able to wrap our heads around it. And it would not have been what it was without each and every one of our amazing campers. Every single member of this group of 70 added something special, without which our puzzle would not have been complete. We cannot thank every one of you enough, and only hope that you are leaving this camp with as many good memories as we are leaving with. Please, please stay in touch, post your pictures, and never, ever be a stranger.

We can't wait to see you at Camp Ayandeh 2009.

With all the love possible,

Camp Ayandeh 2008

Camp Ayandeh got off to a bit of a late start, as we gave our campers an extra hour to sleep in this morning. After breakfast and our walk back to campus from the dorms, the campers were given time to do an activity of their own design - quite literally, the name of the activity was "Design Your Own Activity." Campers were broken up into groups and given time to think about the mission of Camp Ayandeh, what kinds of activities we do, what they see in Camp Ayandeh's future, and then design an activity that they felt would fit in with the mission and future of Camp Ayandeh. This activity gave the campers free rein and let their creatives juices flow.

After lunch, we did an activity that tied into another one of IAAB's major projects that relates to Iranian-American high schoolers: the Essay Contest. After a short introduction to the Essay Contest by EC Project Manager Mina Tehrani, campers were asked to respond to this year's Essay Contest prompts, which were then discussed in their groups. Campers were also given an opportunity to think of questions that they themselves would also like to answer.

Following the Essay Contest activity, campers got into their counselor groups and began to wrap up their preparations for tonight's Talent Show. There is a great deal of secrecy among the groups, so that everyone's act remains a surprise.

Finally, the time for the Final Vasati Challenge has arrived. Counselors and campers broke up into 4 teams and began a tournament that would give one team bragging rights for the entire upcoming year: Vasati Champion. Despite the hot Georgia sun, several rounds of Vasati were played and competition for the title was intense. After Vasati, we made our final walk over to the Duc (the cafeteria) for the last "shaam" consisting of college campus food - which, if the Talent Show skits that followed dinner were any indication, we do not think the campers will miss. There is a strong suspicion that the campers will be asking for ghormeh-sabzi, kookoo and fesenjoon upon their return home!!

After dinner, we walked back to the dorms for our last discussion activity, followed by last-minute Talent Show prep. The energy level was high as campers changed into their costumes, put the finishing touches on props, and memorized their lines. Finally, it was time to showcase what the counselor groups had been working on all week. One by one, the groups made Camp Ayandeh alternatively laugh, cheer and clap. We were wowed by breakdancing, singing, parodies and comic impressions, and touched by the effort that the campers put into their skits.

Following the Talent Show, we had yet another birthday to celebrate with camp counselor Nakkisa Akhavan. Then, the party really started with our final dance party, which continued until the wee hours. The campers actually danced their way through the night, as they cherished every last moment of their last night at Camp Ayandeh 2008 together... 

Campers began their day with an exercise called "Roses and Thorns." The campers were asked what their "roses" (positive aspects of the week), "thorns" (negative aspects of the week), and "buds" (things they look forward to) are. Many campers named meeting new people and making new friends as their "roses," and said that waking up early and the Georgia heat were their "thorns." As for their "bud," it seems that almost every camper is looking forward to chelo kabob tonight!

After "Roses and Thorns," the campers utilized their new "active listening" skills during a presentation by Hossein Samei, a Persian Language professor at Emory University. We all learned something new today, as Professor Samei taught us some of the latest Farsi vernacular, such as "end-eshe" (extremely cool), "panasonic" (pretty girl), "cactus" (police) and then discussed how many English words come from the Farsi language: khaki, from "khaaki"; paradise, from "ferdows"; cumberbund from "kamarband." This lesson in linguistics gave us all a new sense of pride and appreciation for the Persian language.

After lunch, the campers had a short free time period which they used to play soccer, frisbee, and socialize. Then, they all came together for a presentation by Mahdis Keshavarz, founder and Principal of The Make Agency. Mahdis conducted an exercise with them aimed at emphasizing their cultural identity in the larger American society, asking all the campers to stand up while she asked them a series of questions ranging from "are you hairier than all of your friends?" to "do you ever wish you were blond and blue eyed?"  Campers were instructed to take a step forward whenever their answer was yes; if their answer was no, then they did not move. The exercise physically showed the campers how similar they are; in the end, they were all standing in almost the same formation as they began, meaning they took their steps together.

After the presentation by Ms. Keshavarz, the campers broke up into their club groups again, except today the campers could choose which club they attended. The clubs included music and movement, poetry and literature, public health/law, theater/improv, photography and film-making.

Once the clubs were over, the Team Challenge began. It is Camp Ayandeh tradition to host a sort of battle between counselor groups in the form of an obstacle course. This year was no exception, as Camp Ayandeh staff put together an obstacle course involving "mummifying" (wrapping one team member in toilet paper) and bobbing for apples. Rivalries ran deep and competition was high. The end goal of it all, though, was to have fun, and that goal was certainly achieved. All the campers were rewarded with a very yummy chelo kabob dinner spread upon their arrival to the dorms!            

When all the chelo kabob was gone, IAAB held a special ceremony for our 17 graduating seniors: our own version of a graduation. Counselors took turns introducing each graduating senior, who then came up to accept their card and many hugs amidst a rambunctious crowd chanting their name and clapping. There were many laughs and some tears, but we made it through the ceremony and ended on a happy note - which was a wonderful segway into what seems to be our nightly ritual - bezan-o-beraghs!!

Campers welcomed the day with energizing stretches lead by counselors outside in the morning sun.  After revitalizing their minds and muscles, the group began the day's events.

Jars of peanuts were set out in front of all the groups as counselors explained the first activity: decision-making. Campers were expected to make their own personal estimation and decide how many peanuts were in the jar, and then work with their peers in coming to a collective decision on how many peanuts were in the jar. Through communication and discussion, the campers discovered that it is not always easy to make decisions, and observed the difference between decision-making on an individual level as opposed to decision-making when collaborating with their peers.

After lunch, the campers took part in college prep workshops led by the counselors. Active discussion circles were formed on how to prepare for college, focusing more on SAT prep and applications for the younger campers, and the college experience and transition stage for our older campers. As always, this proved to be a very beneficial activity for the campers, who are always full of questions about the college experience and everything leading up to it.

The first activity of the day was an informative speech given by guest speaker Alex Patico, who differentiated between the norms of different cultures, focusing mainly on Iran and the United States.  Campers learned about how we can be perceived as positive in our culture while being seen as offensive in another, and how to be aware of the impact of our habits and culture.

After listening to Alex's presentation, the campers went on to learn more about different aspects of the Persian culture through cultural booths.  These booths addressed the topics of Iranian geography, religion, poetry, music, modern youth life in Iran, and the Farsi language. For example, the cultural booth "Music," led by counselors Kayvan Farchadi and Taimoor Zaidi, focused on the classical monophonic and polyphonic styles of music. Campers listened to two different styles of music; one influenced by western culture, the other by a classical Iranian piece, and were given a chance to dig deeper into the music and begin to recognize and appreciate music based on its intrinsic qualities.

After the cultural booths, the campers migrated outdoors for the annual Ta'arof Tournament!  Now in its third year, the Ta'arof Tournament is largely considered one of the highlights of the week, and the campers eagerly gathered round and elected representatives of their counselor groups to compete against eachother for the Ta'arof crown. The purpose of this exercise is to have fun while honing the campers' skills at the art of this classic Persian etiquette, where there is an insistence of offering gifts to the "acquaintance" (another camper).  Amidst the campers cheers and screams of encouragement, rising junior Arman Carter pulled through with a victory and was crowned Ta'arof King 2008 by 2007's Ta'arof Queen, Rassah Ostadhosseini.

After dinner, campers continued the day with a celebration of Shabe Yalda, or Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year.  After learning about the cultural significance of Shabe Yalda, and enjoying beautiful musical performances by several of Camp Ayandeh's very own campers, everyone returned to the dorms to find music blaring and an empty lobby, just waiting for campers to show off their dance moves!

Atlanta Challenge was here today at Lullwater Park, working with campers from Camp Ayandeh to help them with teamwork in a group situation.  Campers were separated from their counseling groups into random groups, where they were asked to complete many team building games for points. Collectively, the campers had to come up with solutions to the problems they were faced with in order to succeed. The campers cooperated within their groups to overcome challenges and identify their strengths and weaknesses.



One particular activity that the campers found challenging was "The Cube," a game which was based around a large cube frame.  Though seemingly simple at first, campers soon found that they were required to figure out a way to send each person through the cube without repeating the same path twice.  Additionally, if the cube was touched or knocked over, the campers were required to start fresh. This created frustration, requiring groups to be patient and communicate with each other to complete the trust-building task. The Atlanta Challenge presented a wonderful opportunity for the campers to get to know each other and lay the foundation of friendship that will only grow further throughout the week.

For returning campers, this year shows a slightly different set-up of activities. The day was slightly less structured, which allowed campers to decide on each activity and how to succeed in it, rather than having guides or leaders who would facilitate.  This represents how campers are trusted and expected to achieve goals independently, and reflects the Camp Ayandeh curriculum's emphasis on building leadership skills. 

After spending a hot morning participating in the Atlanta Challenges, the campers cooled off in the chapel with their counseler groups.  Then they proceeded to partake in various communication activities including "Cool to be Square" and role-playing.

"Cool to be Square" involved putting triangular shaped pieces together in order to create four squares of equal sizes without verbally or physically communicating.  These limitations resulted in an irritated group of campers at first, but this slowly faded as campers found a way to complete the task without talking.

The role-playing exercises helped in teaching campers about listening blocks such as rehearsing, dreaming, and identifying--things we do unintentionally. Campers saw how they can identify when they are doing this and how to improve and become better listeners.

Later on, campers paired up into their mentor-mentee groups and got to know each other.  The mentees, the younger bunch of the crowd, found it to be helpful to hear from the older campers about school and what they can prepare for their near and more distant future.  At the same time, the mentors got the chance to act as young counselors and talk about their own experiences.

The campers took a quick break to play soccer and mingle with other students. Afterwards, they met up with their "Club" groups to learn about different aspects of Persian culture and society.  This included activities ranging from Persian games, cooking, public speaking and debate.

Overall, the students spent the day meeting their fellow campers and learning new leadership skills through fun activities.  It was a fantastic first day, and a wonderful preview of the rest of the week!!

Khosh amadid! Camp Ayandeh 2008 is well on its way as campers from California, Alabama, Maryland and everywhere in between arrive to Emory University .The excitement was contagious as campers and counselors alike flooded the Turman East dorm lounge, saying hello to fresh faces and embracing friends in a long-awaited reunion. The atmosphere was electric as campers played soccer, danced, and played "cheshmak"--an Iranian card game--while campers arrived in throngs by train, airplane, and car.

After the arrival of most of our participants, the counselors, campers and staff played games to break the ice. After preliminary games with the whole camp, campers broke up into their respective counselor groups to get to know their peers. The counselor groups are divided by age, and it is with this group of 7-8 campers that the majority of the day will be spent discussing, playing, and learning. Each counselor group has two counselors and will be choosing team names and chants in the coming days.

The theme of Day 1 of camp was "What does it mean to be Iranian-American?" Once the ice

was broken, the campers convened in Cannon Chapel to discuss the Iranian diaspora and offer insight on their own experiences within the diaspora. They were given time to reflect on their heritage and how it affects their identities in order to address the day's theme.

Tomorrow's theme will be, "What are your personal strengths and weaknesses as a leader?" Be sure to check back each evening to hear all about the day's events and see pictures that document our adventures!

With campers on their way from around the country, Camp Ayandeh 2008 is gearing up to go! On Sunday, June 22nd, campers will arrive from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, California and other corners of the country to partake in a week of self-empowerment, community building and fun!

The campers will participate in a wide range of activities, including workshops led by professors, activists and young community leaders. This year, since the Camp will take place on the Emory University campus, campers will gain beneficial exposure to university life that will help prepare them for their post-high school experiences. They'll also receive valuable guidance from their successful and enthusiastic counselors who hail from over a dozen universities including Northwestern University, Princeton University, and UC Berkeley among others. In addition to speakers and college information and preparation, the Camp Ayandeh curriculum also focuses on leadership and identity, with a special emphasis on building self-confidence.

Camp Ayandeh will not only allow the campers to get to know themselves better, but also will further prompt them to consider how they fit within the grander picture of the Iranian diaspora and community. As always, Camp Ayandeh will include a variety of engaging cultural activities such as the annual Ta'arof Tournament, fiery games of Vasati, and dance lessons accompanied by spontaneous dance parties. They'll also have a chance to explore Iranian poetry, cooking, and music, and, ultimately, form their own opinions about what it means to be Iranian.

With some of the IAAB staff already relocated to Atlanta, and with the rest of us soon to arrive, the entire team is eagerly awaiting the arrival of Camp Ayandeh 2008 and its campers.

Be omideh didar!!!