AURORA: Bharat Sevashram Sangha, a not for profit service organization in Illinois, kept up its recent tradition of organizing youth camp by conducting a two-week full day Youth Summer Camp from July 18 to 29 with more than twice the number of participants.
The theme of the camp was Ramayana. The Camp taught kids about Ramayana and how they can apply its lessons even today in their daily life. In order to make sure kids were able to learn what was taught, the Camp organizers provided a set of question-answer sheet on the Kanda (section) taught that day. The kids practiced those to make sure all the kids absorbed what they learnt, age differences notwithstanding.
In addition to Ramayan, the kids learned and practiced yoga, Surya Namaskar and meditation under the supervision of Swami Devapriyananda.
The kids were also taken to a nearby park to do yoga in fresh air. The campers also practiced Gayatri Mantra, learned about vegetarianism, importance of drinking water, singing devotional songs, drawing and painting. On the final day of the camp kids participated in a quiz competition to prove how much they had learnt about Ramayana and also got attractive prizes.
Apart from this, kids got ample play time everyday. All kids got goodie bags and a Ramdarbar picture frame to take home. Goodie bag included a Hanuman Chalisa specially made for children with meanings and a book Ramayana for children. All campers received a customized T-shirt with Bharat Sevashram Sangha’s logo printed on it.
At the graduation ceremony kids performed a drama and dance based on Ramayana. BSS, said Swami Purnatmananda (84) is extremely thankful to all the volunteers and to all the people who sponsored food and other things. “Without their help it wound not have been so successful. God bless them all,” he added.
Suresh Shah
