Week July 6th – 9th
Week of Blistering heat, soaring high temperatures and humidity. Reminds us of our own home towns in India. Our Camp day begins with the melodious and synchronous chanting of the ‘Kanakadhara Stotram’ by Adi Shankaracharya. Though we have new campers joining us every week, the kids quickly join in the rhythm of the chanting. We’re almost half way through the Stotram!
After almost an hour of focusing and following through the Samskritam words in the stotram, our children especially the younger “Keshava group”, can’t wait to get up and jump about. Great timing for some Yoga and Stretching! They eagerly lay down their colorful yoga mats or towels and are ready for their Asanas, almost always beginning with “Surya Namaskaram” and ending with the calming down of ‘Shavasana’. Their favorite parts are the creative games, which utilize Asanas and Poses. Make sure to check out the pictures of the ‘Log and Wave’ game. Our youth volunteers, whom the kids lovingly call ‘bhaiya’ or ‘didi’ take active part and are often the ‘Logs’ that the little campers ‘Wave’ on.
Snack Time!! This week the hungry kids were treated to water melon along with their regular snacks, much needed to cool them down and get hydrated. By this time, the campers know well to wait to chant ‘Brahmarpanam’, before eating, thanking the lord for our food.
Time for the younger “Keshava Group” and older “Balarama Group” to split and go to their respective study rooms. This week’s focus was Uttar Pradesh and the Saints that hail from UP, one of the largest states of India. Chat with your kids about “Ganga”, “Kashi”, and “Sankat Mochan” temple, they witnessed a special presentation from a guest from Varanasi. The children were taken back in time, about 500 years ago, to the times and lives of the great saints of UP, Sant Kabir Das, Sant Tulsi Das and Sant Sur Das. After having listened, sometimes with open mouths, to the miracles and stories about our Saints, they had a ‘Likhita Jhapa”, a quiz , jumble and various other activities.
Morning Session concludes at about 1pm after Lunch.
