Charkha Spinning

© jmg 2009

Summer Camp 2009, 2010 (Grades 4 and up)
We will have 10 Book Charkhas available throughout the summer for the older children (grades 4 and up) to learn cotton spinning. Not only is this a fascinating tool to learn but Charkha spinning holds an extremely important place in Mahatma Gandhi's teachings and India's recent history. We will teach the children how to create their own poonis (cigar shaped cotton rolls) for spinning, as well as how to assemble and spin on this fantastic little machine. The key to charkha spinning is that one must learn to be calm and focus on a single point in your spinning fiber -- otherwise your thread will continously break. Very vedantic in its simplicity ...

Unfortunately, because of the sharp points on the spindles, we are offering this station only to the older children (grades 4 and up).

We truly hope that each of our campers will choose to explore this wonderful craft!

Takhli Cotton Spinning

© jmg 2009

Summer Camp 2009, 2010
Takhli spinning will be available to all grades. This is the tool that most of our camper's grandparents had to learn when they were in grade school! Here the children will learn how to card raw cotton, roll them into poonis, and then spin it into yarn.

Paper Sculpture and Pop-Up Cards

Summer Camp 2009, 2010 (Grades 4 and up)

Art Projects for this week will be paper sculpture/stand-up cards of the different Gods and Goddesses. We will explore pop-up paper structures as well as other paper engineering techniques, encouraging the kids to see paper as a moving, 3-dimensional material. The older children (grades 4 and up) will focus on design and problem solving skills, while the younger children (grades 3 and below) will be introduced to the art of creating pop-up cards.

July 6 - July 10

Bookmaking



©jmg 2009
The image of Lord Shiva from a postcard that was used for bulk mailing.
Summer Camp 2009

This week we will dedicate our creativity to making a book of a chosen God/Goddess. The children will take a printed image (from a magazine, calendar, etc) and design an "altar book" around it. They will be able to work with a myriad of materials -- beads, felt, decorative handmade papers, gemstones, etc.) This project will encourage them to not only think about books as 3-dimensional objects, but more importantly, how to take an image of God from an magazine or calendar that is not of high quality, isolate the image of God, and then sculpt it into something with great personal meaning.

Chinmaya Mission Alphabet

We have all learned our alphabet – but let's review what the letters stand for!

A is for Ambition
which elevates you to higher ideals.

B is for Brotherhood
which links one and all together.

C is for Cleanliness
which good boys and girls should cultivate.

D is for Dad
who works hard for our health and education.

E is for Enthusiasm
which is the first step for reaching success.

F is for Friendship
which can be bought but can easily be won with love.

G is for God
Who made us and loves us, and helps us to live and love.

H is for Health
which is our greatest wealth.

I is for Immortality
which is gained through great sacrifices and selfless deeds.

J is for Joy
which brightens our days and sweetens our life.

K is for Kindness
which is a miracle to drive sadness away and bring sunshine to the poor, weak and sick.

L is for Love
which like the sun warms itself and all others around.

M is for Mother
who is Divine and the very symbol of sacrifice, whose only concern is our welfare.

N is for Nobility
which is the brightest jewel of our character.

O is for Obedience
which we must always show to Mother, Father, Teacher and God.

P is for Prayer
which is the greatest solace and protection under all circumstances.

Q is for Quiet
which is so precious and rare because in the quietude of our heart God speaks to us.

R is for Righteousness
which we must imbibe in all our thoughts, words and deeds.

S is for Smile
which is our Swamiji’s motto for all BalaVihar children.

T is for Truth
which is to be adhered to at all times.

U is for Unity
United we stand, but divided we fall.

V is for Victory
Victory of goodness over evil — all your aspirations should be.

W is for Work
which is dedicated service and a key to win God’s love.

X is for (E)xcellence
which could be gained by sincere and regular studies.

Y is for Youth
which is the best period for striving to reach our goal.

Z is for Zeal
which helps in all our endeavors.

(Taken from "My Prayers", published by Chinmaya Publications)

Good Manners

1. Good manners come out of good character. Build up a good character when you are young.

2. Good thoughts make a good mind. A good mind makes a person good.

3. All good manners should start at home. Respect your parents and follow their advice. Be kind and good to your brothers and sisters.

4. Earn a good name at your school. Be regular in attendance, diligent and well behaved. Respect your teachers and love your companions.

5. Learn to plan all the ordinary indoor and outdoor games. Play with interest, without quarreling or cheating.

6. Be helpful to everyone as far as you can.

7. Always speak the truth.

8. See, talk and follow the good qualities you observe in others. If you find any bad qualities observe them silently and make sure you do not repeat them.

9. Be very careful when you walk on public roads. Learn the rules of the road.

10. When you meet anyone for the first time in the day salute him or her with a proper form of address like “Harih Om,” “Namaste,” “Good Morning,” etc.

11. Do prayer at least for half an hour a day. Sing the songs and bhajans taught to you in the Balavihar.

(Taken from "My Prayers," published by Chinmaya Publications.)

June 22 - June 26

Mala Making and Bead Weaving


Mala made from Sandalwood and
semi-precious stones


Felt bag with a beaded design of
Lord Ganesha, made on a bead-loom.


©jmg 2009
Summer Camp 2009

Art Projects for this week will involve making:

• knotting a Mala (108 beads)
• a felted bag for the mala
• a beaded "Hari OM" bracelet or bookmark woven on a loom

We will begin our summer camp art projects by knotting a 108 bead mala -- Swamiji will then teach us how to correctly use it. Students will take pieces of wool felt and sew them together to make a bag for the mala -- they can choose to decorate it or not. Then, during the last half of the week (if they have completed their mala and bag), we will teach the children how to use a bead loom and weave a "Hari OM" bracelet or bookmark. Not only will they learn how to set up (dress) their loom properly, but they will also learn to read the design from graph paper, as well as weave their design.

OM Sarveshaam Svasti Bhavatu

Om Sarveshaam svasti bhavatu
Sarveshaam shaantirbhavatu
Sarveshaam poornam bhavatu
Sarveshaam mangalam bhavatu

Om May perfection prevail on all
May peace prevail on all
May contentment prevail on all
May auspiciousness prevail on all

ऊँ सर्वेषां स्वस्ति भवतु।
सर्वेषां शान्तिभर्वतु।
सर्वेशां पूर्ण भवतु।
सर्वेषां मंगलं भवतु।

Chinmaya Mission Pledge

We stand as one family
bound to each other with love and respect.

We serve as an army,
courageous and disciplined,
ever ready to fight against all low tendencies and false values
within and without us.

We live honestly
the noble light of sacrifice and service.
Producing more than what we consume
and giving more than what we take.

We seek the Lord’s grace
to keep us on the path of virtue, courage and wisdom.

May Thy grace and blessings flow
through us to the world around us.

We believe that the service of our country
is the service of the Lord of Lords,
and devotion to the people
is the devotion to the Supreme Self.

We know our responsibilities;
give us the ability and courage to fulfil them.

OM TAT SAT

Before Meals

Brahmaarpanam Brahma havir
Brahmaagnau Brahmanaa hutam;
Brahmaiva tena gantavyam
Brahmakarmasamaadhinaa

Brahman is the oblation; Brahman is the clarified butter, etc. Constituting the offerings, b y Brahman is the oblation poured into the fire of Brahman; Brahman verily shall be reached by him who always sees Brahman in all actions.

ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना।।

Early Morning Prayer

Early Morning Prayer

Karaagre vasate Lakshmi
karamoole Sarasvatee
karamadhye tu Govindah
prabhaate karadarshanam

On the tip of your fingers is Goddess Lakshmi

On the base of your fingers is Goddess Sarasvati

In the middle of your fingers is Lord Govinda

In this manner you look at your palms.

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मीः करमूले सरस्वती
करमध्ये तु गोविन्दः, प्रभाते करदर्शनम्

Before Studies

Sarasvati namastubhyam
varade kaamaroopini
vidyaarambham karishyaami
siddhir bhavatu me sadaa

On, Goddess Sarasvati, my humble prostrations unto Thee, who are the fulfiller of all my wishes. I start my studies with the request that Thou wilt bestow Thy blessings on me.)

सरस्वति नमस्तुभ्यं, वरदे कामरूपिणि
विद्यारम्भं करिष्यामि सिद्धिर्भवतु मे सदा