Recap of days 1 and 2.

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The second evening of camp was filled with thrilling celebrations: Shabeh Yalda, three birthdays, and well-loved tunes sung around a crackling campfire by a moonlit lake! Nestled close to one another around the fire and trying to keep warm during this crisp New England night, the festivities began with counselors Omeed Askari and Dana Mashayekh sharing with our campers the significance of Shabeh Yalda; its history, meaning, and traditions. Tonight, Laudan Imani turned 18 and Nicki Sadeghipour, 16, and they both shared their birthday with Taher Modaressi a beloved counselor, who’s age we have been asked not to mention! As a Shabeh Yalda custom, we read the “faall’s”, or fortunes, from a book of Hafez opened to a random page as is the custom during Shabeh Yalda. The night was filled with birthday songs, sung in both Persian and English, candles were blown out, and, as we enjoyed s’mores , we eagerly awaited the beautiful musical talents of Camp Team Associate Sepanta Mohseni and counselor Idin Zhalehdoust.

Camp Fire and Birthdays

The night drew to a joyful close when Sepanta and Idin performed both Iranian folk and popular songs, while campers and counselors alike offered their vocal talents singing favorites like “Ageh Yeh Rooz” and Rufus Wainwright’s “Hallelujah”. The excitement of the brisk evening air in the company of friends was so invigorating that, one after another, campers and counselors stood together in a circle, arms linked, swaying to the music. On the second night of this fourth annual camp, it was hard to believe that many of us; campers, counselors, and staff; had just met days ago. And with six days to go, there are plenty more friendships and excitement in store for us all!

“Vay vay! Vay vay!” As we ate breakfast, these are the chants that broke out as campers and counselors anticipated today’s activities. While Camp Ayandeh has many of these fun outbursts, this morning we also began to integrate the two fundamental aspects of our camp curriculum: leadership and culture. Each day is given a theme, culminating in the development of campers’ self-confidence and leadership characteristics that they can implement in their communities. Camp Team Associate Sepanta Mohseni introduced the day’s theme of Trust with a truism: “The first step to becoming a leader is being able to trust one another.”

IAAB campers and counselors participate in the Iranian Music Activity Booth

The morning kicked off the first day of activity booths, activities designed to give campers the opportunity to experience and learn different aspects of Iranian culture. Campers were divided into groups that throughout the week will rotate through six stations addressing Iranian literature, cinema, games, music, life in Iran, and public speaking. In the culminating seventh booth, campers will put their knowledge of language, food, and other elements of Iranian culture to the test through a competitive (but friendly!) game of Jeopardy!

Counselor Idin Zhalehdoust and Co-Executive Director Kayvan Farchadi led one of the most stimulating of these booths, focused on Iranian classical music traditions. In preparation for the activity, the campers gathered outside, pushing three benches together to form an intimate circle. Once the instruments came out, the faces of the campers glowed with excitement. For some it was the first time seeing the tombak (wooden goblet drum) and the darbuka (aluminum goblet drum) and they could not wait to hear what music could come out of these instruments. To show them the style of classical Iranian music, Kayvan began to play the tombak, while Idin accompanied him on the guitar. At first, the circle was silent as campers sat in awe of the talent and music that was being presented to them. However, the silence did not last for long and soon the group was dancing and clapping along.

After listening to a few songs, the campers wanted to chime in as well. Kayvan began passing around the darbuka to each camper who created new beats. As the beats grew, we wanted to take it a step further and started our own rap song. Idin started the rap and without hesitation each camper contributed to the song (some was even in Farsi).

We were all so captivated by the music created that we had not realized the other staff and campers who had gathered around us dancing and clapping to the rhythm of the drum. The campers really gained an appreciation for the music and created a song that they can all laugh about throughout the week. It was an amazing way to end the afternoon!

Nickname: Maanz, Man, Mani, Mananana

Age: 25

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Last Academic Institution Attended: Emory University

Academic Status: Class of 2006

About Me: I am a very silly, goofy, yet wise person.

Favorite Musical Artist: Nirvana, Jeff Buckley, Frank Sinatra, Nina Simone, Damien Rice, Radiohead, Louie Armstrong

Favorite Physical Activity: Soccer, Four Square

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Reading, Politics, Debates, Films/TV

Favorite Quote:

“Some people say forgive and forget. I don’t know. I say forget about forgiving and just accept.”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Camp Ayandeh has been a life-changing experience for me and my family.

Nickname: Rashy/ Rashes

Age: 23

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Last Academic Institution Attended: Georgia Tech

Academic Status: MS

About Me: I am weird. I am happy. I don’t want to hustle. I want to beat life. I have a realistic view about everything but 2 things (one of which I don’t care about). I want to feel unique and I want to make others feel like they are special. I am a helluva engineer. I want to save time. I don’t want to put a $ value on my time. I want to put $ value on other peoples time. I want all my family in a 2 mile radius. I want to live vicariously through my children. I am a little bipolar. I am fiscally conservative, morally liberal. I am not judgmental. I like everyone. I am too young to be worrying about death.

Favorite Musical Artist: Currently I am into Southern Hip Hop and Drum and Bass

Favorite Physical Activity: Racquetball, Squash, Soccer, Ping pong, and Arm Wrestling

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Analyzing people, wearing my hoodie up, math, hokm

Favorite Quote:

“Work smarter, not harder.”

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Arash loves the kids.

Khosh Amadid! Today is the day that all staff and counselors have been eagerly awaiting.

Campers from all over the country – California, Georgia, New York, and everywhere in between – arrived as the first day of Camp Ayandeh commenced. At the airport, our staff ran from terminal to terminal, warmly greeting campers who gave long awaited hugs to old friends and said hi to new faces.

Sivon Paransun, 19, a fourth-time returning camper has built a fond relationship with Camp Ayandeh: “I can’t wait for camp to start every year because at Camp Ayandeh you go into who you are—you form a profoundly deep relationship with other campers and find role models, which helps you figure out your own identity.”

As more campers arrived, we filled the baggage claim area of Logan Airport, sitting in circles playing card games, talking, and laughing. Once all 70

Campers pose for a picture during check-in.

arrived, we began the three-hour bus journey to western Massachusetts, anxious to join the counselors and IAAB staff at the campsite.

After arriving at the lush grounds of Duquette Sports Academy, we all ran out to start our first game of vasati (Iranian dodgeball). Playing vasati has become a time-honored popular tradition here at Camp Ayandeh. As we cheered one another and broke out into dance in the middle of the game (another camp tradition!), the energy that Camp Ayandeh is known for quickly spread.

We took that energy into Camp Café, where the clapping and beshkans began as the most outgoing of our IAAB staff and campers danced between the dinner tables, much to the surprise of the kitchen staff who we are sure have never seen anything like it. Camp Ayandeh 2009 has officially begun!

As we progressed into the second day of Camp Ayandeh training in Western Massachusetts, I couldn’t help but take note of the beautiful grounds of Duquette Sports Academy. The 22-acre site nestled amongst 100 acres of land and beautiful trees makes the Sports Academy the ideal location for a week at Camp Ayandeh. Located in Hinsdale, Massachusetts among the Berkshire Hills, the Sports Academy provides a quiet, secluded environment for campers as they reflect upon what it means to be an Iranian-American and engage in cultural discussion and awareness with other campers their age.

Duquette Sports Academy is set along Plunkett Reservoir

I sat down with Kent Qualls, the Academy Director of Duquette Sports Academy, who has been here every year for the past seven summers. He described Duquette as his family’s “home away from home”, and shared a brief history of the Sports Academy. Dan Duquette, the founder of the Sports Academy, has served as the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos. As Mr. Duquette raised his family in Western Massachusetts, he aimed to build a healthy, positive environment that could deliver a valuable camp experience to nearby student athletes and their families. Hinsdale was the perfect place for Mr. Duquette to persue his goal and establish the Sports Academy.

Seven summers later, the IAAB family is excited to be holding Camp Ayandeh in the nurturing environment of Duquette Sports Academy, and we look forward to the campers joining us tomorrow!