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!