After campers wowed the audience with their outstanding performances in the much-anticipated talent show, campers, counselors and staff prepared for the last evening of laughter and good memories at Camp Ayandeh 2009. The night consisted of dancing ‘til three in the morning, enjoying each other’s company and fully soaking up our final hours together at camp. The night ended bittersweet as campers headed back to their cabins to sleep.

On Sunday morning after packing our belongings and enjoying the slideshow of pictures from the week’s activities, we spent the next few hours saying our goodbyes (we all know how long it takes Iranians to say goodbye!) and fitting in as many hugs as possible. We exchanged phone numbers, took even more pictures, and began talk of reunions in each region of the country. As buses arrived to take the first group of campers to the airport, emotions were running high and the tears began to flow.

It is barely enough to say that this year’s camp has surpassed the expectations of both staff and campers alike. After a week at camp, each camper left with a better understanding and appreciation for their Iranian-American culture, a newfound desire to take on leadership roles in their own communities, and a number of beautiful new friendships. We also can’t deny the overpowering effect campers continue to have on the staff and counselors, as we continue to grow and learn from them every year. We could not have been more impressed with the educated and gifted group of campers that we received. A tight-knit community was created in Hinsdale, Massachusetts, one that we all share and will cherish for a long time to come. Once again, a memorable Camp Ayandeh proved to be the “highlight of the summer” for everyone.

As staff members, we aspire to be role models for the campers. However, we realize that the relationship between the younger and older campers can often be closer than that between the younger campers and us. For this reason, we strive for our older campers to be role models for the younger ones. At the beginning of the week, we challenged them to become leaders and it has been their choice to step up to the opportunity.

Starting Day 1, each of the upper level campers was assigned to be a mentor for three younger campers. As a group, they identified a problem that affects a community of their choice and strove to find a solution to this problem. Not only did this activity encourage civic engagement, but it also allowed the campers to get to know others outside of their counselor groups and age groups. They formulated and discussed the implementation of various solutions and planned a way to promote it in the community. They presented their ideas through “science fair”-style posters and also answered questions from counselors and fellow campers.

This team building activity promoted cooperation and community engagement. For five days, the groups worked on their presentation and the only role the counselors and staff had was to be available for occasional guidance. The mentors were the leaders in the group, and in some cases the mentees felt confident enough to take on the role as leader.

For most of the camp, counselors and staff are there to facilitate the activities. The mentor/mentee project is unique in that it is designed specifically for the campers to take charge. We aim to show them that they already possess the qualities of a leader. Furthermore, we hope that this project demonstrates that they do not need adults to efficiently and effectively organize a community project.

It was amazing to watch how some of the same kids who were shy at the beginning of the week developed the confidence to take charge and become role models in the eyes of the younger campers. We challenged them to take initiative and action. We set the bar high and they greatly surpassed our expectations!

SATs. AP classes. Extracurriculars. College Life. Majors. These are all topics greatly discussed during a high school student’s life. Today, counselors and staff spent the greater part of the day inside – due to the unexpected downpour – and participated in various college workshops. The workshops were intended to ease the stresses our high school-aged campers often face academically, while sharing our own experiences with them.

Campers were divided by grade level: freshman/sophomores, juniors/seniors, and rising freshman in college. Staff members chose which workshop to lead based on their interests, from specific college majors, to preparing for standardized tests, to optimizing studying patterns.

College applications and SATs are often a source of discussion and stress for high school juniors and seniors. Nakkisa Akhavan, a staff member as well as an SAT tutor, led a discussion with campers entering their junior or senior year on how to plan for the ACT and SAT. Luckily finished with that process, rising college freshman joined a conversation on college life and choosing majors.

Having a reputation for pulling all-day study sessions, I chose to lead a workshop for freshman and sophomores in high school with staff member Arya Saniee, discussing study habits and academics. Campers first discussed their personal study habits before Arya and I shared our stories of lessons learned. The older campers in the group shared tips with the younger campers such as going to teachers for help whenever possible and remembering to sleep even before a huge mid-term. Here, we all witnessed a great representation of Ayandeh culture: staff and campers passing on advice and sharing personal experiences. This collaborative give-and-take of information has been invaluable to past participants and we are excited for this year’s campers and staff to be influenced in the same way!

More pictures coming soon!!

Do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

“Racism is still a major problem in America today.”                                                                                                                                      “Gun control in the United States is far too tight.”                                                                                                                                            “An allocated time for prayer in school is acceptable.”                                                                                                                  “Experimenting on animals is just for human research.”                                                                                                                               “To be truly Iranian, you must be able to speak Farsi.”

Camper Shayon Imani particpates in the Human Barometer Activity

At the dinner table or when in the company of new acquaintances, these are the kind of topics and statements that are rarely spoken of due to the controversy they provoke in our society. Camp Ayandeh is a safe haven for campers to express their opinions freely and gain insights into the opinions of others, and the Human Barometer activity is one way to gauge the social pressures surrounding such hot-button topics.

Three yellow signs were hung across the wall. On the far left: “Agree.” On the right: “Disagree.” And somewhere in between, “Don’t Know.” Statements of opinions such as those written above were read aloud while the campers physically moved to stand beneath the sign that best fit with their opinion. The areas between each of the signs were popular areas for participants, indicating just how complex these issues are – few could choose positions as simply black or white.

After taking a stand, a few campers volunteered their reasons for choosing their positions. Having to verbally justify their choices in an objective manner meant our campers had to question themselves and outline their beliefs while simultaneously respecting and recognizing the wide array of subjective ideas that exist even within their own peer group.

Human Barometer became a very active exercise and inspired passionate dialogue. It forced each person to think independently about the issues that affect society. After each camper presented their argument, volunteers from the opposite side eagerly raised their hands to throw in their thoughts in the collective pool of opinions. Presenting new ways of looking at the same issue showed us that there is not always a right and wrong answer to the unsettled questions of society. Taking the arguments of their peers into account, campers could choose to change where they stood on the spectrum after hearing a convincing argument from a different position. Campers became so engaged in this activity that they almost missed out on their time to play vasati (and we all know how much Ayandeh loves vasati!).

It’s activities like these that show the diversity of opinions and experiences at Camp Ayandeh, and which contribute to making camp such a rewarding experience for all!

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!

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!