Camp Ayandeh is coming to a close, and while we are sad and wish to cherish the last activities and time we have with each other, we eagerly anticipate the long-awaited Talent Show, where campers perform skits within their counselor groups, sending all of camp into laughter and hysterics.
Counselor groups, divided up by age and grade, are the foundation of Camp Ayandeh throughout the week, and the majority of activities and discussions are completed in these groups. On the first day of camp, groups decided on team names, and the roar of team chants can be heard throughout the day before and after activities, during lunch, and during breaks. Camp Ayandeh aims to construct a sense of community throughout the week, while simultaneously fostering friendly competition among the groups. Campers can earn points for their groups by participating in activities, doing good deeds, being courteous, and showing both team spirit and good sportsmanship. These points and team rankings are announced nightly, recognizing campers for their accomplishments.

After a long rainy Thursday, the sun finally shone down on Hinsdale, MA today, just in time for the Team Challenge, a perennial camper favorite. Team challenge is a series of activities that campers must complete together in a camp-wide race: a water balloon toss, a quiz game, a game of charades, and a basketball shoot-out, where several members of the team must shoot a basket (assists don’t count!). This challenge is designed to ensure all team members work together to complete each section before moving on, while also encouraging friendly competition among the groups.

IAAB Camper Arian Jadbabaie discusses with his team during IAAB's Team Challenge

I planned to cheer along with the staff and watch the activities from afar, but once they took off I was completely drawn in! In all the excitement, I found myself running along the court to each activity along with the groups, shouting words of encouragement and cheering along with the campers.

As teammates and staffers cheered from the court, groups of teams waiting to compete cheered the competitors on from the sidelines. Ayandeh aims to maintain a strong level of friendly competition that gets campers excited about both the physical activities and cultural discussions. Sportsmanship is a key skill which campers can carry on into their lives outside of Ayandeh.

After some close calls, in the first round of the challenge, group “T-Raqs” (a play on T-rex and one of our favorite breaktime activities – raqs!) won the team challenge while the younger team of “Two Gooz For You” (sorry moms and dads) won the second round of the challenge.

This annual tradition will likely continue to be a favorite and we look forward to another great Team Challenge next summer!

Recap of days 3, 4, 5.  More to come…

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Recap of days 1 and 2.

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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.

Age: 24

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Last Academic Institution Attended:University of California, Berkeley

Academic Status: Class of 2012 for law school

About Me: This text box cannot do my multi-dimensional character justice!

Favorite Physical Activity: Tennis, Ping Pong, and Frisbee

Favorite Quote:

“The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value.” –Thomas Paine

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: It has always been my desire to help inspire the next generation of Iranian-Americans to become the future leaders of our community, and Camp Ayandeh plays an essential role in fulfilling this desire.

Age: 18

Hometown: Moorestown, NJ

Last Academic Institution Attended: Drexel University

Academic Status: Freshman in college majoring in Biology

About Me: I am an outgoing, social girl who loves to be spontaneous and “enjoy the now.” I was the girl in high school that was friends with every group of people, which means I can generally get along with most people. That doesn’t go to say that I have a wavering personality. As a matter a fact, I am very firm when it comes to my values and morals; however, I am also open-minded and take the time to listen to the perspective of others. I have been told that I am a good listener, and I hope campers at Camp Ayandeh find that they can confide in me if they should have any troubles.

Getting an education is very important to me. As a Biology major, I aspire to attend graduate school in pursuit of a PhD in Genetics. This summer, I will be working at a research lab at Temple University when I get back from Camp Ayandeh. Given that Iranian-Americans are the most successful minority in the United States, I have made it my personal goal to make sure that I am part of that statistic and keep it alive:)

Favorite Quote:

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I’ve grown up in a family that embraces the Persian culture. My best girlfriends and I are Persian, and we really take pride in out background. So many of our jokes and memories revolve around our culture. For that reason, we love being Persian. I intend to share my stories and experiences with others and hopefully influence campers to be just as proud of being Persian as I am.

Nickname: Dontrell

Age: 19

Hometown: Woodbury, CT

Last Academic Institution Attended: Northeastern U.

Academic Status: Rising sophomore (Tufts U.)

About Me: Like a boss

Favorite Physical Activity: SOCCER

Favorite Pastime/Hobby: Video games, reading, drums

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: I think there were two main catalysts in helping me join Camp Ayandeh’s staff. One was being able to experience the cultural enlightenment from a point of view that is opposite to what I have grown accustomed to (in other words, seeing how time and role change can influence my learning experience when I make the jump from camper to staff member). The second was to keep close ties with the peers and mentors I’ve grown to truly appreciate as some of my dearest friends.

Age: 18

Hometown: Sacramento, California

Last Academic Institution Attended: Santa Clara University

Academic Status: College Sophomore

About Me: I’ve lived in California all my life, and love it here. I have a twin brother, Saba, a former camper, who attends UC Berkeley. I’m a staff member at my University’s well-recognized literary and art magazine. My passions are my friends, meeting new people, and being Iranian, obviously!

Favorite Musical Artist: Coldplay

Favorite Physical Activity: Frisbee

Favorite Quote:

“Live to the point of tears.” –Albert Camus

What motivated you join IAAB’s Camp Ayandeh staff: Camp was so inspiring to me, I want to help IAAB as well as make a difference in the lives of new and returning campers. The goal of the camp, to unite country’s Iranian Americans, is something I strongly support. So what better way to show that support, than to join camp staff?