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.

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!

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!

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!