Ontario seasonal schools

Last year, the seasonal schools in Ontario marked the centenary of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s visit to the West, and focused on understanding the elements of healthy and vibrant community life. This year, the schools again aimed to provide a space to reflect on the Bahá’í teachings and to translate them into “daily deeds of constructive spiritual living.”

Rainbow Bahá’í Camp

The Rainbow Bahá’í Camp began in 2003 with 12 participants, guided by a vision of bringing together isolated Bahá’í youth from Northern Ontario, but today it is a gathering place where Bahá’ís and their friends of all ages from all over Ontario deepen their knowledge of the history of the Faith and increase their understanding of the current Plan.

Over the years, programs were added for children and adults since they would typically accompany the youth to the camp. The number of participants grew and a new location was required. As the children who first attended the camp matured into youth, a counsellor program was initiated. For the past two years the program has given youth the opportunity to take responsibility for the spiritual education of the younger generations. Today, the camp continues to change and grow as the need arises.

The school took place at Charlton Lake Camp in Willisville, Ont. over four days in late July with 46 participants, including 13 children and 10 junior youth and youth. The Camp is nestled in the LaCloche Mountains at the back door of Killarney Provincial Park. The stunning natural surroundings, which provided artistic inspiration for artists such as the Group of Seven, are an ideal backdrop for a spiritual retreat.

This year, the adults discussed the film Frontiers of Learning, the life of Táhirih, parenting and virtues. The children learned about Bahá’u’lláh in a program infused with games and the arts.

One of the highlights was the camp tradition of hiking up Willisville Mountain – which has its own story of crisis and victory. The canoe trip to Blueberry Island brought an extra thrill as the participants found that the island lived up to its name and supplied the group with enough berries for blueberry cobbler for everyone.

Above all, the value of just being together and sharing in the joys and struggles of building communities based upon the principles of Bahá’u’lláh is evident — we all leave camp with renewed spiritual energy, motivated to better serve the Cause in our respective communities. It seems that we arrive at the camp as individuals with all our material trappings, yet by the end, we are truly united, as one soul.

We welcome new and old friends to join us from 22 to 26 July for Rainbow Camp 2014. Please contact Rebecca Hamilton-Bachiu at <mama_buck@hotmail.com> for more information.

–Rebecca Hamilton-Bachiu

 Wildfire Family Camp

A feeling of unity and gratitude seemed to pervade the Wildfire Family Camp. Approximately 60 participants, aged six months to 89 years, gathered in mid-July to learn, pray, and strengthen bonds of friendship.

The camp, held at Wildfire Lodge in Wyevale, Ont., included plenary presentations by Mr. Douglas Martin and Mr. Gordon Naylor. The group studied guidance from the Universal House of Justice and took time for outdoor activities such as campfires, evening walks, and trips to the beach.

Mr. Martin’s sessions deepened the participants’ understanding of the history and functioning of the Universal House of Justice. Laced with personal anecdotes and touching experiences, his talks strengthened the love of those present for the Supreme Body. Mr. Naylor focused on the Maxwell family and discussed the way ‘Abdu’l-Bahá accompanied May Maxwell in her service, and the example of the Maxwell family in their obedience to the Central Figures of the Faith. Participants also studied recent guidance from the Universal House of Justice and formulated strategies to contribute to the Plan upon returning home.

The children’s program focused on how humanity receives guidance from God. Each day, the youngest children used the arts to explore a concept such as prayer, reverence, stillness and love. They created prayer rock-bundles to put on their pillows to remind them to say their prayers every morning and evening. The older group reflected on how they could put God’s guidance into action in their daily lives. They decorated “service boxes” to hold their ideas for being of service. All the children participated in a choir, and explored the natural environment with Wildfire’s outdoor education teacher.

One of the most striking elements of the summer school was the mixing that took place between those of different generations. The first evening’s icebreaker activities included all ages, from three-year-old children to the elderly, as did morning devotions and many of the other activities. The individual leading the exercise the first evening commented that she was not sure how it would work with so many age groups, but participants helped each other. An atmosphere of reverence and quiet pervaded morning devotions, even with very young children present, and activities intended only for children, such as tie-dyeing t-shirts, drew in participants of all ages. It felt as though a true community was established, where all were welcome and included.

The participants enjoyed themselves so much that there were calls for a winter school to be held in the new year. Please see www.wildfire.ca for more information about upcoming programs.

–Tahirih Naylor-Thimm

Shining Lamp Bahá’í School

Shining Lamp Bahá’í School took place near Marmora, Ont. over a weekend in mid-August, entirely outdoors, with 35 participants. The theme of the program was “Making a difference in an ever-advancing civilization.” Participants either camped on-site or stayed nearby, and were glad that the weather cooperated with sunshine and warm temperatures.

The group studied the Writings on consultation and community building and reflected on the impact of the institute process in communities around the world. Study was followed by play and relaxation in the lake and woods; canoeing and swimming were very popular activities.

Campfires, marshmallows and sparklers are a special part of Shining Lamp Bahá’í School, and this year was no exception. The evening devotional meeting included prayers beautifully spoken and sung by all, with a background chorus of loons, frogs and whippoorwills.

It was heartwarming to see the children and adults, many of whom had not met before the camp, become as one family. The school, with its camping and bonfires and the simplicity of the environment, reminded some of the elder participants of Bahá’í schools from their youth. Everyone felt nourished and strengthened by the school and returned home with a renewed sense of wellbeing and friendship.

–Mary VanderDussen

 ROBSI

ROBSI stands for the Rideau-Ottawa Bahá’í Schools Initiative. This summer, a total of 76 campers, staff and counsellors-in-training participated in one of four different programs. This year’s theme was “Young Hearts, Bold Steps.” The junior and senior camps were held north of Shawville, Que., and the Murphy’s Point Canoe Camp was held near Perth, Ont. Some highlights were Sherri Yazdani’ s evening of stories of young people who had taken bold steps, lots of singing, and great meals in the dining hall. This is the 27th year that ROBSI has been in operation.

–Heather Harvey