Planning a children’s camp strengthens friendships among West Vancouver youth

A group in West Vancouver B.C. planned a children’s camp shortly before the Vancouver Youth Conference in early August.

A group of youth in West Vancouver, B.C. meet children at a community parade and invite them to a children’s camp.The youth plan and teach at the camp together, becoming better friends in the process: 

Children’s classes have historically been an important activity in West Vancouver, B.C. The first junior youth group, study circle for parents and devotional for families emerged from the first children’s class.

With love, dedication, faith and unity, we, the youth of West Vancouver, came together to organize a children’s camp this summer. Each year, we promote our classes at the community parade in which the West Vancouver Bahá’í Community participates.

This year, we set up a booth for children’s classes and many parents approached us about the programs we offer. Nine parents were very eager to have their children become involved over the summer.

Following the parade, a group of youth got together to begin planning a week-long children’s day camp. We immediately started a series of intensive Book 3 trainings to raise up more resources. Five new youth were trained in Book 1 and 3, and three of them served as teachers for the camp.

The team of six youth organizing the camp made an effort to meet regularly, often two to three times per week for the month leading up to the camp. Between lesson planning, praying together, calling parents and going for lunch together, we strengthened our bonds of friendship.

The children’s camp focused on a different virtue each day. The kids played and laughed and most importantly became filled with a special spirit through the virtues they were learning. At the end of the camp, parents thanked the youth and said they were surprised at how much learning about the spiritual qualities had affected their children. One parent mentioned that her child would come home and say, “Mom, let’s practice [being] more generous.” After the children’s camp, we asked the parents of all the children to attend an information meeting to register their children for the year-round children’s classes and junior youth groups for the older siblings. The youth now hope to engage the parents of the children in the community-building process as well.

Throughout this camp, and through the acts of service following it, the youth have grown much closer and built stronger bonds of friendship. It lit the fire they needed to continue through tests and to know that they are each supported. This was a great feeling to go into the Vancouver Youth Conference with, as it was the following weekend.

The West Vancouver youth are excited to see how all these efforts will unfold and through regular youth reflection meetings, discuss how we can become more effective in our outreach, more deepened as teachers and animators, and closer as friends.

̶ Nakisa Kiai