Quebec seasonal school
In mid-August, approximately 200 people participated in the Quebec school and regional youth camp, both held at Camp Papillon, in St-Alphonse-Rodriguez. The coming together of young and not-so-young participants led to moments of strong emotion.
“It’s brilliant to have so many connections with young people,” explained one of the organizers of the summer school. In order to accomplish this, the school organizing committee and the Quebec Bahá’í Institute worked closely together to plan activities, and much of the program was designed for the youth who presented their work and ideas, and also participated in consultations on various topics.
As National Spiritual Assembly member Élizabeth Wright commented in her closing remarks, the school is part of a dynamic movement taking place everywhere in the world. She said that the surge of enthusiasm seen at the school in support of the youth was observed earlier this year at the International and National Conventions, and also, of course, at the youth conferences.
A very important role has been assigned to the youth, but Bahá’ís and their friends of all ages participate in this same process of community building. The community has a role to play in assisting the youth to accomplish their goals, and for this reason the theme of the summer school was “United in support of our younger generations.”
One of the participants, originally from Equatorial Guinea and living in Montreal for the last few months, was astonished to see the “integration of the youth, pursuing in a spirit of unity the vision presented by the Universal House of Justice.” He added that “each institution, in its own sphere, contributes to the community-building process and it is rewarding to discuss our experiences in the various regions of the province. . . .”
The acquisition of knowledge was enhanced by theatrical presentations prepared by several small groups from various regions of Quebec. On two afternoons, the program featured a “drama tour,” during which small groups went from one venue to another to watch various presentations on themes that included stories from the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the origins of the Tablet of Ahmad, the sacrifice of Mírzá Mihdí, and the life of Mona Mahmudnizhad. Participants of all ages enjoyed time at the beach or on the lake, and could take part in a variety of outdoor activities, including climbing, archery, kayaking, canoeing, and pedal- or pontoon-boating.
Photos: J.P. Moss
Those who attended the summer school were able to experience the benefits described by Shoghi Effendi in remarks he addressed to young Bahá’ís attending the Louhelen Bahá’í school in 1938. He wrote: “Only through such a harmonious combination of these three elements [devotions, study and recreation] can the institution of the Summer School yield the maximum of beneficent results, and fulfill its true function of deepening the knowledge, stimulating the zeal, and fostering the spirit of fellowship among the believers in every Bahá’í community.”
Canadian Bahá’í News Service
