Camp Jeevan 2016 (Fresno, California)

From Monday 25th July to Saturday 29th July, Camp Jeevan was held at Gurdwara Guru Nanak Prakaash in Fresno, California. Camp Jeevan is an annual camp aimed for age 12+ to adults. It was attended by around 150 campers. The Gurdwara Sahib had camps for younger children throughout the whole summer vacation. I must say that I was very impressed with the camp organisation, campers, and the camp itself. Having been to many Gurdwara camps, it was one of the best Gurdwara based camps I have attended. Bhai Harpeet Singh, Bhai Baljeet Singh, Raj Bhaji and all the other sevadaars part of their team, are doing a great job in motivating, inspiring and guiding the youth with Sikhi. You could feel the positivity and love of the sevadaars in the camp and it had rubbed off on the the whole Sangat and camp.

 

This year's theme for the camp was 'Gursikhi Jeevan'. The theme shabad was:

ਜਿਸ ਕਾ ਦੀਆ ਪੈਨੈ ਖਾਇ || ਤਿਸੁ ਸਿਉ ਆਲਸੁ ਕਿਉ ਬਨੈ ਮਾਇ ||੧||

"They wear and eat the gifts from the Lord;
however (in serving the same Lord) why does one become lazy, O mother? ||1||"

(Gauree M:5, 195)

The topics covered in the camp were the benefits of following the Sikh code- Rehat and the importance of Nitnem, Panj Kakkaar, and refraining from the 4 Kurehats (prohibitions). It was blessing to have Sangat of Bapu Sadhu Singh Ji, whom I was staying with during the camp and shared Gurmat vichaar with the Sangat at the camp.

The camp would begin at 1pm with an interactive talk based on the theme to the whole Sangat, with a break in between. After lunch it was activites time, which included a Gurbani vichaar session based on theme Shabad. It was a great idea that not only campers sing the Shabad daily, but they had opportunity to reflect and contemplate on the Shabad in a session. After another short break, evening diwaan began with Simran then Rehraas collectively recited with the Granthi Singh leading and campers following. After evening langar, there was a questions and answers session, in which Bapu Sadhu Singh Ji joined in to help answer the question, with a short inspirational story time to end the day.

 

Some photos of the camp:
 

Hukamnama to the begin the day
 



Morning Diwaan

Campers doing Keertan

Self-defence class

Archery lesson

Archery lesson

Workshop group activity

Workshop group activity

 

 Workshop group activity

 

 Bapu Sadhu Singh Ji sharing Gurmat Vichaar with Sangat
 

Nishaan Sahib salaamee

 National park trip after the camp had finished

 

 
Group photo on the way up the mountains

 

 Some decided to risk nearly falling off the rocks to do ishnaan (I would stick to having ishnaan at home).
 

At the top

 Group photo with Pyaare Bhai Harpeet Singh, Veer Gurbir Singh and Bhai Sahib.

  

After the camp I was blessed with the company of Bhai Manvinder Singh Ji and Bhenji Manpreet Kaur Ji. In the evening there was a house keertan.

 

 At the camp I met this blessed family. Mata Ji was so inspirational. She has two twin sons, who she raised to memorise Gurbani. The twin brothers have numerous trophies in memorising different Banis. Their Mata Ji said she taught them by making them repeat one line over and again until they had learnt it, and then move to the next. Starting with Japji Sahib, then full morning Nitnem, then evening Nitnem, followed by other Banis. May Satguru Ji continue to keep the family in Chardikala.

 

During the trip I had opportunity to do Sangat with Bapu Ji.

 

 Mata Santokh Kaur Ji doing Seva of the Sangat at their home.

 

Dhan Hai Guru! Dhan Hai Teree Sikhee!