ICC Camp Stories!
ICC Camp Stories
ICC is proud to be highlighting the stories of some of our past and current campers. ICC Camps offer special programs and cultural immersion opportunities for youth to experience the best of Indian culture in a safe, fun environment. Camps offered this year range from Vedic Math and Hindi classes to Space & Rocketry and Community Service & Leadership. They run from June through August and are for kids in kindergarten through high school. This week’s story is about the strong connection and understanding to India that campers gain.
For Tabbassum’s daughter, Alicia, attending the ICC’s cultural immersion camp was getting to taste all different aspects of Indian culture in an age-appropriate setting. Just 4 when she started attending summer camp, Alicia had other activities she was involved in, but nothing specifically Indian.
Thinking back on the experience, Tabbassum says that it was the first time her daughter was able to participate in fun, children’s activities with an Indian influence. In addition to doing yoga, participating in artistic activities, and learning about Indian history through field trips to the bazaar and by studying Indian money, she saw “all Indian people, who were all born here, getting together, enjoying themselves, eating Indian food and wearing Indian clothing”. She says that Alicia also especially enjoyed the food: “The fresh Indian food was great – you wouldn’t get that at any other camp”, she laughs. Tabbassum emphasizes that Alicia benefited from the loving and professional manner of the camp staff – she says that Alicia had such a positive experience because the staff was well-organized, paid individual attention to the campers, and ran the program very professionally – very important things when the campers are as young as Alicia was! Alicia’s mom adds that the “counselors were very good, and very dedicated to the kids having a good time”.
Since that first summer, Alicia has requested to return to the ICC camps each year, and last year, her little brother attended his first ICC camp at the age of 4!
Rohin Puvvada ICC Camper
“This is the place to go!”
Rohin Puvvada’s first time at summer camp included all of the typical things – crafts, songs, and physical activity. But because Rohin attended an ICC summer camp, his experience was distinctly cultural, and all of the things he did were all focused on India. Rohin’s mom, Vani, says that she selected the ICC for his first camp experience because she wanted him to learn about India’s culture, traditions, sports, and language. Rohin may not have had a strong association with India prior to attending ICC camps, but Vani says that participating in camp activities had a significant impact on Rohin’s identity and sense of self as an Indian child. “The fact that he was singing the Indian national anthem on stage a week after joining the ICC made me a proud mother”, she says. Rohin also participated in Bollywood camp, and like other parents, Vani recalls the dance performances with special fondness. While Rohin’s connection to India grew, so did the amount of fun he was having. Vani explains: “It was an awesome summer for him. He used to look forward to each day he went to camp.” Rohin’s understanding of India grew stronger and stronger as camp went on, and by the end of the summer, he “understood a lot more about India than he did before”, says his mom. One shining moment she recalls that illustrates this? “He gave me a roti in the shape of India!” Like so many other campers, Rohin will be returning to the ICC’s camps this summer. His mom recommends checking out the ICC’s website for information – “it gave me everything I needed,” she says.
A story about one camper who had his first experience with public speaking and performance while at the ICC, and how he learned these important skills while enjoying Indian culture with his peers.
Akhil had never attended summer camp before enrolling in Bollywood dance and Cultural Immersion camps last summer at the ICC, but in the words of his father, Bradley, “he LOVED them”. Akhil’s experience emphasizes one of the most important aspects of ICC camps – the opportunity to participate in public performances and engage in public speaking. An instant confidence-booster, kids enrolled in ICC’s camps are given the opportunity, whether through community service, movie-making, dance & performance, or speaking roles, to utilize their leadership abilities. While at camp, Akhil benefited from one-on-one attention from the counselors while also making new friends through the activities, games, and exercises the counselors had planned for them. Though his dad says that Akhil was already well versed in Indian culture, he was able to more deeply immerse himself in the activities because they had the unifying theme of India. At the end of camp, Akhil prepared himself for what was to be his first public speaking opportunity, during the Bollywood dance presentation. Of Akhil’s performance, his father says “It was a great moment of personal growth.” Bradley also says that because of his experiences at camp, Akhil now relishes the chance to perform, and has since participated in other public speaking opportunities. Akhil’s time at camp was so positive that he plans to come to twice as many camps in the upcoming summer, including a return to Bollywood camp as well as the Treasures of the Taj program. We look forward to seeing him up on stage in the limelight!