"I Am Who I Am"
- The Khalsa Youth Camp Experience
SiriNam Singh Khalsa,
KYC Director
“This was Harimander Singh’s first true experience away from me. He enjoyed the yoga that you taught in the mornings so much, that he’s been “teaching yoga classes” to me every evening now. He grew so much at camp this year in his love for the Dharma and the Guru. I am deeply grateful for Khalsa Youth Camp and your continued effort to maintain and serve its spirit.” Siri Krishna Kaur/ Parent
“We have established this Children’s Youth Camp where children are being asked to relate to the Guru and understand the Dharma. Parents can and must also give these values to them.
I have no discussion with anybody, nor do I feel it is my place to tell you what to do. But, those parents who send their children to this camp and who have helped it to be what it has become, have made a powerful, great sacrifice for the future. There’s no denial of this fact. Tradition has been set. Truth is, we love our spirituality as priority. And this way we are going to serve tomorrow.” Siri Singh Sahib Ji 6/13/01
Khalsa Youth Camp was established 23 years ago for the purpose of teaching our children values as well as Khalsa spirit so we can build leaders for the Aquarian Age. The Siri Singh Sahib’s message to parents has been very clear and consistent. We must equip our children to make the move from total dependence on us to independence - from being controlled, to controlling themselves. These parents want to raise responsible children, children who at any age can confront the important decisions of their lives with maturity and good sense. We want to raise children who know who they are and can lean on their spiritual identity in times of adversity as well as in times of joy.
To support our efforts in achieving these goals, the Siri Singh Sahib asks parents to allow their children the opportunity to be with their brothers and sisters every summer on the sacred land of Ram Das Puri, New Mexico, and have a camp experience that will cultivate their love for God and Guru. He has also asked parents to let their children go to India and attend Miri Piri Academy to establish their own identity as Sikhs, away from the pressures and temptations of adult life that are thrown at children every day. We are now seeing the positive effects of his foresight.
Khalsa Youth Camp is a truly unique camp. The campers (ages 3 to 12) rise each morning and take a cold rinse to energize and awaken their bodies. This is followed by an age-appropriate children’s’ sadhana (yoga and chanting) under the expansive skies of New Mexico. Each posture and breath clears their minds, strengthens their bodies and centers them for the day’s activities. The innocence and carefree nature of each child is nurtured throughout the camp. You can see how they become more confident and relaxed each day in their social and physical environment. The daily activities and classes are speci-fically focused on teaching them who they are, “I Am Who I Am.”
The children marched to this uplifting song on Guru Singh’s new CD, Game of Chants, “I Am.” When I first heard this song in the spring, I knew it would be the theme for this summer’s camp. After the children gave a mid-summer presentation to the Siri Singh Sahib Ji and guests at Women’s Camp, the Siri Singh Sahib asked them to do something when they went home. He said, “You sing this beautifully. Remember when you go back home… Chant this [I Am Who I Am and That Is That] wherever you are until you turn 140 years old! Chant it as your link. Thank you very much and God Bless You. Be Prosperous and virtuous.”
Looking Towards the Future
This summer we are making exciting plans to expand on a new 4-week course we began this summer for the older boy and girl campers (8-12 years old) entitled, The Universal Warrior-Saint. This course will incorporate Kundalini Yoga, the martial arts, a ropes course, challenging hikes, numerology, humanology, celestial communication, dancing, chanting, and many other character- and spirit-building activities that give our youth an experience of their excellence. Several guest teachers have been asked to participate in this new program, adding a new and motivating dimension to our camp.
We are also in the process of establishing an IKYTA-certified Children’s Yoga Certification. Khalsa Youth Camp will offer adults an opportunity to learn how to successfully teach the science of Kundalini Yoga to children of different ages in their communities and homes. We hope to have this in place by Summer 2002.
It was a wonderful summer of fun and growth, and I look forward to serving our future leaders next year. If you’d like more information on KYC, if you’d like to participate in our programs or if you have any questions, please contact:
SiriNam Singh Khalsa, KYC Director
Tel.: 1-413-548-9607 or email: [email protected]