Day 1: Welcome to Camp!

Salaam and hello from Thompson Island! We are pleased to report that the inaugural Iranian-American Leadership Camp is off to a tremendous start! Despite the rainy weather, the safe arrival of all the excited and enthusiastic campers immediately brightened the island. After settling into their rooms and meeting their roommates, the campers were officially welcomed by the IAAB coordinators and counselors and taken on a walking tour of the island.

In addition to participating in a series of interactive “get to know you” games, the campers were divided into smaller groups headed by a pair of counselors, with whom they'll work closely throughout the week. The teams quickly used their creativity and Iranian senses of humor to come up with team names and cheers.

Even though it was only the first day at camp, the campers did not hesitate to jump right into candid discussions about the Iranian community and their roles within it. Our first discussion session concentrated on laying the groundwork for the camp’s central theme: leadership.
The group first addressed the qualities that make a good leader, followed more specifically by the traits of a leader specifically within the Iranian-American diaspora. By the end of the session, the campers had effectively established a working definition of what it means to be an effective leader. This commonly agreed upon definition will be expanded and reflected upon throughout the week.

The discussion, though focused on leadership, also included insightful commentary by campers on individual vs. collective leadership, the sense of pride among Iranian-American youth, what it means to be "Iranian," the advantages of building a cohesive Iranian-American community, and the effects of stereotypes and prejudices both within and upon the community.

We look forward to an exciting week of leadership training, cultural awareness, and fun!

In order to give you a little glimpse of what the campers discuss and experience each day, we’ll be including a few of their own thoughts -- in their own words -- at the start of each post.

Check back tomorrow for an update on our adventures through the low-ropes course!

Jaa-ye hamegee khalee!