Day 2 & 3 -- Learning the leadership ropes!

Day two and three of the Camp have been fully packed with challenging and informative activities, not to mention loads of “raghs va shadi.” On Monday, the campers participated in a full day of activities on the low-ropes course. These included a trust walk while in blindfolds which taught them the importance of trusting their teammates; an obstacle course which taught them the value of persistence in problem-solving; a balancing activity which forced the teams to formulate a strategy, effectively communicate it, and then to cooperatively execute it; and a maze with no exit, encouraging them to never underestimate the importance of asking for help.

Throughout the course of the day, the campers also learned other valuable lessons such as acknowledging that those leading the group need not always have all of the ideas, knowing when to step aside and let someone else take the lead, and witnessing the immense value of communication and patience in the face of a team challenge.

In the Monday evening discussion session, the campers tackled a new issue: what they would like the Iranian-American community to look like in twenty years. Some of the characteristics that the campers’ ideal future community would hold include: an increased sense of community (ex: community centers and cultural organizations), more political involvement, overcoming of stereotypes, and a growing pride in our Iranian culture and heritage.

On Tuesday morning, the campers started off the day with a stimulating address and hands-on workshop session led by the Political Director of the Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), Morad Gorban. Mr. Gorban not only discussed the political process in the US and the role of a PAC in supporting candidates, but also stressed the importance of increasing the Iranian-American voice within US government.

In the afternoon, Narges Bajoghli, IAAB’s Co-Executive Director, led a very informative session on effective public speaking. The campers had the opportunity to put their skills to the test by making a series of prepared and impromptu speeches in front of the group, challenging their abilities to speak effectively and cogently.

Tuesday afternoon rounded out with a cooking session, during which each of the teams rolled up their sleeves to prepare a Persian side dish. Teams prepared mast-o-khiar, noon paneer and sabzi pinwheels, salad shirazi, doogh and sharbat-e albaloo. It was besyar khoshmaze!

Tuesday evening concluded on the beach of Thompson Island, where the campers engaged in an activity intended to make them more aware of the roles they play in the world. While sitting on the beach at sunset, the campers reflected on their roles before sharing their thoughts with the rest of the group.
Some of the campers' thoughts...

"I am an independent thinker,
I am my mom’s Sunshine,
I am a dreamer who appreciates how lucky I am,
I am someone who wants to improve,
I am thankful to have great friends and family,
I am a believer in non-violence,
I am fifteen
I am my dad’s fashion consultant,
I am independent of and dependent on society,
I am one of few and one of many,
I am an Iranian-American,
I am a proud Persian.”

The adventures and lessons on Thompson Island continue, so be sure to check back for more tomorrow – and leave comments here to show your support for the campers!