Kavan Rai, a resident of Vestal, Broome County, used to be hesitant about openly discussing her practice of the Sikh religion. She had a fear that her friends might ridicule her or exclude her because of it. However, everything changed for Kavan when she attended Sikh youth camps in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York for four consecutive summers. These experiences have transformed her into a confident and self-assured 13-year-old.
Kavan, of Vestal, in Broome County, said, “I used to be afraid to be who I am. But not anymore. This is who I am and they need to accept me for who I am."
Out of the 74 campers, ranging in age from 7 to 18, Kavan stood out as the individual who had the opportunity to attend Camp Khanda(a religious symbol of Sikhs) in 2008. Camp Khanda is a Sikh youth camp located at Vanderkamp in Constantia.
Camp Khanda
The youths gathered from various locations across the United States, including New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, Virginia, Wisconsin, and even Canada. According to Upinder Dhillon, co-director of Camp Khanda along with Kirpal Singh Nijher, "They're pretty much from all areas of the country, but the majority are from New York."
A Sikh camp offers a different experience compared to traditional summer camps. While the children still engage in games and other camp-like activities, their days primarily revolve around prayer, hymns, and educational classes.
The campers wake up at 5 a.m. on one day of the week and at 6 a.m. on the other days. Their schedule is well-structured, with daily classes held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:10 p.m., including a 45-minute lunch break at 12:30.
All the teachings at the camp are focused on Sikh heritage and history, and helping the children adapt to their American environment while preserving their Sikh identity. Upinder Dhillon highlighted one of the challenges faced by Sikhs in every community, which is mistaken identity due to their turbans. "One of the issues that the Sikh face in every community is the case of mistaken identity. They are living in their own culture but they know they are different. Our job here is to provide them with a strong sense of identity, to give them a strong sense of who they are."
According to Dhillon, the children have the freedom to choose among various sports such as soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and Frisbee. They can engage in any activity they desire during this time.
At 5 p.m., the children freshen up and participate in turban-tying classes scheduled for 5:30. Following that, they have evening prayer at 6 and dinner at 7.
After supper, the camp offers a range of options such as traditional Sikh games, pillow fights, or dancing for the children to enjoy. At 9:20, cookies and milk are served, and the lights are turned off at 10.
Camp volunteer Mohinder Singh Kalsi explained that their philosophy aims to prepare the children for the society they live in and assist them in becoming productive members of that society.
*Based on an article published in The World Sikh News on 18th July 2008