Our theme for 2006 was “Amazing India”. With the help of our dedicated volunteers from the Indian community in Colorado, we explored all the unique and amazing parts of this diverse and intricate country. We had even more members of the Nepali community here in Colorado participate with us this year in learning more about the amazing country of Nepal. There were classes for the kids ranging from learning the Indian and Nepali national anthems to Indian folk dances and games that are unique to this diverse country. And of course we had several opportunities for the kids to learn India’s national game of cricket!.

Also this year we had a special treat – a brand new “Indian Nepali Village”, built especially for camp with a generous grant from one of our families. This new Village has 6 beautifully crafted structures representing things like an Indian school, a market, a cinema, a sari shop, where the children participated in activities related to each theme. We are so lucky to have such a creative and festive addition to the camp experience for our elementary children – we’re looking forward to using our new Village for years to come!

The Middle School program had its own “Village” experience, with a wonderful craft designed just for them. The middle schoolers learned about Bhagat Singh and other India Freedom Fighters. However, one of the highlights of the year for the Middle Schoolers was the new “More Than Me” Program. With the help of terrific volunteers from the Indian and Nepali community, the kids learned about two schools, one in each country, that need everything from books to clean drinking water. The kids then decorated baseball caps, which they sold at camp on Saturday evening to very generous parents, counselors, and friends, raising over $2,000 for these two schools! It was amazing and very rewarding for the kids to “give back” to their birth countries. Please read more about the More Than Me program on this web site in January!

Also new this year for the High School campers was their own “Amazing Race”! They divided up into teams, and raced against the clock to perform a series of challenging tasks that were entertaining as well as instructive – they had to make chappatis (an Indian bread), play each other in Cricket, learn some basic Hindi – as well as perform some great team-building exercises in rafts on the Snow Mountain Ranch lake. The general consensus from the teens themselves was that this was a really FUN way to learn about India – they even want to do it again next year!!

The parent workshops at EIHC were again educational and entertaining, and this year included topics about Nepal as well. Parents delved into such topics as outsourcing in India, Ayurvedic medicine, Indian cooking & music, Nepal Today and festivals in Nepal. There were also numerous topics about adoption issues, presented by local Denver professionals in the field.
As always, a highlight of camp was the Saturday night gathering, where the kids performed Indian dance first and then the entire camp danced the night away to a variety of Indian music. It was hard to get people to leave even by 11:00 PM! It is such a wonderful time to spend together as a family and with other families who share a common bond, that of having Indian and Nepalese children.

None of this could be done without the tremendous support we receive from the Indian and now the Nepali community. Our counselors and adult volunteers are the best and are so committed to returning to camp each year. We are beyond fortunate to have them!