7 days 7 powers – 1st-ever Global Teenage Camp
Key Information
Acharya: Swami Swaroopananda
Assistant Acharyas: Br Rishi
Chaitanya (Coimbatore), Br Nishita Chaitanya (Hong Kong)
Dates: 6pm December 19th 2012 to 6pm
December 26th 2012
Venue: Chinmaya International
Residential School, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Fee: US$315 for registration before
July, US$350 after July
What to expect
Chinmaya Mission is excited to present its first-ever global teenage camp.
Teenagers will have the privilege of spending a week with Swami Swaroopananda, Br Rishi Chaitanya and Br Nishita Chaitanya – all under one roof! The camp will be filled with activities and interactive sessions that inspire and lift the attendees, and will bring Swamiji's teachings to life. Attendees will leave the camp energized and unmistakably changed. It will be an experience that will stay with them forever.
This is the first time our teenagers will spend a week with other teenagers from across the world, from Australia to Kenya, Philippines to USA. That wonderful feeling that we get at national camps when we are with like-minded young people, will be felt on a global level. Attendees will discover that our Chinmaya Mission family doesn’t stop at our country borders, but really does traverse the world. One thing’s for sure, those who do come will have a week they will never forget.
This camp has proven to be a success with other age groups, who found it to be one of the most fun, exciting and memorable weeks of their lives, not least because of the magical presence of Swami Swaroopananda, and the friendships they formed with other attendees.
The topic
– 7 Days 7 Powers
The subject of the camp is 7 Days, 7 Powers. Each day teenagers
will learn about the greatness of a different deity, and will be given the
practical tools to help them bring out in themselves the qualities that the
deity stands for.
Timetable
Swamiji
will conduct lectures through the day, focused on that particular day’s deity.
The afternoons are spent in activities. After dinner there will be evening
entertainment and cultural programmes which may involve plays, raas garba,
music etc.
The evenings generally also include a celebration of the festival for that deity will be conducted. E.g. The day dedicated to Ganeshji will be spent playing Holi and rafting in the school lake to immerse the Ganeshji murtis, just like thousands of people do every Ganesh Chaturthi.
While
the days are timetabled, there is always room for surprises! There is time for rest
and reflection, and there is plenty of opportunity to spend with Swamiji and
the assistant Acharyas.
The venue
Accommodation: The camp will be
hosted at Chinmaya International Residential School (www.cirschool.org).
As part of normal functions, the school provides residential accommodation for children throughout the year, and is fully equipped for their needs. Camp attendees will reside in same-sex dorm rooms, with approximately 8 other teenagers and a sevak. We will try and keep groups of friends together wherever we can.
Food: The food will not be boring school food! Camp attendees will experience a range of cuisine from across India, as well as comfort foods like pizza and pasta in good measure. We will try and accommodate food allergies where possible. All food will be strictly vegetarian, and we request that attendees do not bring any non-vegetarian food with them to camp.
Medical: Along with the Acharyas, there will be a number of experienced sevaks and mothers on site throughout the camp. In addition, there are medical facilities available at the school, and a doctor will be present at the school throughout the camp. However, please book your own travel and health insurance. Please also ensure the attendee gets all necessary vaccinations and starts a course of malaria tablets as and when recommended by your doctor.
Getting there
Please liaise with country co-ordinators about when the rest of the group is travelling. The majority of attendees will likely fly into Mumbai, Delhi or Bangalore.
We suggest that you arrange your international flight to India through your usual travel agent. Please note that Coimbatore is an international airport, and receives flights from Singapore and certain cities in the Middle East.
While
we do not endorse any particular travel companies, many previous camp attendees
have recommended using www.cleartrip.com
to book your internal flight to Coimbatore. There are several low cost
operators that operate several flights a day into Coimbatore such as Jet Lite and
Indigo.
Please
arrive at Coimbatore aiport on the morning or afternoon of the 19th
December. We ask that all attendees arrive at CIRS by 4pm on 19th
December as camp will formally commence at 6pm on the 19th. Please book
your return flight on the morning or afternoon of 27th December. The
camp will formally end on the evening of the 26th December.
The school is 45-60 minutes from Coimbatore airport and is well known by local
taxi drivers.
We can arrange for transport to the school from Coimbatore airport if need be.
Kindly contact your country coordinator on this matter. The address of CIRS is
as follows: Chinmaya International Residential School, Nallurvayal Post,
Siruvani Main Road, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Please also ensure you apply for a visa if need be.