South Asian Culture Camps are educational programs that have been organized by adoptive parents through out the United States to enable their South Asian born children to learn about the rich cultural heritage of  India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.  The teachers in the culture camps are the adoptive parents themselves who have put together the instructional materials and lessons as they learn together with their children about the cultural heritage of these South Asian countries.  Many of the materials used in the camp programs have been provided by the embassies, consulates, government tourist bureaus, and South Asian Resource Centers.

People from the Indian community often volunteer to help the adoptive parents teach the children in the culture camp programs.  They assist by demonstrating and teaching Indian dance, introducing the children to Indian music, demonstrating a craft or by providing information about the religions of South Asia.  In some parts of the United States, the Indian community and the adoptive parents work together, providing one camp for all of the children.

A typical day at camp begins with a lesson centering around clothing from various regions of South Asia.  The teacher introduces clothing first by using dolls dressed in saris and Nehru jackets and puppets dressed in Hindu and Muslim wedding outfits.  Clothing in both adult and children's sizes are shown to the class and the children get a turn to try on a sari, lungi or dhoti.  Along with the clothing, the students are able to experiment with various accessories such as bangles, shoes, purses, turbans, and bindis.  Colorful posters of various clothing styles decorate the classroom and the children watch a video from the India Broadcasting Company of Chicago on Indian fashions.  Each child is given a workbook of pictures of Indian clothing styles to color.  They also get a small booklet from Air India on how to wrap a sari to take home.

Next the classes go out side and play several games such as Thikari or Muchli, Muchli, Kitana Pani.  The children who were adopted at an older age are very helpful in teaching the games to the group as they remember playing the games in India.  Just in case it should rain, the teacher has prepared several board games that the kids can play indoors such as Snakes and Ladders and Bagha Chal.

Indian snacks await them after playing their games.  The kids all seem to love Indian snack food, the spicier the better.

When the teacher can get them away from the food, they go to the gym for Indian dance lessons.  An Indian dance teacher comes to camp and teaches them some simple steps to both Indian classical and folk dances.  They also get an opportunity to watch Indian dance tapes from the Malini Dancers and the Indian Broadcasting Company.

Singing is always a popular activity at camp and it goes best when someone is available from the Indian community to come to the classes to sing with the children.  They learn some children's songs from India and Bangladesh and sing the national anthems.  They also enjoy learning familiar American songs translated into Bengali or Hindi such as Row, Row, Row Your Boat or Ten Little Indians.

Back in the classroom, the students do an art project.  This project might be a traditional Indian art form such as tie dying or block printing or it might be making something relating to South Asia such as making a flag or a model of the Taj Mahal.

Lunch is always the favorite time for the children at culture camp.  The food is prepared using recipes from South Asian cook books.  The parents have often driven many miles to Indian grocery stores to be able to find just the right spices and other ingredients.  Far Far, Tandori Chicken, Mango Shakes and ice cream, and chappattis are among the kids most favorite dishes.  The children all learn to eat with their fingers Indian style and really enjoy practicing this new found skill.

After lunch, the teacher quiets the children by reading a story to them using a book from Bangladesh or a story about one of the countries being studied.  There is also a reading corner in the classroom where many Indian books are available for the children throughout the day to look at.

The next lesson is one regarding transportation in South Asia.  Using posters, charts, and models, the teacher informs the children about typical modes of transportation.  Small models are used of rickshaws and Bangladesh boats.  The children complete a small workbook about the transportation and make a small paper boat to sail on the pond.

The day is ended with a lesson on a famous person from history such as Gandhi or Tagore.  Each child gets a small booklet to keep from the Gandhi Memorial Center or the India Tourist Bureau.

Each day of camp follows in a similar pattern with lessons and activities arranged to enable the children and their parents to learn about animals, weather, language, religion, money, customs, city life, festivals and
holidays.  Puppet shows, videos, slides, and musical instruments are all used to help the children learn.  The final day of camp ends with a program for the parents, family members, and friends.  The children wearing saris, salwar kamizees, lungis, or dhotis perform the dances and songs that they have learned during the camp.  The pride that is seen on the faces of the children at this performance is very rewarding!  Cameras flash and videos are taping as the parents record memories on film.

I once read, "To forget one's ancestors is to be a brook without a source, a tree without a root."   The children adopted from South Asian countries are growing up as Americans.  They play soccer, ice skate, love American music and cartoons, and live for McDonald's Happy Meals.  As adoptive parents,
however, we know that if we are to enable our kids to grow into adults with positive self esteem, we must give them knowledge of their cultural roots. Culture Camps have proven to be a positive means to accomplish this goal. At camp the children are able to develop friendships with other children like themselves and meet adults of the same ethnic background.   Those who were reluctant to learn about India before, develop an interest as they interact with their friends who are having fun making an Indian fighter kite or learning an Indian dance.

Culture Camps can last one day or a whole week.  They can be day camps or overnight camps.  They can be on consecutive days or on six Sunday afternoons throughout the year.  There are many different ways to put them together to meet the needs of the community.