Children's Summer Camp
Words by Sripad Devashis Prabhu and pictures by Ishanuga Devi Dasi and Parama Bhakti Devi Dasi. August 2006.
Switch on the radio to any popular music station and sooner or later you will hear the treacly sweet voice of Witney Houston or Celine Dione reminding us that, “the children are our future” and we should, “teach them well and let them lead the way.” The rest of the song is of course just sentimental drivel but nevertheless it is true that the children are our future and we must try to teach then as best as we can and especially we must teach them about Krishna Consciousness.
With this idea in mind, our sister Saraswati Devi approached me earlier this year with the idea that we should have a summer camp for the younger devotees and spend a week near the sea; a combination of Krishna Conscious activities, fun and games. Saraswati didi found a beautiful rural retreat for rent in Devon just near to Exeter and plans began to take shape.
On Friday 28 July, 40 devotees; men women and children set out from the London Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and drove the 180 miles+ to The East Down Centre in Dunsford, North Devon.
Set in 18 acres of beautiful farmland on the edge of Dartmoor National Park with its high moorlands, woodland hillsides, rugged tors and beautiful tranquil lakes, the accommodation was a converted thatched barn and roundhouse along with a purpose built group workshop that became our Temple and Nath Mandir for the week.
We arrived late Friday evening and in the fading light, Ramasundar Prabhu raised the tent for the boys and Kundalata didi raised the tent where the girls would stay, while Rasamayi Pandita and Ratnavali didis made supper for the weary travellers.
Despite our late arrival and then subsequently even later when we all finally got to bed, almost everyone was present the next morning for the first Mangal Arati. In a very simplified way we showed the children the process of Achaman, offering Arati and how to offer Bhoga to the Lord. After that first arati a different young devotee offered the arati in the morning and the evening, every day while we stayed at the centre.
The Dartmoor countryside echoed with joyful Hari Kirttan and the devotees, young and old sang and danced; “Kali-kukkura-kadana yadi chao he!” “Yashomatinandana braja-baro nagara, Gokula-ranjana kana” and “Jai Sachinandana sura muni vandana, bhava-bhaya-khandana jayo he.” Sri Gurvastakam and then a daily reading from Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat and obeisance to all the Vaisnavas followed Mangal Arati.
Next was a hearty breakfast of freshly baked bread, butter, honey and fruit jams as well as hot porridge and cereal, followed by our daily discussion group (ista-gosthi). This was aimed at the older children from about 9 years up and many of the parents also attended. Each day we discussed about Krishna Consciousness and how it was relevant and important in the children's lives - at school, at home and in the modern world. The subjects of the discussions were: ‘What do we believe in?’ ‘What about other religions?’ ‘Sri Guru & His Grace,’ ‘History, Myths and the Lord’s Pastimes’ and ‘Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’.
The Children took it in turn to offer Arati
| Virachandra Prabhu | Nitaichand Prabhu | Balaram Prabhu |
| Balaram Prabhu | Nadiarani Devi Dasi | Chaitanya Prabhu |
Everyone participated with great enthusiasm, asking many questions, sometimes playing the ‘Devils advocate’, and sharing their thoughts, doubts and realisations and this way increasing our understanding of the subjects covered.
Before Lunch there was time for Japa and games. Srilekha didi, who had come from Villa Govinda in Italy to join with us, was avidly rehearsing her troupe of young actors and actresses to perform a devotional play for the pleasure of the assembled devotees and thereby teach them (and us), many valuable lessons form the Srimad Bhagavat.
Dayanidhi Prabhu was teaching the kids how to do Kirttan seva. He showed the children the different melodies for morning and evening worship and how to play the karatals in time as well as continuing to show his mrdanga students how to improve their already 
quite impressive kirttan skills.
Lunch Prasadam was always delicious. Many of the devotees helped with the cooking and preparation but our sister Parama Bhakti Devi who had come all the way from Holland to take part in the camp deserves special mention for all the wonderful and nutritious meals she provided. From subji, rice and dhals, to pastas and salads, soups and couscous, everyone was always more than satisfied.
The afternoons were spent in trips to the beach or the nearby lake and other outings or free time. We had a
sports day with games, races and competitions and 
two excursions to places of interest. Our first day out was to the Eden Project in Cornwall. Here we saw the different eco-systems of our planet, condensed into a few space age bio-domes. As you approach the site you could be forgiven for thinking you had wandered into the set of the latest science fiction movie, but this is no fictional theme park or Disneyland with plants. This is the largest ecological and conservation park in Europe. An educational and fascinating wonder for anyone interested in plants, trees, herbs and the miracles of the natural world. Here in carefully controlled artificial environments we saw replicas of the Amazon rain forests, African villages, Indian sugar cane plantations, South American banana trees, Italian vineyards, and Greek olive groves. Mango trees, papayas, pineapples, chillies, rubber trees, fountains, waterfalls, lakes and many other wondrous examples of our verdant earth were everywhere. Seeing all this I was reminded of the verse from Srimad Bhagavad-Gita where Krishna says, “Know that all of this beautiful creation emanates but from a spark of My splendour.”(Bg 10.41) We cannot begin to imagine the infinite beauty of the Spiritual Sky where the Transcendent Lord Krishna enjoys eternally.
Our second trip was to Tintagel, the mythical birthplace of the fabled ‘once and future King of Britain’, Arthur Pendragon. Arthur was said to have been born in the Tintagel Castle of Gorlois the King of Cornwall during the 6th century. His mother was Igraine and his father Uther Pendragon, the High King of Britain, who by mystical enchantment appeared in the shape of Igraine’s husband Gorlois and seduced her while the real Gorlois was doing battle with the Saxons. The next morning the body of Gorlois was brought to the castle with the news that he had been killed the day before. Legend tells that while Arthur spent his boyhood in Cornwall, the Merlin of Britain (High Priest of the Ancient Celtic Religion) Taliesin, lived in the cave beneath the castle and in this way was able to tutor the boy in the mysteries of the pagan religion (worship of the Goddess) and prepare him for his future kingship.
While at Tintagel many of the devotees swam in the ocean, climbed the cliffs and visited the castle ruins and the fabled cave of Merlin. The village of Tintagel itself is very beautiful and of course now completely overrun with gift shops selling Arthurian, Celtic, Wicca and Fairie gifts and memorabilia and other assorted ‘new age’ stuff and nonsense. To many seekers of truth, Tintagel has become a kind of pilgrimage place and it was this that formed the basis of our discussion group the following day when we discussed how history, myths and legends were totally and categorically different to the Divine Pastimes of the Lord (Lila).
Thursday was to be our last full day at the Summer Camp and so that afternoon Ramsundar Prabhu and myself, fired up the barbecue and began making veggie burgers, baked potatoes, pasta, salad and salsa while Ishanuga Devi made pizza and Saraswati didi made a delicious cake (well 2 huge cakes actually!). This was our 'End of Camp Party'. After everyone had feasted we sat back in our Temple Room to see the marvellous production of the children’s play ‘Dhruva Maharaj’ from the beautiful conversation between sage Maitreya and the noble Vidura from Srimad Bhagavat. We were enlightened by the wise words of Dhruva’s mother Suniti and marvelled at the austerity of the young boy sage Dhruva, his meeting with the great saint Narada and finally when he received the topmost benediction of the Darshan of Lord Narayan Himself who touched Dhruva on the forehead with His Divine Conch. Why do we pray to the Lord for material things when we should pray only for His eternal loving service which is itself the supreme goal of life? “Foolishly I sought a few fragments of broken glass when the Lord Himself is the greatest gem of all,” was the message of Dhruva that we came away with that evening.
Finally just as the light was beginning to fade the children were treated to a Piñata (Latin American festival game, brightly decorated papier mache container filled with goodies) hung from the nearby oak tree. Each taking turns to be blindfolded and trying to smash the piñata with a stick, it finally broke open spilling its treasure and the kids scrambled to collect the goodies - sweets, toys, balloons, whistles and streamers.
The next day after Arati, Kirttan, Breakfast and our final discussion group, ‘Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’, with some sadness we all rolled up our sleeves and began the packing and clean up. After a delicious lunch prasadam we were ready to leave and by about 3.30 we were on the road. Some devotees were going to join our preaching engagement at ‘The Green Gathering’ in Somerset while most of us were returning to the London Math and then to our homes.
With our prayers to Srila Govinda Maharaj and with the good wishes of all the devotees we hope that this will be the first of many Summer Camps from the London Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Be sure to join us next year!
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirttanam!