Dispatches from Camp Javakhk

Reflections from the First Day of Camp Javakhk

By U. Haigan Tcholakian, Counselor, Camp Javakhk Akhalkalak

 Mornings in Akhalkalak are nothing short of incredible. Everyone should be so lucky as to wake up to a mountain topped with lush, green trees and to be fed banir, hatz, havgit, mees, and tea by a lively Russian woman who hardly speaks Armenian or English (and who you primarily communicate with through hand gestures and sounds).

It is hard to put into words what I felt as the Camp Javakhk group walked to the Gentron (center) to meet the children of Akhalkalak on our first day of camp. The mixed emotions of excitement and anxiousness vanished as we stepped into the Gentron and were greeted by 75 big blue and green eyes (apparently blue and green eyes are prevalent in Akhalkalak). Any hardships experienced throughout the year, while planning for camp and making sure we were ready, seemed moot as soon as the Jampar commenced.

Unger Adam Aktchian of Providence and I are counselors of the eldest group in Akhalkalak, aged 10-13, and in natural AYF Camp Haiastan style, I asked my group who among them was a first-year camper. I raised my hand with those first years, as it is my first year attending the Javakhk Jampar but as a counselor. Quickly after the rest of the kids shot their hands in the sky, eager to tell me that it was their second and third years, we of course had to take a picture of that proud sight. There is nothing as special to me than seeing how much the older campers love, cherish, and value these few days at the Jampar.

As part of this Jampar, us counselors pick up the Javakhktsi par-par (dialect). Without judgment, the local campers eagerly taught me each word I was unfamiliar with. Each time was a screaming match; each of them wanted to be the one to teach me the meaning of this new word. We counselors came away from our first day of the Javakhk Jampar with a sense of accomplishment, prepared to take on another exciting day. And so the end of the first day was just how it began, gazing at the mountains topped with lush, green trees enjoying banir, hatz, havgit, mees, and tea.

 

Nothing Better than Camp Javakhk

By U. Vahe Boghosian, Counselor, Camp Javakhk Akhalkalak

A small center—the right side children, the left side parents—in the middle with a nervous counselor, myself.

U. Vahe Boghosian at Camp Javakhk
U. Vahe Boghosian at Camp Javakhk

Welcome to the first day of Camp Javakhk. It only took a few minutes in the same room with 30 8-13-year-olds to realize the pari nature of the children of Javakhk. They always offer a helping hand and rarely treat anyone with disrespect. I figure the attitude of the children must simply reflect that of their families and environment: always relaxed, always helpful and overly generous, similar to the peaceful environment and vibe in Akhalkalak.

There is no alarm better than opening the blinds to see a blue sky and the green mountains. There is no wake-up activity better than one deep breath of the clean air of Javakhk, which is so different to the polluted London air I have become accustomed to. And there is no better thing to do with my day than spend quality time with children who have an incredible thirst for knowledge, an unbelievable enthusiasm for all activities, and a heart made of gold. There is no better feeling than to see a smile too big for a little girl or boy’s face when they wave goodbye, looking forward to another day of Camp Javakhk.

 

A Day at Camp Javakhk

By U. Karin Yeni-Komshian, Counselor, Camp Javakhk Akhalkalak

We started off the third day of Camp Javakhk by taking the campers to the field, where we taught them a new Armenian dance. They learned the shoorchbar dance very quickly, so after heating up outside, we went back in for a painting activity. Some of the campers painted crosses and khatchkars, some painted Mount Ararat, and all had an Armenian flag somewhere in the picture. 

U. Karin Yeni-Komshian at Camp Javakhk
U. Karin Yeni-Komshian at Camp Javakhk

 

Once the kids had finished their masterpieces, we moved on to the day’s lecture. The first was about Khrimyan Hayrig; the kids loved the story about the paper ladle. The second part of the lecture revolved around plants and pollution. One slide showed the Earth as an ice cream cone representing global warming. We asked them why the Earth was heating up like this and a kid answered, “Because it’s ice cream!” They are honestly the funniest kids I’ve ever met, and I’m so glad I’ve had this opportunity to spend time with these wonderful campers. I can’t wait until tomorrow to spend another day with them!

Guest Contributor

Guest Contributor

Guest contributions to the Armenian Weekly are informative articles or press releases written and submitted by members of the community.

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