Impressions from AYF Camp Haiastan

AYF Camp Haiastan, Thank You for My Second Home

By Sanan Malkadjian

There aren’t many words to describe the feeling of being “home” again. Emotions rise and smiles become the norm as you make the AYF Camp Haiastan grounds your home for two weeks. Right when you reach the steps of camp, you realize that everything you need is right in front of you and every second is golden because it ends sooner than you think. The atmosphere and the environment lift your heart. All of the ungers/ungerouhis become like your parents, and the campers become the brothers and sisters you have always wanted.

AYF Camp Haiastan is certainly the best place on Earth. It is a prime example of how the Armenian youth are so powerful. So many Armenians gather around the country to preserve and share their culture. Everyone becomes one big, happy family that you grow and create networks with.

The past two weeks at AYF Camp Haiastan made me realize how lucky I am to be Armenian and how the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime. Not only did we learn more about our history, but we learned how to make a difference. Each day at camp would just get better. If I could use two words to sum up my experience at camp it would simply be thank you. Not only thank you to my counselors and friends for making my two weeks the best they could be, but a thank you to the AYF-YOARF for having a camp I call my second home.

My Beautiful Home: AYF Camp Haiastan

By Lucille Barberian

Home: A place where one lives permanently.

AYF Camp Haiastan is my home, not physically but emotionally, because camp will be permanently engraved in my heart until the end of time. My years spent at camp have structured me into a more loving and hopeful person. I have learned that there are good people in this world who are just like me, yet so different.

Our campground in Franklin, Mass., is beautiful in every sense of the word. Camp is beautiful for sentences I cannot pull together to describe, and pictures that will never do it justice. Camp is beautiful because the two weeks we share together allow Armenians to be themselves in an environment that accepts everyone. AYF Camp Haiastan forms relationships with others, from across the country and even sometimes the world, that can never be broken. Camp offers shelter, food, love, and entertainment. We have our own world at camp, away from the real world, that enables and encourages campers much like myself to be proud to be Armenian.

Not only has AYF Camp Haiastan opened my eyes to be proud of who I am, but it has shown me that if being yourself, for whatever reason, is not accepted anywhere else, being yourself is accepted here. I am so blessed to have experienced the memories, people, and events at AYF Camp Haiastan, and I am forever proud to be Armenian and to call this beautiful place my home.

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AYF Camp Haiastan is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my Armenian life. At AYF Camp Haiastan, you will have the best two weeks of your life. You will make unforgettable friendships with people that you never knew existed. You will spend two weeks learning the true meaning of being an Armenian through the Armenian school and lecture night. At the greatest place on earth, I have met some of my closest friends. If it weren’t for camp, I wouldn’t be who I am today. Personally, I enjoy the sports. Camp Haiastan provides a variety of different sports such as soccer, basketball, kickball, archery, nuke-em, volleyball, hockey, and more. Camp is the greatest place on earth and if you haven’t been yet, consider signing up because it will change you forever.

–Shant Alashaian, New Jersey, 13

Hello. My name is Patil Tcholakian and I’m from Detroit. This is my 8^th year here at Camp Haiastan and every year I come back it gets better and better. Camp is a great place to come to make lifelong friends. You get to spend two weeks with your best friends and have the time of your life. You do all sorts of activities like archery, soccer, basketball, hockey, volleyball, waterfront, Armenian school, and lots of other fun things. Camp is a place to come to have fun and learn about your Armenian culture. You can come to camp not knowing anything about being Armenian and you can leave knowing more than you imagined, thanks to Armenian school. You also have night activities that are really fun. We do detective game, talent show, lecture night, movie night, game night, bowling, song night, and lots more. One of the main reasons why I love camp is coming to see all of my friends that I haven’t seen in forever. Everyone who doesn’t go to camp should come because they should experience the feeling of a lifetime. It truly is the best place on earth.

–Patil Tcholakian, Detroit, 14

My name is Christie Lauren. I am 9 years old and this is my 3^rd year at camp. Camp Haiastan is great because it gives you a chance to learn responsibility, like managing the time that you take in the shower, waking up early, and getting dressed quickly. Another reason that camp is great is that you get to do activities that you may have never tried before, like our ropes course, boating, fishing, and more. One more reason that you will love Camp Haiastan is that you get closer to where your family is from and where all of our families are from—Armenia. Also Camp Haiastan gives you the best summer of your life with memories that you will always cherish.

–Christie Lauren Blonkvist, Connecticut, 9

Hello. My name is Melanie Simonian and I am 9 years old. This is my first year at Camp, and so far camp is really fun! I am in a cabin with five other girls. Their names are Maral, Christie Lauren, Sophia, Tanya, and Lori! My counselors’ names are Ungerouhi Narine and Ungerouhi Dzovig. My favorite activity is waterfront! Every day I can get things at camp store like candy, ice cream, water bottles, and even T-shirts! It’s awesome! These are just some things you can do at Camp Haiastan.

–Melanie Simonian, Providence, 9

My name is Ava. I go to Camp Haiastan and I love it! It’s a great way to meet new people and get together with your friends. In Armenian school, they teach you so much! Some things we learned were about the Genocide and how to speak, read, and write Armenian. Also, I love when we are able to dance and cook so when you go home you can show off your talents!

–Ava Hagopian, New Jersey, 13

My name is Alena Tarpinian and I am 13 years old. This is my 5^th year at camp. I like coming to camp because I like to see all my Armenian friends and do Armenian things. At camp, I’ve learned how to fold the Armenian flag, cook some Armenian foods, and I’ve learned so much about Armenian history. I think it’s important to learn about Armenian history and culture and I’m glad I can come to camp and do that.

–Alena Tarpinian, New Jersey, 13

My name is Alexa Rathbun and I am a camper from Camp Haiastan. I love coming to camp because I get to see my cousins and Armenian friends. At Armenian school, I learn a lot about our history and the Armenian Genocide. I also learn how to write my name in Armenian and fold the Armenian flag. I love camp and all the people that come because we all connect and work together. Camp is so much fun!

–Alexa Rathbun, New Jersey, 13

I came to camp because my dad says that it’s an important thing to do. Here, I have learned why it’s important. We do flag raising and lowering and that shows we respect Armenian customs. We say prayers before meals to practice our religion. We attend Armenian school to learn about our history and language. We play around and have fun as well. All these things we do show that even though we may be a small and unknown nation, our culture is still thriving today.

–Taleen Postian, New Jersey, 12