Cincinnati, Ohio –Twenty-one middle and high school students came together for the 10th annual Interfaith Harmony Camp. Every day from July 28th through August 1st, we visited four different religious locations as well as one non-profit youth center.
We started our day by setting expectations with Rabbi David Burstein at ish. Rabbi David led a program on how we can enter new spaces and be mindful of how the physical structure can invite us into a spiritual experience.
On Tuesday, we visited Temple Shalom, where we baked challah bread together, played a ton of games, and learned some basics about Judaism, including the importance of the Torah.
Wednesday was a doubleheader where we learned about Zoroastrianism and Islam. We met at the Zoroastrian Center in the morning and then took a field trip to the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati. There, we spent time learning about the 5 Pillars of Islam, dispelled some common myths about the religion, and had the opportunity to sit and experience the inside of the mosque.
We then returned to the Zoroastrian Center, where Zoroastrian teens and tweens held a program for us. They went through each element of a Zoroastrian service and explained what everything meant. It was highly informative. Throughout the day, our camp kids were able to play games and learn together with the Zoroastrian kids, who were also hosting their annual camp that same week. It was a gift to spend an entire day together.
On Thursday, we spent time at Westwood First Presbyterian Church. We learned what it means to be Presbyterian and also got a lesson on their organ. Their organist came out and gave us a demonstration, and then many of our students had the opportunity to play the organ. They really enjoyed that.
Thursday evening, we held our annual Interfaith Potluck Dinner, which was amazing. About 40 people attended, and we ate great food, heard from some of the students, and simply enjoyed time together.
We spent our last day of camp at the Music Resource Center in Evanston. It was a great way to end the week, as we learned about music production and did a service project. We packed school supplies and wrote a personal note of encouragement for each student. Afterward, we brainstormed further service work and fun activities we would like to do moving forward.
In total, we had six religions represented, spanning students from 5th grade through 11th grade. They did a great job entering each lesson with curiosity. By the numbers, it was our largest showing of youth in a few years. We will offer several more opportunities for students to come back together again for more learning, service, and fun. We already hosted a presentation on what is happening in Israel and Palestine, and a few students returned for that.
We’re excited about what’s ahead. With the continued support of your organization and a growing group of individual donors, we’re confident that we will be able to offer interfaith and intercultural education for years to come. Thank you!
When asked about the camp experience, here are a few responses from the campers:
“I learned about spiritual stuff and it calmed me down and I found purpose.” – Arielle
“Something meaningful that happened to me today is that I made friends and had a good time.” – Rex
“I met new friends and that was meaningful to me.” – Ivy
“I learned how to take care of the earth better” – Rose
“I liked camp because it is fun and meaningful and you should try it out.” – Nyla
“Camp is very fun, everyone is nice and inclusive, you will share lots of laughs and make memories that you will cherish for life.” – Zoe
“Camp is a great way to learn about other cultures and meet new friends” – Asher
“I met new friends and I was able to bond with people I never would have met anywhere else.” -Eden
“Friends for good has given me the opportunity to meet new friends from all different backgrounds.” -Moriah
And when we asked parents about camp, they had this to say:
Friends for Good has given my kids invaluable and lasting friendships. They have learned about different religions and traditions and were also able to share their own. The mutual understanding and empathy gained from this experience is invaluable. I would have loved to have this opportunity when I was younger. -Melissa, parent
This camp has been an excellent opportunity for my daughter to explore various religions and their practices. As you are aware, we reside in a highly volatile world where acceptance is virtually nonexistent. This camp serves as a valuable bridge that facilitates cross-cultural understanding. It is an exceptional way to spend a portion of the summer. – Regina, parent
I found them (lunch and dinner during Thursday of camp) to be positive and uplifting gatherings and am very impressed with your leadership, caring, and commitment to facilitate faith building in others. The kids were great and had caring and energetic wonderful attitudes to share. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be involved! – Mary Ellen, volunteer