Hindu Heritage Summer Camp

View a Typical Camp Day: It is quite busy! Below are links to the full camp schedule.
Parents may attend and observe the below programs. Note: Parents are not permitted to attend other camp activities, pull your camper away from a given camp activity, or go to the cabin grounds. This takes away from the camper experience and causes campers to get distracted. Campers whose parents are not able to visit may feel left out / homesick

• Campfire | 1st Mon
• Devi Puja | 1st Fri, 2nd Wed
• Special Puja | Sat
• Vedic Lunch | Sun
• Talent Show | 2nd Thu

Session 1 Schedule | Session 2 Schedule

Please note that the schedule may change.

Please see the Camp Packing List and Dress Code Policy and note the following:

• The cabins are not air conditioned / heated. Cabins have a ceiling exhaust fan, sliding windows, and floor fans. It can get hot or cold during the camp day/night
• Campers will be sleeping on twin-sized mattresses in bunk beds
• Food & snacks are not allowed in the cabins and will be confiscated. There are three reasons we do not allow food & snacks: (1) Bug/animal infestation in the cabins, (2) Some campers have life-threatening allergic reactions to certain foods such as nuts and (3) It can result in feelings of unfairness or homesickness for campers who see other campers eating food they brought from home or outside
• There are messy events where dirty/muddy/may need to be thrown away(e.g., Carnival, Earth Olympics, Holi), religious/cultural events where Indian attire is required (e.g., Devi Puja, Temple Trip), and special events where campers like to dress nice (e.g., Dance, Talent Show, Award Ceremony)
• Please note that we have campers, counselors, and volunteers of all ages at the camp. We want everyone to feel comfortable and proud of their bodies. If clothing does not comply with the Camp Dress Code Policy then campers, counselors, and/or volunteers will be asked to change
• There are water fountains by the cabins and in the main buildings to fill up water bottles
• Please note that local parents should NOT pickup or do their child's laundry. We want all campers to participate in the camp laundry process as a part of their self independence and bonding with cabin mates
• Please note that more often than not some clothing will be lost. Thus we advise against packing anything of high value

HHSC can provide transportation to and from the Rochester airport, bus station, or train station and the campgrounds. Please visit the Camp Fees 'Transportation To and From Campgrounds' section for more information and fill out the HHSC Travel Form prior to June 1

Boys cabins are mixed age while girls cabins are organized by age (younger, middle, and older cabin). Note: We have tried mixed age cabins for girls, but our end of camp evaluations have indicated that this does not work well.

• Older boys act as role models for the younger boy campers in the cabin and generally work well together. They see each others as brothers.
• Since girl cabins are organized by age, there will be some ages that get split across two cabins. However, many camp activities are age based.
• Choosing a cabin pal during registration is allowed only for first year campers.

Campers receive 3 meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) and two snacks (Afternoon, Evening)

• All meals are vegetarian and nut free
• We accommodate for non-dairy, eggless, gluten-free, gelatin free, etc. as long as information was provided in the medical form. Note: please inform us of all food allergies including nut allergies so the medical staff is aware in case of an emergency
• Nearly all meals are prepared on the facility by volunteers. We order Subway sandwiches and pizza once for the campers

Typical Meal Setup

• Breakfast: Milk, cereal, orange juice and main item (bagels, waffles, toast, muffins)
• Lunch: American food (baked ziti, mac & cheese, sandwiches, tacos, etc.) + salad
• Afternoon Snack: Fruit + snack (e.g. crackers, cookies, etc.)
• Dinner: Typically Indian food (rice, chapati, sabji, daal), but can also include Thai, Italian, Mexican
• Evening Snack: Fruit + snack (e.g. crackers, cookies, etc.) + milk

If your child has more complex dietary needs then please email us at hhsc.register+inquires@gmail.com

We will try to address some of the common questions asked:

Too Young: My child is only 8 years old. I do not think they are ready to go to an overnight camp?

Over our 45+ years we have seen and cared for a variety of camper needs. One of the most common things we hear campers say is "I wish I had started coming to camp earlier". Below are a few key considerations that might help you with making a decision

• We typically have 30% of campers in the 8-10 year old range, 30% in the 11-12 year old range, and 40% in the 13+ year old range. Many activities are organized around age group.
• Read about the Benefits of Summer Camp from the American Camp Association. Campers often develop greater self-confidence by making new friendships and doing things they were afraid to do at first. We have even heard parents say things like "my child became a less picky eater" after attending the camp.
• While not limited to the youngest age group, homesickness is not uncommon among them. Our counselors and staff are well trained on it (see the FAQ on counselor training and safety). There are key things you as a parent can do to support your child - Homesickness Dos and Don’ts for Parents Preparing for Camp.

Not every child is ready for a 2 week overnight summer camp. We highly recommend reading through the article above and doing some practice like sleepovers before sending your child to camp. When a camper leaves the camp early, it often brings down the cabin's moral and can trigger domino effects for other campers, which is very challenging for our staff.

Too Old: My child is 13+ years old. Is this camp good for older campers?

13+ campers tend to make up the majority of our campers (see above). The older campers form bonds with their counselors and campers younger than them. They become role models to the younger campers and are treated as older brothers and sisters. Many older campers take on additional responsibility at camp to support their counselors and cabin groups. In the evenings, these older campers engage in group sharing where they discuss topics and issues facing teenagers and Hindu Americans today.

If your child is a returning camper that is 13+ years old, we encourage him/her to apply for Karma Yoga Scholars (KYS) Program

Special Needs / Disabilities: What if my child has special needs or disabilities?

Unfortunately, our camp and staff are not trained to support campers with special needs or disabilities at this time.

If this does not address your concerns then please email us at hhsc.register+inquires@gmail.com

Counselor Training: How will I know my child will be in good hands during camp?

All counselors are First Aid/CPR certified and attend Counselor Training Week (CTW) where they complete training on common camp scenarios including homesickness, conflict resolution, and bullying.

• During training counselors run through many role playing scenarios to act out common camp scenarios like homesickness, bed wetting, picky eaters, or verbal/physical disputes to protect the campers and help them mature where appropriate
• Counselors are trained to escalate repetitive / major issues (e.g., bullying, harassment, and/or social/emotional health concerns) to the directors, medical team, and board members
• Each counselor is assigned 3-5 campers in their cabin for whom they are made aware of any allergies, food restrictions, and/or medications. This counselor is also the camper's main point of contact including if they need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

Camp Oversight: What is the level of oversight for my camper?

In addition to the counselors (ages 16-19) and directors (ages 19-22), there are always 2-3 board members, a medical professional with a medical assistant, and parent volunteers present on the campgrounds.

• The medical staff oversee distribution of daily medications, addressing common symptoms like runny nose/cough/cold, and minor bruises and injuries. In the case of anything more serious, we will take the camper to an urgent care / emergency room and contact the parents - please see FAQ regarding medical emergencies for more information.
• During sleeping hours, there is a security guard on the campgrounds to make sure no campers or counselors are staying up late, sneaking out at night, and ensure that any campers going to the bathhouse in the middle of the night are accompanied by a counselor.
• When the board or medical team is informed of a concern such as bullying, harassment, or social/emotional health concerns, then we will directly work with the campers involved. We will contact parents/guardians in these cases.
• While we are typically informed of concerns through our counselors and directors, there are designated "guidance counselors" (board members) that are introduced to the campers on the first day to whom campers can go to if they have any concerns.

If there is a conflict and your child cannot fully attend either session then please apply next year.

Campers bond very closely with their fellow campers and counselors and missing camp events takes away from this. It also causes inconveniences to the counselors and staff running the camp who are keeping track of every camper and planning activities based on the total camper count.

The camp withdrawal policy is explained on the Camp Fees page

Sunday Drop Off: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• When campers arrive, they will need to go through the registration process to (1) Find out their cabin and special counselor, (2) Share any medications and missing medical information with the medical team, (3) Move into their cabins and (4) Head to new games where they will get to start meeting other campers. Our staff and counselors will help throughout this process
• We host a parent lunch (12:00-1:00 PM) and parent orientation (1:00-2:00 PM) that we encourage all parents to attend
• We request that campers traveling by flight/bus/train also target these times to the best of their abilities

Saturday Pick Up: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• When campers depart, please sign them out with their cabin head.
• We host a parent show (11:00-11:30 AM) to demonstrate what campers have learned during the camp and a parent lunch (11:30-12:15 PM) that we encourage all parents to attend
• We request that campers traveling by flight/bus/train also target these times to the best of their abilities

If your camper is traveling by flight/bus/train then please visit the Camp Fees 'Transportation To and From Campgrounds' section for more information and fill out the HHSC Travel Form

We have a strict NO-PHONE policy at the camp. Many camp alumni reflect on how great it was to spend two weeks device free.

• Campers will be given a chance to call home every 3rd day typically between 4:30 and 6:15 PM. The phones do not support video chatting. Calls will be limited to 8 min. Note that we do not force the campers to call home. When I was a camper, I was often caught up with camp activities and playing with friends that I rarely called home.
• Phone calls can increase homesickness. Please read the American Camp Association (ACA) article on Homesickness Dos and Don’ts for Parents Preparing for Camp. It is important to provide supportive language (e.g., "I am so proud of you for trying something new.", "We know you will do well."), avoid talking about things that will make them miss home more (e.g., "You brother misses you so much", "We made your favorite meal today and were missing you so much"), or offer a pickup clause (e.g., "just stay till Sunday and if you do not like it then we will pick you up."). While counter-intuitive, the phone calls themselves can often trigger more homesickness and thus it may be better to avoid their calls.
• One of best way to stay in touch with your child is via written mail. While it is old fashioned, we encourage campers and parents to send written mail. Campers really enjoy receiving mail. For Harry Potter fans, it can feel like being at Hogwarts:)
• Please visit our social media pages (hyperlinks found in the navigation bar on the website) to view daily posts on what the campers were doing all day. We try our best to capture at least one photo with each camper.
• If there is an emergency or major issue with your camper, then we will contact you.
• In the case of a family emergency that requires you to get in contact with your camper, please refer to the Contact Us page

Please do not send your child a care package unless you are sending something for the entire camp. If it is their birthday during camp, we will reach out to you prior to camp and will ask that you make a donation to pay for cake for the entire camp. Cake becomes the afternoon or evening snack the day and all the campers will sing Happy Birthday to your camper.

• Please remember that food is not allowed in the cabins for three reasons: (1) Bug/animal infestation in the cabins, (2) Some campers have life-threatening allergic reactions to certain foods such as nuts and (3) It can result in feelings of unfairness or homesickness for campers who see other campers eating food they brought from home or outside
• "Fairness" is really important at summer camp. If one camper receives food or other items that others do not then it can lead conflicts and worsen homesickness for other campers.
• If you are interested in doing something special for the entire like getting / donating ice cream sandwiches, then please Contact Us directly to discuss so as we can ensure we account for any food allergies / restrictions.

There are three main reasons a camper may go home early

#1 Homesickness

Please refer to FAQs on "Camper Readiness" and "Phone Calls, Homesickness, & Emergencies" regarding homesickness.

• Not every child is ready for a 2 week overnight summer camp. We highly recommend reading the American Camp Association (ACA) article on Homesickness Dos and Don’ts for Parents Preparing for Camp.
• While our staff is equipped to support certain levels of homesickness, if it becomes too severe and is distracting our staff from attending to the needs of the other campers, then we may ask your to pick-up your child.

#2 Misbehavior

We want the camp environment to feel friendly, safe, and fun for all campers, counselors, and staff. Campers are kids and there will naturally be some amount of misbehavior. Our staff is well versed in handling most behavioral issues. However, repeated misbehavior or actions that impede on other campers' physical/mental/emotional well-being may result in removal from the camp

• If a more severe issue occurs (e.g., bullying, verbal/physical harassment), then the alleged camper(s) involved will be asked to provide a written statement and may be interviewed. If the camp staff feels it is too severe or repetitive, then we will inform parents of the involved campers and may remove a camper from the camp.
• It can be difficult for parents to accept that their child was involved in a severe issue requiring removal from the camp. Note: We do not believe these are bad campers, but their actions have resulted in a unsafe environment for other campers. We hope that they learn from the situation and come back in a future year.
• If a camper is removed from the camp then we strongly encourage parents to pick them up as soon as possible. Staying on the campgrounds without being able to participate in camp activities is difficult. The camper will be moved to the Board/Volunteer quarters for sleeping, showering, etc. The camper will receive all meals and be under supervision at all times. However, they will not be able to participate in any camp activities as it may evoke fear for other campers.

#3 Health & Wellbeing

If a camper expresses mental or emotional health concerns (e.g., feelings of harm towards oneself or others, severe social anxiety, drug dependency) and our medical staff is not equipped to handle the situation, then we may contact you to pick up your child as soon as possible.

• Please refer to the FAQ on "Phone Calls, Homesickness, & Emergencies" regarding any medical emergencies. In these cases you will be informed and can make a decision in the best interest of your child.
• We may need to remove your camper from the camp. See above on how this is handled.

Please note that we do not offer any refunds in these cases.

On the evening of the last day of camp (Friday night), we return phones to the campers as many will be leaving early the next day. Campers and counselors will often exchange contact information during this time and stay connected through various methods. We used to create and distribute a camp contact list, but were informed that it is not used and have thus stopped. Feel free to reach out to us directly if your camper is looking for a particular person's contact and we will do our best to help.

Please email us at hhsc.register+inquires@gmail.com

• If the item is labelled (e.g., initials on tags) then we will check our lost and found to see if it can be identified. Note: Items that are not labelled are very difficult for us to search against and we are unlikely to help in these situations
• Depending on the item, we may require you to cover any mailing costs.

Unfortunately, we do not offer any other programs at this time. We encourage campers to continue to practice pujas, shlokas, and bhajans on their own and participate in activities / classes at their local Hindu temple.

Attached is our recommended book list to get you started. Please note that this is just a beginner/starting guide. There are many more wonderful books available. We encourage you to explore others and share with us.