Camp in Beaverton teaches the vocabulary of virtues

by Nancy Haught, The Oregonian 

Saturday August 08, 2009, 6:13 AM

Benjamin Brink, The OregonianMaya Mahboubi (from left), Savannah Haygaard and Julia von Gersdorff sing along at last week’s Virtues Summer Camp at the Beaverton Baha’i Center.

Elsewhere camp songs concern five little frogs and a bear that went over the mountain. But at a camp this week in Beaverton, 50 children belt out a lively ode to courage and integrity:

This (followed by an enthusiastic stomping of feet) is where I live. (stomping) is my community.

This

This is where I do my best

With courage and integrity.

It loses something without guitar and hand motions but, clearly, this is a different kind of camp.

Benjamin Brink, The OregonianBlake Olson (front) and Nadim Adyani work on hand motions with the song they’re learning at the virtues camp in Beaverton.

Sponsored by Beaverton’s Baha’i community and New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, the four-day camp that ended Thursday named and nurtured more than a dozen virtues, including compassion, patience, truthfulness and responsibility. The goal was for each child to learn the language of virtues, practice a few of them and take home tools to become a better person.

“Each child is like a seed — having the potential to be a ‘good’ tree,” said Delaram Hakiman-Adyani, who directed the Virtues Summer Camp along with Bethany Quillinan. Both are well-versed in The Virtues Project, a grass-roots, global initiative active in 85 countries.

The directors — and the campers’ parents — believe that devoting time and attention to virtues encourages children to develop character traits that will improve their lives and sustain what is good in the world around them.

Benjamin Brink, The OregonianRussell Wright, 11, works on a knitting project with Alicia Geli, a volunteer at the Virtues Summer Camp.

Tuesday’s virtues are respect and courtesy. A wiggly group of 7- and 8-year-olds brainstorms on how to show those virtues.

“Respect everybody’s space,” says a girl who may have heard the admonition many times.

“If there’s a sign on the door that says, ‘Don’t come into my room,’ respect it,” says a boy who sounds like he might have an older sibling.

Courtesy is harder to pin down. Hands fly up, each quickly followed by an “umm” as campers rack their brains for actual examples.

“How about raising your hands when you want to speak?” a leader asks. “Ah,” the children say and look at each other knowingly.

“Saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?” another leader suggests.

“Ah.”

At snack time, over a mini-bagel and cream cheese, Arin Johnson, 8, talks about Monday’s virtue, responsibility.

“So, like if you were playing with somebody, and there were your toys and their toys and you’re playing with them, then when you’re done, you both pick them up,” she says.

After snacks, the older kids gather with balls of yarn and long, white knitting needles on the grass behind Beaverton Baha’i Center. Half a dozen volunteers are teaching the boys and girls to cast on stitches and practice respect and courtesy.

Kia Bagha, 8, is proud that he’s managed to cast on almost 20 stitches.

“I figured it out on my own,” he says.

“Let me see how you’ve done that,” the knitting teacher asks courteously. She turns the needle over and pulls on the yarn. It’s not the method she’s been teaching, but she respects the camper’s efforts.

“That’ll work,” she declares, and moves on to the next young knitter.

As campers move from activity to activity, many of their parents are taking a course offered by the camp on nurturing virtues at home. During a break, Ariel Peterson says her 5-year-old son, Nick, is “attached to superheroes.”

“I know that presents a problem for a lot of parents,” she says. But she tries to expand conversations with Nick beyond who’s good and bad in any given superhero situation.

“What makes a superhero good?” she asks her son. And they talk about what it means to be courageous, courteous and helpful. She hopes the virtues summer camp will underline her efforts at home.

Michelle Butler hopes enriching her children with virtues — as well as with swimming lessons and days at zoo camp — will help Sam, 8, and Will, 5, realize that the character traits Mom stresses are important to other people, too.

By noon, the children follow the sounds of guitar chords and gather in the main room. Jennifer Russell, who’s written and recorded a CD of virtues songs, is in the house. She and her husband, guitarist Michael Gayle, introduce a song on courtesy.

A driving beat and snappy dance moves turn the day camp crowd into an amateur production number. Fifty kids clap their hands, turning their heads from side to side, as they jump and sing along:

Courtesy treats others with value.

It asks instead of demands.

Courtesy says “please” and “thank you.”

It welcomes others and shakes hands.

“Reach out your right hand to your partner,” Russell calls. And then the chorus really rocks the room:

Hello, how are you, Courtesy? (with a shimmy) good.

Courtesy, you make me feel

Everyone’s important when you’re around.

You bring respect to my neighborhood.

 “Virtues are what’s good about us.”

 Sharon, age 6  from the Virtues Project™

The Bahá’í Community of Beaverton and New Thought Center for Spiritual Living (NTCSL) are joyful co-sponsors of a Spiritual Virtues Summer Camp for children, ages 4-12 

DATES: First Week in AUGUST (Mon.-Thurs.)

TIME: 9:30 am to 1:00 pm

LOCATION: Beaverton Baha’i Center, 5355 SW Murray Blvd. Beaverton, Oregon, 97005

NEW: Parenting with Virtues Class

Participants will be welcomed into a warm and accepting space where they will be gently guided to discover the gifts of virtues that live within them. Virtues are qualities of the heart and the content of our character. We will foster playful age-appropriate environments, both indoors and outdoors, to practice the virtues and explore their meaning. Children will have the opportunity to make new friends and experience unity between spiritual communities. All children are welcome!

The Spiritual Virtues Summer Camp content is based on the global work of the Virtues Project™, an initiative honored by the United Nations that provides the principles and tools to empower people to live by their highest values.

“All major religious traditions carry basically the same message— that is love, compassion and forgiveness—the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives” The Dalai Lama

Camp Virtues

Joyfulness,Compassion, Helpfulness,Peacefulness, Patience, Service, Cooperation, Forgiveness, Generosity, Excellence, Joyfulness, Justice, Love, Truthfulness, Obedience, Trust, Respect, Gentleness, Understanding, Responsibility, Unity

Inspiration also comes through the Seeds of Compassion™ movementin which numerous religious leaders—including His High Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu—have united to discuss the teaching of compassion to children and youth.

In addition, material is supplied from the internationally-studied Ruhi Institute courses from the Bahá’í Faith. Ruhi teachings give great attention to the development of spiritual qualities and to those beliefs, habits and behaviors that constitute the essential attributes of a spiritual being.

Resources:

www.seedsofcompassion.org

www.virtuesproject.com

www.ruhiresources.org

PARENT INVOLVEMENT 

A Spiritual Parenting Support Group will be offered daily during the Virtues Camp. Parents are invited to attend any or all sessions. We’ll use this time to make positive connections and support each other in bringing the gifts of the virtues to our parenting and family life.

Parents are also welcomed as volunteers; there are a variety of ways to serve inside and outside the classrooms.

Childcare for children younger than 4 years old will be provided at no charge to parents attending the support group or volunteering. Please choose these options on the registration form and include info for children under 4 years old.

DISCOUNTS

Discounted rates are offered for parents who can volunteer for at least 3 hours; please indicate your availability by taking the discount on the registration form. Financial aid is available through the sponsoring organizations. See contact info.

CAMP REGISTRATION INCLUDES:

Ü     Teachers and youth mentors trained in the spiritual education
of children.

Ü     Fellowship activities focused on the virtue of the day that incorporate:

o         Prayer

o         Music 

o         Dance

o         Drama

o         Stories

o         Art

o         Science

Ü     Service Projects— in collaboration with HandsonGreaterPortland and Loaves& Fishes Centers- Plus opportunities for all community members and families to be of service in the afternoons… 

*    Stay Connected after the Camp is over!  Volunteer together in 2009-2010… with follow-up activities.

*    Special Guests—- Creative Recycled Art with Omid; Kind Knitting with Selena and Daniela; Canvas Rug Tapestry with Ellen; Respectful Science with Henrique; Joyful Music and Movement with Jennifer and Michael and much more!

Ü     Healthy snack daily — Balancing Generosity and Moderation!

Ü     Camp Journal — Honoring our Spirit!

Ü     Virtues Camp T-shirt – Beautiful design by Pamela!

 ” So Powerful is the light of unity, that is can illuminate the whole earth.” Baha’u'llahá′u′ll“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”  áhu′“So

 For information or to volunteer, please contact:

Beaverton Bahá’í Center

Delaram Adyani: 503-267-0202
email: mehdel@pacifier.com

New Thought Center for Spiritual Living

Bethany Quillinan: 503-287-5003
email: virtues2be@msn.com

* After noon of Service: Aug. 3-4-5 2009—- 12:30pm- 2pm — Registration is helpful but not required! Please visit  HandsOnGreaterPortland  for details and information on how to sign up for any of the service projects and volunteer opportunities.

Afternoon Cookies,Conversation and Service at the  Beaverton Baha’i Center  All are Welcome!

2009 Summer Camp Registration Form PDF

  New Virtues Game!
  A timeless resource book!

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Calling all Virtues Camp alumni, families & friends: Join us for another SERVICE PROJECT and get a complimentary deck of family Virutes Cards!

 Make Creative Cards for the troops overseas

Write Love Letters to seniors in our neighborhoods

December 5, 2009

Beaverton Baha’i Center

2-4pm

To volunteer, sign up at handsonportland.org

“I look for opportunities to be of service. I do not wait to be asked. I am thoughtful of others. I make a difference in the world.” Family Virtues Card ~ SERVICE

THANK YOU Virtues Camp families and friends  for another great Service Project with HandsOnPortland!  Together we made 200 cards… with Creativity and Compassion!

Summer Camp 2009 Regstration Forms PDF File 

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Virtues Summer Day Camp: August 2-5, 2010. Beaverton, Oregon, Children ages 4-12, and Parenting with Virtues Class: Registration opens in May! Space is limited! 2010 Summer Camp Registration Form.
2010 Summer Camp Pamphlet

Please see precious moments and 2010 pictures at the following website: