July 16-23, 2006
Houston, TX
Between July 16 and July 23, 2006, 137 balikas and kishoris from various parts of North America gathered in Houston, TX to attend the 2nd annual Balika-Kishori Training Camp. The theme of the camp, Saat Sameliya- Many Talents, One Goal. Satsang, reflects how our exemplary Gurus have encouraged the developments of talents with one united goal in mind: to further one's Satsang.
After a rigorous application process which included written essays and letters of recommendations, 106 balikas and kishoris between ages of 11-17 were accepted for training. Balikas and Kishoris who had attended the training camp in 2005 reapplied this year for an intermediate level of training. Of these applicants, 31 balikas and kishoris were chosen.
To further enhance their skills, attendees took writing and public speaking classes and two talent-development electives for six full days. Available electives included dance, arts and crafts, music, and multimedia. Specialized trainers in these areas came from across North America and volunteered their time to teach and create a formal learning experience.
At the end of the last day of classes, a graduation ceremony was held in which each attendee was given a certificate along with several memorabilia gifts to commemorate their efforts throughout the training. The camp ended with an outing to Moody Gardens, in Galveston, Texas.
By the inspiration and grace of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the second annual Balika-Kishori Training Camp was another successful milestone for the development of the Balika-Kishori Mandals in North America.