When you think of the word camp, you might envision bonfire songs, marshmallow roasting, and hiking.
Whatever you imagine, it definitely does not come close to the quiet magic of Camp Desi Roots.
It felt like home.
For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by people like me. For the first time in my life, I didn’t feel the pressure of fitting in, of having to watch the same movies and listen to the same artists as everyone else. For the first time in my life, I felt like both an individual and part of a larger community.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t have to speak to be understood.
I instantly bonded. We stayed up whispering long past midnight until the effort of opening our mouths caused us to collapse from sheer exhaustion. When we finally awoke, I always felt like how I imagined downing a gallon of espresso felt like. Even when I was tired, the sound of South Asian music playing softly from the common room reminded me that I wasn’t just dreaming—I was living the dream.
Even when I went to sleep at 1:00 AM in the morning and woke at 8:00 AM, the promise of the day’s activities always got me up. Sometimes we had yoga, we always had lake time—kayaking, canoeing, swimming, building in the sand, and watersliding—and we occasionally had archery, but we always had fun.
Whether it was a cultural or typical camp experience, it was always enjoyed. But whatever it was, there was always a twist. We had a block-printing class…on protest saris. We went fishing…but always put them back. We had activities…but some were kid-led.
In our free time, some went to read or draw or write by themselves. Most consistently joined their friends, whether in a game of tennis or basketball or to make bracelets and swing in the hammocks.
We made friends, but they weren’t just surface-level friends. They went deeper. They understood and heard. You didn’t have to move your tongue to converse.
We had games. Sometimes the hula-hoops split in half and sometimes no one understood the rules, sometimes it was chaos and sometimes it was unplanned, but it always ended up working out. And it was always fun to pretend-complain that the spaces between players on the other team when they were the the chasers in Kho-Kho were a fraction of a millimeter too small.
But we connected and laughed in the moment. Later we might go our separate ways, but the random assignment of teams brought us together—all of us.
And finally, saddest but most spectacular, we had the talent show.
It was a showcase of inspiration, of wit, of magic, of the very spirit of Camp Desi Roots. In the last year, several people practiced songs or raps, or made beautiful art, which was showcased / performed at the talent show—which, last year, was called Family Night: when we showcased our family history and our story of self.
Camp Desi Roots is about learning others’ stories.
Camp Desi Roots is about inspiration.
Camp Desi Roots is about belonging in this beautiful community even when you feel down.
Camp Desi Roots is about being together.
Camp Desi Roots is about stepping into your power.
