The energy of Zoroastrian youth in North America was through the roof June 16th – 19th when over 30 youth members from across Toronto and North America set out to Muskoka in Ontario, Canada to enjoy a weekend of camping, bonfires, games and more.
After everyone settled in, and all tents were setup, we headed into our first activity, a treasure hunt to explore the trails at our campsite. While the group showed great sportsmanship, all but one item was found, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the ice breaker as an amazing way to get to know one another. Next up, our wonderful organizers, Fravash Chothia and Tahsheen Daruwala, who worked round the clock to ensure we were all comfortable throughout the weekend, led the opening ceremony, to brief us on the agenda and inform us of a few safety ground rules. The night ended with karaoke and dinner by the bonfire, with biryani and brownies much to everyone’s delight.
The next morning, we started out the day with yoga for the early risers – 7:30 sharp! A special group prayer was also held, and we were joined by Arzan Sam Wadia, our very own FEZANA president. We were grateful for his presence, inspiring conversations and most importantly thankful for all his support towards the youth in North America. Shortly after breakfast, there was a group workout planned and yet another fun filled activity organized that helped us bond with each other. The highlight of the afternoon post lunch was a Relationship Building workshop conducted by Kimiya Shahzadi from Michigan, who has a Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Psychology specializing in relationships and is the CEO of Love Story, a platform to learn relationship skills and receive support from experts. The evening was relaxing for most as we spent time playing card games and chess while indulging in a tasty BBQ for supper. However, the best part of the day was still to come, as several participants competed in a ‘Zoroastrians Got Talent’ show hosted by Armand Behroozi. Singing, rapping, doing a headstand for 3 minutes, teaching bird calls and multiple rounds of a staring competition were just some of the entries in the show that left us in awe of how gifted a bunch we are. A youth event seems incomplete without some music and dancing, so our hosts organized a one-of-a-kind barn party to close out the night.
Sunday morning, the group was excited to head out to the beach right after breakfast. While some of us decided to sunbathe, others played games and sports and an even more enthusiastic lot indulged in a friendly workout competition. Delicious meals, hiking and games continued through the rest of the evening.
Before we knew it, the lovely weekend had ended, Monday morning was a wrap up and the teary-eyed group headed home with lots of memories to cherish and new friendships to treasure. With the youth congress in less than a month’s time, the ZYNA California Road Trip and the recently announced Return to Roots Trip, we look forward to meeting each other again very soon.
On this note, we would like to thank everyone who joined us and those who travelled from across Canada and the United States. Special thanks to ZYNA for their support during camp and a huge thank you to the Chothia family for providing their beautiful farmhouse and facilities with us.
Written By: Nerissa Mavalvala
Photos taken by: Sanaya Nilgiriwala
