Why Camp Desi Roots?
We build awareness and pride in our immigrant roots
Our kids live in a world of exclusion and othering, where knowing who we are, truly looking deep into ourselves and our shared stories is a necessary anchor to help us stay grounded and true to ourselves. Our kids need intentional spaces where they learn about themselves, their families, and each other in meaningful ways, where they take pride in their Desi roots.
We foster a sense of belonging
We are a large, extended South Asian family at Camp Desi Roots. All our kids belong, all our kids’ voices matter. We create space for each other, we affirm each other, we accept each other as we are, and we push each other to be our best selves, all while having fun! It is profoundly transformative to be surrounded by kids and adults who look like you, who might be struggling with the same things you are, who make you feel like you are powerful, you belong, you matter.
We build deep, meaningful connections
Our camps are intentionally designed to be an intimate experience for kids, where they can both enjoy an afternoon of swimming, archery, and hiking together, as well as participate in meaningful immersion workshops where they reflect on who they are and where they come from.
What makes us different from other camps?
Our camps are inclusive of all countries and religions of South Asia.
We very intentionally chose to create a space for youth who trace their roots to the South Asian subcontinent - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka - regardless of their faith background. Our goal is to create an inclusive space that transcends the boundaries between the often divided countries and faiths in South Asia. We don’t purport to be “cultural experts,” neither is our goal to impart cultural knowledge specific to certain countries or religions - rather, our goal is to create spaces where South Asian youth can reflect on, and feel empowered by their cultural identities, their family histories, and the larger experiences of the South Asian diaspora.
Our camps are welcoming to South Asian families of all socio economic backgrounds.
Anoop and I grew up not knowing what it was like to go to sleepaway camp because our families couldn’t afford to send us. We have very intentionally designed our camp to be welcoming to families from the entire spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds. We raised $10,000 last year to provide full and partial scholarships to families in need, because we believe all South Asian kids deserve the opportunity to experience overnight camp, and that there is beauty and richness in our differences..
Unlike most traditional sleepaway camps, we are not only activity-based - though we do offer a wide range of traditional camp activities for our kids, our camps are, at heart, substantive and educational, and we thoughtfully curate readings and design curricula that both inspire and challenge our kids’ thinking. Our goal is for our kids to leave our camp wanting to learn more about themselves and their desi roots.