Fo Guang Shan (North Island) NZ Youth Summer Camp
On the 1st of January 2011, the youth celebrated the coming of a New Year by waking up at 5am to participate in the annual pilgrimage along with almost two hundred others. Whilst most of the youth participated in the pilgrimage, a few others helped out in the kitchen and dining service in order for the participants in the pilgrimage to have breakfast. The dining hall was super busy as a few youth took on the challenge of serving food to almost two hundred people. After breakfast, a few of the youth were extremely fortunate to be able to participate in the “Copying of the Heart Sutra Calligraphy”. This concluded the Youth’s activities for day five of Summer Camp as Venerable Rulian thought the youth deserved some rest and gave them free time for the rest of the day.
The 6th day of Summer Camp took place on the 2nd of January 2011. The youth woke up for morning chanting before Venerable Rulian showed them the dharma instruments used inside the temple. After breakfast, the Abbess took them out for walking meditation to help them improve their posture and walk in a more graceful manner. Following that, the youth participated in the Sunday Dharma Function. Once lunch was over, the youth gathered in the Guang Ming Hall to prepare for the Children Happy Camp on Friday. The youth tried their best to finish everything on time so they will be ready for the workshop the following day. In the evening, the youth helped trim bamboo and pick out weeds in the garden. Auntie Annie brought some Vegetarian buns for the youth to share as a snack after the gardening and while they ate, they shared a few laughs with each other as well as the Abbess.
On 3rd January, the youth were involved in the workshop for the Children’s Happy Camp which will take place later in the week. The workshop took place from 9am to 2pm, and consisted of finishing off all the group’s banners, chants and stories as well as going over the timetable for the Happy Camp to ensure it will run smoothly. In the evening, the youth ended their day by weeding and maintaining the garden near the side of the temple.
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