CMWRC Youth Camp 2020: “Our Culture in Pop Culture”
Anuradha Pajjur
Due to the Covid-19 situation, the Youth Camp was held online, from July 13 th – 17 th , from 3pm
to 5pm. The largest high school camp in Chinmaya Mission West came together daily for 2
hours of engaging discourse, discussion, dialogue, and dynamic activity. The camp’s theme was
“Our Culture in Pop Culture.”
Vivekji explained how movies were like maps for meaningful messages, just like our shastras.
Campers watched parts of the movies such as Unfiltered and The Dark Knight – exploring the
filters that we place on our own experiences and analyzing the evolution from
tamas/rajas/sattva and the "antidotes" for each guna. They learned that Media teaches us to
commune, Movies teach us to adapt, and Music teaches us to embrace — just like the sadguru!
They explored the messages embedded in music from MC Yogi's tracks, "Road Home" and
"Heaven is Here." They drew insights into the higher lessons we can learn from sports and
engaged in a photo walk – taking insightful photos showing agility, endurance, friendship,
communication, and vision. They also made a mini-zine, allowing them to do a self-love
inventory of their BMI, writing to their younger selves, and decorating the zine with a self-
portrait!
Overall, the students learned how to use every moment in their lives as an opportunity and use
pop culture in the best of ways by gaining a new perspective on how to enjoy media, music,
movies, and sports and drawing the connections between culture and Creator.
Campers reported having really enjoyed the camp and appreciated Vivekji’s guidance.