Camp Fatehgarh 2025
August 2 through August 9
At Camp Winnebago
102 Timberbrook Rd, Rockaway NJ 07866
Camp Fatehgarh held in New Jersey, June 29 – July 6, 2024.
Campers on the final day.
This year Camp Fatehgarh, www.campfatehgarh.org a Sikh youth overnight camp, was held from June 29 – Julu 6, 2024 at Camp Winnebago, in Rockaway, NJ, a very scenic 400-acre Scout camp. There were 75 campers mostly from the tri-state area, but some from out of the area travelling long distances from Virginia, Kansas and Florida to be at the Camp Fatehgarh.
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This year the adult volunteers which included Sutinder Singh, Dr. Mehtab Singh, Dr. Ajay Partap Singh, Jasbir Kaur, Dr. Mohandeep Singh, Harjot Singh, Jaspal Singh, Harshpreet Singh, Satinder Singh, Rashmeet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur (PA), Roopreet Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Khushdeep Kaur, Neetu Kaur, Parvinder Kaur, Amarjit Kaur, Manpreet Kaur (NJ) Maninder Kaur, Dr. Manpreet Singh, Nishan Kaur, Harmohinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Sarabjit Singh and Kavneet Singh with the help of some wonderful young ‘counselors in training’ like Arjan Singh, Amitoj Singh, Jashen Singh, Devinder Singh, Pratham Singh, Jasleen Kaur, Giselle Kaur, Taig Singh and Azad Partap Singh who ran a very organized camping experience, by engaging the campers and enthusing them with the Sikh spirit.
Dr. Mehtab Singh holding the kirtan class.
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​The campers were up by 5:30 a.m. every morning for an early start. The morning session started at 6:15 a.m. with nitnem, learning how to take the ‘vaak’, and doing kirtan. Each camper took turns learning to take the ‘hukam’ and doing the ardas, regardless of age. Campers as young as 7 to 17 participated in active discussions and questions during the camp.​​
Jasbir Kaur taking a Gurmat class for the younger group
There were special late afternoon electives like storytelling, art, bhangra and dastar tying sessions. The evening sessions were held to facilitate open discussions on social issues such as bullying to teenage issues. All the children participated and shared their issues with their peers.
Each evening a special fun event was organized such as a water balloon fight, bonfire with music, talent show, etc. Some of the campers showed phenomenal artistic and poetic skills, especially the younger ones. After dinner which was held at 6:00 pm, Rehras Sahib was held every evening and Kirtan Sohila with explanations and discussions.
I'mKavneet Singh teaching history to a group of campers.a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Kavneet Singh teaching history to a group of campers.
Special guests were invited to speak on various days to speak in the evening sessions.
Karanveer Singh a police officer gave a presentation on bullying prevention and how to strengthen anyone with real life skills to gain confidence and defend themselves physically and mentally. Karanveer Singh has written a unique comprehensive solution-oriented book called, “Bullying Sikh American Children Through the Eyes of a Sikh American High School Student,” which was published in 2015 while in high school and is now in over 41 school districts across the eastern seaboard and also being used for AP Psychology, AP History and AP English in some high schools.
www.bullyingsikhamericanchildren.org The book and the work around it won the National Bullying Prevention Award in 2018 at the National School Safety Council Conference in Reno, NV.
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Sherveer Singh a software engineer spoke about his life in Scouting and the various benefits of Scouting and how it ties really well to Sikhi. He happens to be the youngest Eagle Scout with a BSA Distinguished Conservation Service Award, on record in the nation and has been honored with his picture in the Boy Scout Manual from 2016 - 2023. He answered many questions while keeping the campers engaged in his interactive talk.
Savraj Singh, the VP of Engineering with Nucleus Genomics, NY City, a Princeton graduate, who spoke about his life in the corporate world of technology and as an entrepreneur. Campers were really excited about the array of skills that Savraj Singh had and conveyed to them in such a fun manner to inspire all of them while relating his experience as a camper when he was young.
Maninder Kaur an attorney and a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army shared her twenty-year career experience in the Army and the need for discipline, resilience and ethical conduct and how it ties with Sikhi to bring balance in the lives. She even conducted some basic exercises to get campers to be more disciplined by listening to adults responsibly. Her young son was a camper for the second year, strengthening his Sikhi along with other campers.
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​Rashmeet Kaur a chemical engineer and a Director at Johnson & Johnson, spoke on key components of career development, relationship skills and leadership skills to proactively give a leg up to the campers for them to be prepared well in advance for life’s challenges
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Campers getting ready to get on the 1,200 feet long Zip Line over a lake.
Campers who got out of their comfort zone made a special effort to try some activities which not only brought a smile to their faces but removed the subconscious fear which brought about a change in them for the better.
All the rock wall climbers waiting to show their skills
Shooting (real guns above), Rock climbing, zip lines, swimming and many other activities took many campers out of their shell and improved their confidence.
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​Every Sikh child came away with learning something new including new ‘shabads’, thanks to the Dr. Mehtab Singh accompanied by wonderful volunteers like Karman Kaur and Nishan Kaur for kirtan and the well-known teacher of gurmat sangeet Dr. Manpreet Singh who led the teaching.
Morning Nishan Sahib ceremony.
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​Children built solid friendships and supported each other creating an environment of ‘chardi kala’, all thanks to the organizers/teachers like and many others who cannot be thanked enough for their tireless sewa and for their diligent sewa in making sure it was a smooth camping experience.
Long lines of excited campers waiting to learn Blacksmithing, (above) and woodwork, (below)
Manpreet Kaur taught art and worked especially with the younger campers in order to bring out their creativity in art and helped with robotics!
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​For many of the campers, it was the first time experiencing the outdoors, while living in army style tents and dealing with the weather and elements. Dispatching an occasional mosquitoe or spider is part and parcel of being in the woods, but learning to live with these and above all experiencing the adventure and meeting and making new friends builds confidence, character and discipline
Healthy hearty meals with friends.......
The radical change in the character of the majority of campers was visible by the end of the eight days as they got more resilient while immersing themselves in Sikhi and multiple other skills that they were taught. All the campers left the camp with big smiles on their faces promising to be back next year and bring more friends, to make it even more memorable.
Older boys on ATVs
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Archery
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Running away from water filled balloons !!! The most fun filled activity for everyone!
Camp Fatehgarh has left its indelible mark on children and we hope more will join us next year to continue to carry the torch of the Sikh spirit forward. Many campers could not wait for the next camp and promised to return. A heartfelt thanks to all the adult volunteers for their sincere support and genuine participation to make the camp a resounding success.
