Chinmaya Prakash - Chinmaya Mission Dallas/Fort worth

Page 4 Spring 2006 Edition Volume 10, No. 1
Balavihar Lock- ins
I
n keeping w ith our three year long tradition, w e had three lock-ins this academic year for elementary, middle
and high school Balavihar . The elementary and middle school events ended by 10 PM, but the high school
students w ere given the special opportunity to sleepover at Saaket. These lock-ins are a w onderful way for
the Balavihar students to spend quality time w ith Sw ami-ji and enjoy the camaraderie of their peers.
The elementary school lock-in w as held on December 9th 2005. There w as an overw helming response from elementary
school Balavihar students, as 120 kids registered and attended the lock-in and were ready to bond w ith
each other & Sw amiji. The children performed arati in the temple, had dinner and then w atched the acclaimed
new animated movie, Hanuman w ith Sw amiji. This w as follow ed by a quiz based on the movie and all the participants
w ere awarded ribbons.
The middle school students got together on January 15th 2006, for their Lock-in. After arati, dinner and satsang
with Sw amiji, they proceeded in a caravan of volunteer cars to Adventure Landing w here thirty-seven middle
school Balavihar students w ere able to race cars, play putt-putt golf and laser tag. The cold w eather w as no deterrent
to their enjoy ment.
Then on February 10th 2006, it w as time for the trail-blazing high school students to have their Lock-in. Forty six
high school Balavihar students took a break from their busy schedules to eat pizza, pray, bow l and play laser tag
along w ith Sw amiji at Main Event in Plano. This w as follow ed by a sleepover at Saaket. Most w ere successful in
their deter mination to stay aw ake all night so as not to miss a single moment of the adventure. Sw amiji retired to
his routine at 4:30 AM in the morning and the kids returned home by 7 AM Saturday – no doubt to catch up on
some sleep!
All in all, the consensus among “lock-in”-ers is that Saaket is no longer just a place your parents drag you to on
Sundays – it is the headquarters of FUN – the sattvik kind of course - just as intended by the ever-innovative,
master-mind, Acharya Uddhavji! Thanks to ALL the sevaks & sevikas w ho WORKED tirelessly behind the
scenes to ensure that the adventures proceeded smoothly and safely!
2nd Annual Walk-a-Thon
T
he 2nd annual Walk-a-Thon w as held on Sunday, April 23rd, at Russell Creek Par k. This w as an event
organized by the 12th Grade Balavihar students. All proceeds raised w ent to the Boys & Girls Clubs of
America. This event w as a tremendous success, with over 70 families w alking for a great cause!!