PRESS OFFICE
Department of Communications
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Jake Goshert, Media Relations Specialist
Tel: (212) 686-0710 Ext. 160; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: jakeg@armeniandiocese.org
Website:

July 24, 2007
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DIOCESAN SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM PROVIDES FOCUS ON FAITH, CULTURE

On Friday, July 20, 2007, Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate of the
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), drove from New York
City’s busy, bustling streets to the scenic Catskill Mountain town of
Greenville, New York, home to the Diocesan Ararat Center. With him was
Diocesan Vicar Fr. Haigazoun Najarian and two AGBU interns.

The St. Vartan Camp was in full swing at the Center, and the Primate spent
Friday visiting with campers, peeking in on religion and language classes,
and answering all manner of questions from the quizzical youngsters.

The next day, he joined hundreds of Armenian families from throughout the
Diocese for the annual Ararat Center Festival. This year the festival
highlighted the continued growth of the center, as the Primate blessed the
newly constructed pavilion and classroom building.

"This new facility is just another example of the commitment the Eastern
Diocese has to the spiritual nourishment of our children," the Primate said.
"The Ararat Center is a home for all Armenians; and, indeed, these young
campers at St. Vartan Camp have found a real sense of community and embraced
their Armenian heritage here at the Ararat Center."

"I want to express my appreciation to the Ararat Center Board, the many
donors, and the volunteers, who have made the dream of a camp and retreat
center into a beautiful reality," the Primate added.

FOCUS ON FAITH, CULTURE

The Diocesan summer camps — St. Vartan Camp led by director Fr. Krikor
Sabounjian and Hye Camp led by director Fr. Aren Jebejian — are following a
five-year curriculum plan recently developed by the expert staff of the
Diocesan Department of Youth and Education.

The curriculum rotates campers through four daily classes: arts and crafts,
religion, Armenian language, and heritage and culture. This year, class
sessions explore the meaning and themes behind the Feast of the
Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Each year’s camp session has
focused on different feast days.

"By focusing on different feast days we ensure that each year at camp is
unique, but, more important, it allows us to ensure that the campers leave
after a couple of summers with the basics of our faith and heritage," said
Jennifer Morris, the Diocesan youth outreach coordinator who is serving as
the counselor-in-training program coordinator for St. Vartan Camp. "Not
only will our campers make new friends and form life-long bonds with other
young Armenians, but they are experiencing their faith in a uniquely
Armenian community."

Adding to the Christian community build at the Diocesan summer camps is the
participation of a number of clergymen. At St. Vartan Camp six priests have
served as religious instructors.

Campers also were served by an army of volunteers, including many nurses who
stayed on site to handle the inevitable bumps and bruises that come with
outdoor fun.

Diocesan staff were also on hand, some for the long term such as college
ministry facilitator Julie Hoplamazian who served as programming director
and youth and education intern Lydia Kurkjian who served as camp office
coordinator; while others went up for specific classes or one-day stays.

FOR THE KIDS

But it’s not just religion and language, St. Vartan Camp is also about fun
and fellowship.

"I like it all, but especially playing soccer with everyone," said
14-year-old Areen Patatanian, a parishioner at the St. Kevork Church in
Houston, Texas, who is spending his first summer at St. Vartan Camp.

The facilities at the Ararat Center allow for swimming, tennis, and sports
like soccer. In addition, there’s the ubiquitous movie nights, dances, and
camp Olympics.

"I like making friends and going to the dance," said 14-year-old Serena
Seferian of the St. James Church of Watertown, Massachusetts, who has been
going to camp for five years.

With many families sending vanfuls of children up to Greenville each year,
the St. Vartan Camp can also literally seem like a family reunion from time
to time. That family feel can help new campers get acclimated.

"I like being here with Taline, because she’s my cousin and shows me
around," said Paul Keurajian, 9, from the St. Leon Church of Fair Lawn, New
Jersey, who is spending his first summer at St. Vartan Camp.

HUNDREDS OF CAMPERS

This year’s St. Vartan Camp welcomed 245 campers, age 8 to 15, from New
England, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Illinois, and
even California. The camp had three two-week sessions running from June 24
to August 4.

In addition to the campers, St. Vartan Camp had 60 counselors-in-training.
The teens, 16 and 17 years old, served as mentors to the younger campers and
underwent a thorough leadership training program.

"Our camp programs are really about building a well rounded individual, a
young Armenian ready to serve a life of stewardship to the Church and the
larger Armenian community," Morris said.

Older teens serve as counselors or staff at the camp, providing continued
leadership experience.

"My favorite part of camp is group time, because we get to bond with all the
kids from all over," said Alex Oganesyan, 19, a counselor from the St.
Vartan Cathedral community who has been going to St. Vartan Camp for 10
years.

Parents of campers stayed up to date on the camp happenings thanks to
regularly updated website blog found at

While campers do pay for the experience, many parishes offered camper
scholarships to help families with need. Additionally, the Diocese was able
to cover the costs for some campers thanks to generous donors who sponsored
campers. If you are interested in learning how to help a young person
experience the Diocesan camp programs next year, contact Jennifer Morris at
jenniferm@armeniandiocese.org or by calling (212) 686-0710 ext. 118.

— 7/24/07

E-mail photos available on request. Photos also viewable in the News and
Events section of the Eastern Diocese’s website,

PHOTO CAPTION (1): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, speaks with some
of the campers at this year’s St. Vartan Camp.

PHOTO CAPTION (2): The Primate speaks to the crowd at the dedication of the
Ararat Center’s new pavilion during the Ararat Center Festival on Saturday,
July 21, 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION (3): The Primate leads a group of clergy in the blessing of
the Founding Faithful memorial and the new pavilion at the Ararat Center on
Saturday, July 21, 2007.

PHOTO CAPTION (4): Archbishop Khajag Barsamian, Primate, joins campers at
St. Vartan Camp’s Session B outside the new pavilion and classroom building
at the Ararat Center in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.