Assalamu Alaykum Frisco Families,
We pray that this newsletter finds you and your family in great spirits as we reflect on an exciting beginning to our summer adventure at our Define 360 camp! Alhamdulillah, it has been a fantastic start, and we are thrilled to share all the wonderful experiences your children have had during the first two weeks. Let's dive right in!
The Define 360 camp is built on weekly character-building themes that are connected to our faith as well. For Week 1, the theme was "In Search of a Mindful Heart," and students engaged in several hands-on activities revolving around mindfulness. Through our lessons, students gained an understanding that we must first learn about ourselves in order to help, care for, show kindness, or do any good for others. We cannot give others happiness if we have not felt happy ourselves. Students learned and practiced the Heart Model to help themselves and those around them. We believe in the importance of mindfulness and have incorporated it into our camp schedule. Students conducted a Volcano experiment that reminded them of the importance of releasing their emotions, as keeping them inside can lead to an explosion. This activity allowed campers to develop self-awareness, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of calm in their busy lives. In the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) track, students created a model of the heart and demonstrated how it pumps blood. Through this experiment, students explored how Allah makes our hearts work and learned to be mindful of taking care of our hearts.
In Week 2, the theme was "Up with Gratitude," where students focused on learning about gratitude. They read the story "Mr. Gamal's Gratitude Glasses" by Asmaa Hussein and then created their own Gratitude Flashlights. In the Prophet’s Heart track, students made connections with the names of Allah - Al Raqeeb (The Always Watching) and Al Sami (The All-Hearing). They also created gratitude jars. In the Divine Stories track, students reflected on lessons from the stories of Prophet Ibraheem (A) and Prophet Yunus (A). Both prophets had mindful hearts, and from them, we learned how to pray with a mindful heart. Students also practiced the dua of Prophet Yunus (A): "La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minadh-dhalimeen" and "Hasbi-Allahu-Ni'mal Wakeel." In STEAM this week, students learned about our eyes and their functions. They then created gratitude glasses to connect their learning about the eye with thanking Allah (S) for blessing us with beautiful eyes. In the Fitness track during both weeks, athletics and physical activities have played a significant role in the campers' daily routines. They have enjoyed various physical activities while being mindful of themselves, their friends, and their surroundings.
At home this weekend, we encourage parents to go for a Gratitude walk with their children. During the walk, encourage your children to observe and come up with things they are thankful for. For example, they can say, "I am thankful for my ears that allow me to hear." Encourage them to think about their surroundings and reflect on what they hear, feel, or see. Be creative with expressing thankfulness to Allah (SWT). Ask your children to share things they are grateful for.
We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm and positive energy your children have brought to our summer camp so far. We look forward to the upcoming weeks filled with more adventures, growth, and memorable experiences. Our team works diligently to provide our students with wholesome and meaningful lessons that will enable them to be the best Muslims while having fun at camp. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. Thank you for entrusting us with the opportunity to create lifelong memories for your children.
