Fo Guang Shan North Carolina Summer Camp: Building Friendships Through the "Three Acts of Goodness Ocean Adventure"
- FGS NC
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
[Reported by Yu Chuan and Yin Zhi, North Carolina, USA]
From July 7–9, 2025, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina hosted the “Three Acts of Goodness Children’s Summer Camp,” welcoming 21 children ages 6 to 11. The camp was themed “Friendship and Adventure” and incorporated elements from the Disney film Finding Nemo. A variety of fun and educational activities were offered, including Buddhist etiquette, a social skills class on “How to Make New Friends,” ocean animal origami, underwater-themed crafts, LED friendship cards, fish doodling art, team games, and even science-based ice cream making.
At the closing ceremony, Venerable Miao Jou, the temple superintendent, shared her joy in seeing campers bravely trying vegetables they normally disliked and helping clean the dining hall without being asked—signs that the spirit of the Three Acts of Goodness (do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts) was beginning to take root. She also praised the youth camp counselors for their patience and sense of responsibility, especially as this was their first time serving in this role.
May Shiue, President of the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) North Carolina Chapter, expressed that hearing the children’s laughter reminded her of the return of innocence and vitality. She thanked the parents for trusting the camp with their children, the temple for providing the space and resources, and led everyone in a group chant of “Do good deeds, speak good words, think good thoughts,” creating lasting memories together.
Youth counselor Cheng Cai served as the lead coordinator, guiding and supporting the three-day event. Campers were grouped into three teams: “Do Good Deeds,” “Speak Good Words,” and “Think Good Thoughts.” Each team was mentored by youth leaders aged 13–15, who led the children through various learning challenges. A reward system encouraged positive participation, responsibility, cleanliness, discipline, and teamwork. Individual achievement awards were given to Manish Raghav Varanasi, Adriana J. Daniel, and Fei Peng. Based on punctuality, team points, discipline, and cooperation, the group awards went to: 1st – “Do Good Deeds,” 2nd – “Speak Good Words,” and 3rd – “Think Good Thoughts.”
During the closing ceremony, each team performed skits and dances themed around the Three Acts of Goodness. Youth counselors also presented a special sign language dance. The skits were written by the counselors and included props and settings that explored how to practice the Three Acts in everyday life, touching on topics such as online safety, underwater school bullying, and forest hiking. The emcee, 13-year-old James Pang, hosted the ceremony entirely in English with poise and confidence. Over 50 parents, BLIA members, and campers attended the event.
The camp’s project manager was youth counselor Fu Yufei, who shared that despite many challenges during preparation, witnessing the growth of both the campers and youth leaders made everything worthwhile. She also revealed early plans for a winter camp, with several youth counselors expressing interest in continuing their involvement.
This summer camp marked the first collaboration among the youth counselors, including sibling pairs. After completing a four-day staff training program, they took on responsibilities not only in caring for the campers but also in coordinating and hosting activities. After the camp, four youth counselors officially joined the BLIA North Carolina Young Adult Division to continue their service and commitment.
Venerable Zhi San, the camp's guiding monastic, noted that the summer camp serves as a way to pass on the Dharma. She expressed her hope that the children who joined the camp this year will one day return as camp staff, continuing the cycle of care and experience for future generations.
