We’re excited to begin the new year with another One-Day Camp, hosted by Georgia Buddhist Camp and Wat Lao Buddha Khanti, the temple of Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan.
Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan is the abbot of Wat Lao Buddha Khanti and is known for his deep commitment to compassion, peacebuilding, and community healing. He was an original participant in the Walk for Peace, joining when the pilgrimage began in Fort Worth, Texas, on its 2,300-mile journey to Washington, D.C.
Most recently, he welcomed the Walk to his temple in Snellville, Georgia, on the 67th day of their journey—an especially meaningful moment, as the Walk honored him during his recovery from a serious accident. His resilience and generosity embody the meaning of his temple’s name, Khanti (Pāli), which refers to patient endurance, forbearance, and gentle strength—qualities at the heart of Buddhist practice. Please join us for a full day of meditation, Dharma learning, community connection, and peaceful renewal. The theme for this camp is The Joy of Kindness.
This one-day retreat will follow a similar format to our recent Kim Cang Monastery One-Day Camp.
What to Expect:
🧡 Morning meditation and grounding practices
🧡 Dharma teachings from monastic and lay teachers
🧡 Group activities to cultivate mindfulness, loving-kindness, and connection
🧡 A nourishing vegetarian lunch
🧡 Compassionate monastics from various Buddhist traditions
Save the Date
May 8–10
Overnight Camp at Georgia FFA–FCCLA Center, Covington
Please save the date for the 13th Annual Georgia Buddhist Camp, taking place over Mother’s Day weekend. This retreat is an invitation to practice together in gratitude, rest, and connection.
Monastic line-up, affordable room and dining cost, schedule, and registration details coming soon.
Georgia Buddhist Camp
& Walk for Peace: A Shared Journey
Through our connection with Councilman Khoa Vuong, Georgia Buddhist Camp was honored to support and walk alongside the Walk for Peace during their pilgrimage through Georgia. We are grateful that the Walk for Peace stopped in Morrow, Georgia—just 15 miles south of downtown Atlanta—bringing a powerful message of peace, loving-kindness, and compassion to our local community.
In partnership with the City of Morrow, Atlanta Buddhism, Georgia Buddhist Camp, Grant Park Meditation, and other community partners, we welcomed the Walk for Peace monks and supported their journey dedicated to mindfulness, nonviolence, and human connection across traditions.
Georgia Buddhist Camp organizers also traveled to Monroe, Georgia to meet the monks and present certificates of gratitude in recognition of our shared mission, including a special certificate to Aloka, whose gentle presence has inspired many along the way.
We were deeply moved by the community that gathered to hear teachings from Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who reminded us that true peace begins by working with our own reactions. He shared two simple practices: beginning each day with the intention, “Today, I will have a peaceful day,” and practicing mindfulness by doing one thing at a time. Children offering flowers and drawings to the monks created a heartfelt moment of connection.
On this journey, organizers also met Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan at Wat Lao Buddha Khanti in Snellville on a particularly meaningful day, as the Walk for Peace visited his temple while he continues to recover from a severe accident sustained during an earlier Walk for Peace in Texas. That same day, he was honored with the Key to the County of Gwinnett County, marking a powerful moment of resilience, respect, and community recognition.
This journey also led to meaningful interfaith engagement. One of our organizers was invited—by The Venerable Priya Sraman, Buddhist Chaplain of Emory University—to share her experience at the Service of Prayer for Our Nation at the Carter Center’s Cecil B. Day Chapel. The gathering brought together senior faith leaders, youth leaders, and Rev. Dr. Gary Mason, a world-renowned peacebuilder from Northern Ireland, to reflect on how shared values can help heal polarization.
Together, these moments affirmed that Buddhism can coexist and collaborate with other faiths, offering compassion and mindfulness as bridges for understanding. We are grateful to walk alongside Walk for Peace in Georgia and beyond.
Video of the service: https://bit.ly/3LmgfrN
"We walk not to change anyone's faith or belief–we walk only to gently raise awareness of peace, mindfulness, compassion, loving-kindness, and unity."
— Walk for Peace, January 4, 2026
A New Year Reflections
Jan 10, 2026
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday at Kim Cang for our One-Day Camp, themed The Joy of Kindness. We’re still holding so much gratitude from a day filled with learning, reflection, and genuine connection.
One of our favorite moments was hearing your stories—how you discovered Georgia Buddhist Camp, meeting many new faces, reconnecting with returning campers, and welcoming members of the Kim Cang community who experienced our unique approach of bringing together monastics from different Buddhist traditions.
We were deeply honored to learn and practice with our four teachers: Venerable Sister Đồng Huệ, Venerable Bhante Deepankara, Venerable Jampa Thakchoe, and Venerable Sister Diệu Tịnh. Their presence and teachings beautifully reflected the harmony and shared spirit across Buddhist traditions.
Photography by @thehighlyemtionalpodcast and vuliemstudio18.com
As we return to our daily lives, we encourage everyone to continue their practice beyond the camp—whether that’s taking a few mindful breaths each morning, offering small acts of kindness, or pausing with awareness during moments of difficulty. These simple practices are how the joy of kindness continues to grow, long after we leave the camp.
We’d also love to stay connected. Please follow Georgia Buddhist Camp on our social channels to stay informed about upcoming events, shared reflections, and future opportunities to practice together.
And finally, please save the date for our Annual Overnight Camp, May 8–10, where we’ll gather again for a deeper weekend of practice, learning, and community. We hope to see many of you there as we continue this journey together.
One-Day Camp Recap | November 15, 2025
Grant Park Meditation at Quang Minh Temple
Thank you to everyone who joined our very first One-Day Camp at Grant Park Meditation at Quang Minh Temple. Your presence — from our youngest participants to long-time practitioners — transformed this gathering into a meaningful day of peace, learning, and connection.
We were honored to welcome Venerable Jampa Thakchoe, Venerable Karma Gyatso, Sister Pearl, Sister Ngo-Tam, Diane Russell-Chrestman, Kim Ferrari, and Racquel Patton, whose teachings and presence filled the day with compassion and insight. The afternoon’s warm 75°F sunshine created the perfect atmosphere for reflection, community, and joy.
A Day Rooted in Dharma & Connection
The morning began with heartfelt Dharma sessions, followed by conversations, meditation, and laughter shared among both familiar friends and new faces. Our sincere gratitude goes to the temple members and volunteers who lovingly prepared vegetarian meals and supported setup, cleanup, and care throughout the day.
In the afternoon, Kim Ferrari, guided us through “Anytime, Anywhere Meditation” in the Nirvana Garden — a simple and powerful practice from Tergar. This was followed by Racquel’s soothing sound bath and Sister Pearl’s guided meditation, offering deep rest and renewal before our closing sessions.
We ended the day with tea, reflection, and a dedication of merit to peace and the relief of suffering. Prayers were offered in both Tibetan and Vietnamese, and together we sang Dedication of Merit by Rev. Heng Sure & Loreena McKennitt.
Our Lessons Aligned with our theme– Level Up: The Quest for Connections.
As we look ahead to the 13th Annual Georgia Buddhist Camp, this One-Day Retreat beautifully embodied our 2025 theme.
Just as described in our 2025 camp vision:
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We stepped away from the distractions of constant movement and technology.
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We cultivated presence through meditation and shared community moments.
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We practiced compassion, mindfulness, and moral values that help us “level up” in our daily lives.
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We created a supportive environment where individuals and families could reconnect with nature, Buddhist wisdom, and each other.
Thank you for arriving with open hearts and contributing to a space filled with warmth, wisdom, and genuine connection.
Learning Materials
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Slides from Sister Pearl & Venerable Jampa: View Slides
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Diane Russell-Chrestman, LCSW (Authentic-Life Counseling, Suwanee, GA): authentic-life.net
Gratitude to Our Community
This volunteer-led event was made possible through the partnership of Georgia Buddhist Summer Camp, Atlanta Buddhism, and Quang Minh Tự Atlanta GA.
To all temple members, food donors, monastics, husbands 🙂, aunts, moms, kids, and friends — thank you for cooking, setting up, cleaning, welcoming, and caring for one another throughout the day.
May the peace and joy we cultivated together ripple outward to all beings. 🙏
Support Future Community Offerings
If you’d like to help sustain retreats like this, your support — in any form — is deeply appreciated:
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Zelle: GABuddhistCamp@gmail.com
About Grant Park Meditation
Grant Park Meditation is an in-town meditation community based at Quang Minh Temple in Atlanta. Our practice blends ancient Buddhist wisdom with modern mindfulness techniques to bring peace and balance to our fast-paced lives. Embracing a variety of Buddhist traditions, all sessions are free and conducted in English to ensure accessibility for everyone.
September 5-7 | Georgia Buddhist Camp Recap
Our recent camp was filled with fresh energy—many new faces joined us at Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center, including a large group of young adults, alongside the kids and teens who had a great time connecting. A highlight of the weekend was welcoming many new monastics to the camp.
Stay tuned for our 2026 camp dates, plus our upcoming 1-Day Camp at Quang Minh Temple in Atlanta!
Together, we can keep building spaces of connection, compassion, and joy.
Georgia Buddhist Summer Camp is a volunteer-led group devoted to fostering peace, kindness, and wisdom through interactive activities, offered both in person and virtually. Donations are welcome to help support these activities.
If you’d like to support us in creating more events like these, please consider making a donation
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Zelle via gabuddhistcamp@gmail.com
2025 Georgia Buddhist Spring Camp Recap: Level Up—The Quest for Connections
From April 10–13, campers of all ages came together at the beautiful Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington for the 12th Annual Georgia Buddhist Camp. This year’s theme, Level Up: The Quest for Connections, encouraged us to slow down, reflect, and forge deeper bonds with ourselves, each other, and the world around us through timeless Buddhist teachings.
After 11 years at Hard Labor Creek, our new location was very well received—offering wide-open spaces and a natural setting that felt spacious, peaceful, and relaxing, welcoming even more campers of all ages. Whether meditating by the lake, playing hours of basketball, participating in walking meditation as a group, or simply enjoying a quiet walk between sessions, the environment itself became part of the practice. One of the most meaningful elements was the genuine connection formed between campers and monastics, enriching the experience through shared presence, wisdom, and heartfelt conversations.
Day 1: Storytelling & Stars
We kicked things off with joyful energy and a strong sense of community to break the ice. Campers dove right into meeting one another through a lively storytelling contest that showcased creativity, humor, and courage. Team #2 earned top honors—judged by none other than Emmy-winning actor David Harbour, best known for Stranger Things and this summer’s anticipated Marvel blockbuster, Thunderbolts.
He was especially impressed by the team’s decision not to rely on “ringers” (a few friendly monastics!) and their convincingly choreographed police chase scene. We’re incredibly grateful to David for spending two days at camp—including his birthday (which he humbly didn’t even mention!). His kindness and willingness to truly engage made a lasting impact on everyone.
Day 2: Wisdom, Free Time, and Trivia Night
Friday offered a rich mix of Dharma talks, open time, and meaningful conversations. Venerable Dong Hue moved the teens with stories from her Plum Village training, where even the smallest beings—like insects—are treated with compassion and respect.
Venerable Jin Wei Chi brought his perspective from Berkeley, CA, speaking candidly about how Silicon Valley’s tools often create an illusion of connection, encouraging us instead to turn inward for true clarity. He reminded us that Buddhism isn't about external validation, but a return home.
Venerable Thai Phong led a thoughtful session with the teens, speaking openly about growing up in the U.S., majoring in IT, and choosing the monastic path after college. His honesty about navigating both modern life and spiritual commitments offered teens a powerful example of what an integrated path can look like.
Sister Khema inspired young campers through art-making and nurturing stories. She also taught teens about Avalokiteshvara, covering topics like: Who is Avalokiteshvara?, The story of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, Miraculous powers of Avalokiteshvara, The mantra of Avalokiteshvara, and Three important dates of celebration. (View all her presentation lessons here.)
Elementary-age kids were seen laughing, peacefully making art, and learning with older teens, who shared advice on school, college prep, and applying Buddhist lessons to daily life—showing just how strong intergenerational bonds can be.
To cap off the day, everyone gathered for Trivia Night—a joyful and engaging way to test our knowledge of Buddhism and share a few laughs together.
Day 3: Teachings, Fire Puja, and Kid-led Talent show
Saturday flowed with depth and insight. Campers of all ages took part in customized classes, peaceful meditation walks, and open discussions with monastics. The serene setting continued to nourish the spirit, as campers found their favorite spots to play, talk, or simply be in silence.
One of the unique highlights this year was the presence of Tibetan monastics from the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative, who joined us just before their graduation to support the camp. Their joyful presence and insightful contributions added a rich new layer of tradition to our learning environment. They assisted with children’s classes, guided meditations, and shared reflections rooted in Tibetan monastic training. Campers especially appreciated how they engaged kids with thoughtful questions—turning even casual conversations into meaningful moments. Their deep, resonant chanting during meal blessings filled the space with peace and reverence.
The abundance of knowledge and wisdom at camp created countless opportunities for personal connection with monastic teachers. Campers of all ages were able to engage in one-on-one conversations, ask questions, and receive guidance in an open and welcoming atmosphere.
In the afternoon, Gala Rinpoche taught Engaging the 51 Mental Factors Practical Applications of Buddhist Psychology for Digital-Age Teens (View the presentation here) —sharing Tibetan insights to help teens navigate social media anxiety, academic stress, and emotional overwhelm. Teens were encouraged to observe their minds with curiosity and cultivate mindfulness, non-attachment, and balance.
The session offered practical tools for inner growth, empowering youth to respond to life with wisdom and compassion rather than reactivity or pressure. This is an ongoing practice—each moment of awareness helps build a more mindful, grounded way of navigating both ancient wisdom and modern-day challenges. Demonstrating how technology can be used with mindfulness and intention, Gala Rinpoche even offered to AirDrop the presentation to the teens so they could revisit the material on their own time.
The evening concluded with a powerful smoke purification puja led by Gala Rinpoche and the Tibetan scholars. This traditional ritual includes offerings of incense, tea, and sacred substances to the spirits of the land and surrounding elements—inviting blessings of release, renewal, and harmony. Beneath the stars and a glowing full moon, with a fire at our center, we closed the day with s’mores and a joyful kid-led talent show, where young campers lit up the night with creativity, laughter, and heart.
Sister Khema was the subject and judge of the drawing competition.
Final Day: Roses, Thorns & Buds
Sunday morning wrapped things up with reflection and gratitude. In our closing circle, campers shared their “roses” (favorite moments), “thorns” (challenges), and “buds” (new insights or things they’re looking forward to). Children presented gifts and certificates to their teachers, creating a heartfelt sendoff.
One father of two summed it up beautifully:
“I’ve start reading the Dalai Lama’s books, but this camp felt like experiencing Buddhist teachings in real life and seeing compassion in action.”
Looking Ahead
As campers returned home, many left with new friendships, deeper clarity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Whether through monastic guidance, shared moments around a campfire, or a quiet walk in nature, the 2025 camp truly helped us level up our connections.
This is just the beginning. We hope everyone goes home refreshed and committed to putting into practice what they’ve learned—carrying forward the energy of connection, mindfulness, and compassion into everyday life.
Thank you to every participant, teacher, monastic, and volunteer who helped make this experience unforgettable. We’re already looking forward to next year—and invite all who feel inspired to join us in helping shape the journey ahead. If you'd like to volunteer and be part of creating something meaningful, sign up here.
Thank you to everyone who attended! We hope you enjoyed the experience and left feeling more connected and inspired. If you missed the camp this spring, we are doing another one-day camp at Quang Mihn Temple in the heart of Atlanta, Grant Park, and registration is now open. November 15, 9AM-4PM
Final Touches Underway, Thanks to Our Incredible Volunteers
March 2025
As Georgia Buddhist Camp 2025 approaches, our volunteers are hard at work making sure everything is in place for a meaningful, connected experience. This year’s theme—Level Up: The Quest for Connections—is coming to life through every detail.
Youth leaders recently met at Tea Drip in Duluth to help refine the camp schedule, ensuring it's both engaging and supportive. Their thoughtful suggestions are helping shape a program to ensure that campers will be engaged and have a good time.
Geshe Phende continues to guide us with wisdom, helping fine-tune the prayer booklet and craft activities so they reflect the theme of connection through lens of Dharma.
Fred is putting the final polish on the prayer book layout, with help from Tenzin, Paa, and other dedicated volunteers. And yes—t-shirts are officially ordered!
Thanks to everyone’s time, effort, and merit, we’re creating a space where campers can reset and leave more refreshed, compassionate, and connected.
We’re almost there—see you soon!
