Houston Hindus Open $6M Camp With 12 New Classrooms

Nearly 250 people gathered in Columbus, Texas last weekend to celebrate a milestone four decades in the making. The Hindu Heritage Youth Camp, which spent 40 years searching for rental sites each summer, now has a permanent home complete with 12 brand new classrooms.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Houston donated four trailers that were transformed into the new learning spaces. A $150,000 grant from Surinder and Lalita Trehan of Sugar Land covered the refurbishment costs, turning basic trailers into professional classrooms.

The 37-acre campsite became reality thanks to a $2 million donation from Subhash and Sarojini Gupta, who were honored at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The land was purchased in 2019, and after years of fundraising and construction, the $6 million facility opened its doors in summer 2024.

"This beautiful campsite belongs to everyone, and I would like to invite everyone to come and explore this place," said Subhash Gupta. The site welcomes groups from across the Hindu community and sits conveniently between Houston, Austin, and San Antonio.

Before having their own facility, limited funding and borrowed locations capped attendance at 150 to 200 campers each summer. Now, with dedicated space and proper infrastructure, the camp can accommodate up to 400 children and potentially expand further.

The Ripple Effect

The Columbus campsite has already become more than just a summer destination. Over the past two years, it's hosted yoga and meditation retreats, ethnic group gatherings, and dance programs throughout the year.

Young leaders who started as campers and grew into counselors and directors now run the program. Bharat and Namita Pallod, Shamal Shah, and Vevek Shukla represent decades of camp tradition continuing into the next generation.

The timing of the celebration carried special meaning, coinciding with Makar Sankranti, a festival celebrating new beginnings. Bhaktivardhandas Swami called the campsite "a living classroom, a sanctuary for reflection and a place to forge our values."

The expansion includes more than just classrooms—the site has added a pool pavilion, a Ganesh statue, and beautified grounds. The new infrastructure allows for multiple simultaneous educational sessions, replacing the cramped setups of previous years.

For Houston's Hindu community, the campsite represents a permanent anchor where children can fully immerse themselves in their culture and build lifelong connections. After four decades of temporary homes, the camp that teaches timeless values finally has a lasting place to call its own.