Camp Banyan
June 8 -12 | Ages 14-25
Join our one-week camp where you will get to explore your interests from sports to dance to fashion and more through South Asian languages, history, and culture in a secular, inclusive environment.
Summer At the Banyan Tree
For Teens & Young Adults
Discover programs that are fun, push you to experience new things, and bring you lifelong friends. Along the way, learn about South Asian history, languages, and culture.
Banyan Natyam Camp
July 2 -5 | Ages 18+
Explore bharatanatyam for individual expression and community building. Dance, do fun choreography, and learn about the history of bharatanatyam from different perspectives, including gender, caste, and more. All experience levels are welcome.
Banyan Backpacking
Aug 3-7 | Ages 18-25
This young adult backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevadas is beginner friendly. You will eat yummy Ayurvedic food at our campsites, get daily hikes and yoga, and lots of time connecting with the elements and make lifelong friends.
Become a Counselor
June 8-July 31 | Ages 14-25
Our counselors support the next generation of South Asian youth in having fun, learning about their history, and building friendships. You will have experienced mentors to guide your growth, and fun social gatherings just for counselors.
Camp Banyan
Where
At the Treehouse (Banyan Tree Headquarters) in Berkeley, CA (near Willard Park). The exact location is provided to participants only for the safety of our community.
When
June 8 - 12 | 10AM - 4PM
Who
Participants must be between 18-25 years old at the start of camp, and must be going into or attending high school or college at the start of camp.
What
Experience the fun of summer camp again - but made for your experiences in high school & college. Do arts, dance, sports, creative writing and more, infused with South Asian history, culture, and languages. This camp is free for people who apply and are accepted to work as counselors at Camp Banyan for 5-13 year olds.
Cost
$650 - Scholarships are available if you email info@the-banyan-tree.org
Free - Only for counselors who will be working in Camp Banyan for 5-13 year olds
Your tuition includes:
All materials needed
Instruction from experienced educators
Vegan Lunch & Snack
Banyan Natyam Camp
Where
At a BART / public transit accessible dance studio in Berkeley. The exact location is provided to participants only.
When
July 2 - 5 | 10AM - 5PM
Who
All adults (ages 18+) are welcome to join. Whether you have never danced before, have learned bharatanatyam for years, or have experience with other dance forms, we will tailor this program to the unique experiences of our participants.
We hope to make this space inclusive for folks of all backgrounds, abilities, castes, genders, sizes, and classes, so if anything about this program piques your interest, please reach out so we can try to accommodate you.
What
We are offering a four-day camp for people interested in exploring the basics of bharatanatyam under a unique teaching format. Each day will provide lessons in the history, theory, and movement fundamentals of bharatanatyam. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on their life experiences through individual exercises, choreography experiments, and community-building activities. Participants will play with bharatanatyam and create their own dance stories in a safe and encouraging space.
Cost
Banyan Natyam begins at $600 for the full four-day program, including an initial deposit of $150.
These costs enable us to provide:
All the materials needed for your participation in our program.
Delicious snacks that meet your stated dietary needs.
A daily nutritious lunch for each day of the program.
Thoughtful programming that meets many physical accessibility needs.
High-quality, joyful instruction tailored to your cohort’s preferences.
We offer scholarships if the cost prohibits you from participating. We will also support you in finding gear for this trip, such as sleeping bags, outdoors clothes, etc if needed. Please reach out to info@the-banyan-tree.org for more information on receiving a scholarship. We welcome contributions beyond the stated cost to help us provide scholarships for any participants who need them.
Lead Instructors
Banyan Natyam is crafted and run by Nivetha Ketheeswaran and Renuka Garg. We each come to this camp with distinct relationships to bharatanatyam, and we hope to build a camp that teaches us as much as it teaches you.
Nivetha has been practicing bharatanatyam for 25 years and has taught children and young adults for 10 years. For Nivetha, bharatanatyam has been a source of play and self expression. Her dissertation explored the complex relationships South Asians have with bharatanatyam. She is excited to explore how bharatanatyam can serve as a practice that embraces joy and self reflection at the Banyan Tree.
Renuka has danced all her life, starting with sick rhythmic bounces at age 2 and eventually moving into bharatanatyam and Bollywood cinema dance by age 4. She has witnessed through both lived experience and studying history how exclusive mainstream bharatanatyam spaces can be, which is why she is excited to build a dance space at The Banyan Tree that is inclusive, inquisitive, and fun. To do so, she takes a lot of inspiration from her current position as a company dancer with Duniya Dance & Drum Company!
We are grateful for the talented team of community partners and advisors that make this program possible.
Timeline
Registration for Banyan Natyam camps is open now and will be closing on May 10, 2026. Join us for our introduction sessions in February and March (details forthcoming) to learn about us, understand our approach, and get any lingering questions answered.
Non-refundable deposits must be received by May 15, and full camp fees are due by June 15.
For any questions about Banyan Natyam, please reach out to Nivetha (nivetha@the-banyan-tree.org) and Renuka (renuka@the-banyan-tree.org).
Banyan Backpacking
Where
In the Sierra Nevadas - only beginner friendly trails will be used. This trip will leave from Rockridge BART Station.
When
June 8-July 31
Who
All adults (ages 18+) are welcome to join. Whether you have never danced before, have learned bharatanatyam for years, or have experience with other dance forms, we will tailor this program to the unique experiences of our participants.
We hope to make this space inclusive for folks of all backgrounds, abilities, castes, genders, sizes, and classes, so if anything about this program piques your interest, please reach out so we can try to accommodate you.
What
Join us for a Banyan Yatra (journey) backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas! This will be a time to experience community, reflect, and push yourself to see what you can do. Expect lots of cooking Ayurvedic food, steep hills, and South Asian ancestral practices connecting with the elements. This expedition is beginner friendly but we do recommend to have engaged in a daily physical activity 3 months prior to prepare. Led by Sheil Grandhi, a NOLS-certified instructor with a passion for seeds, South Asian cooking, and adventure!
Cost
This program costs $1600.
These costs enable us to provide:
Food: 3 fresh, healthy meals a day, and snacks
Gear: Tents, Stoves, First Aid, and all other supplies (except your personal clothes, backpack, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad)
Guides: 2 experienced South Asian outdoor educators (one identifies as male, one as female)
We offer scholarships if the cost prohibits you from participating. Please reach out to info@the-banyan-tree.org for more information. We welcome contributions beyond the stated cost to help us provide scholarships for any participants who need them.