Over the past decade, Zuni families have counted on the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project to offer a summer camp experience that was fun, safe, and celebrated Zuni culture. While the pandemic changed almost everything in our world, it was important to us, that we continue to provide the fun and meaningful experiences that have become a staple for kids growing up in Zuni. Our focus gave rise to ZYEP’s Safe @ Home Summer Camp, an innovative twist on our flagship program that allowed Zuni youth to engage in all our fun and meaningful summertime activities from the safety of their homes.
The new Safe @ Home format ensured our 120 campers, 18 camp counselors, and staff remained safe as we worked tirelessly to retain the spirit of summer camps’ past.
Over the past decade, Zuni families have counted on the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project to offer a summer camp experience that was fun, safe, and celebrated Zuni culture. While the pandemic changed almost everything in our world, it was important to us, that we continue to provide the fun and meaningful experiences that have become a staple for kids growing up in Zuni. Our focus gave rise to ZYEP’s Safe @ Home Summer Camp, an innovative twist on our flagship program that allowed Zuni youth to engage in all our fun and meaningful summertime activities from the safety of their homes.
The new Safe @ Home format ensured our 120 campers, 18 camp counselors, and staff remained safe as we worked tirelessly to retain the spirit of summer camps’ past.
For each week, our staff designed and delivered thoughtfully packaged kits to campers that aimed to inspire their physical activity, nutrition, resiliency, and creativity through the arts. The kits included items like fresh produce with kid friendly recipes, resources for starting family gardens, physical activity challenges informed by Zuni history and illustrated by Zuni artists, and art projects that passed along important traditions.
Multiple times a week, our camp counselors connected with their campers in calls and Zoom sessions where they set goals, participated in activities, and celebrated accomplishments together. The strong bonds developed during ZYEP’s Safe @ Home Summer Camp are an important reminder that even when social distancing is the norm, Zuni Pueblo is a close-knit community that will remain that way.
To see this year’s summer camp in action, please view our video below:
ZYEP’s Safe @ Home Summer Camp 2020
