ZUNI, NM (July 3, 2023) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project’s 15th annual Summer Camp kicked off Monday, June 26 for 120 campers and 21 counselors at Shiwi Ts’ana Elementary School in the Pueblo of Zuni, New Mexico. During the eight-week program, campers ages 6-12 will strengthen their connection to Zuni culture as they learn traditional language, social dances, arts and agriculture. Each year’s Summer Camp has a theme; this year, the theme is “Purpose.”
ZYEP’s Summer Camp is made possible with support by the Zuni Public School District, Zuni Education & Career Development Center, Con Alma Foundation, National Recreation Foundation, New Mexico Foundation, Outdoor Equity Fund, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Vadon Foundation, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Sustaining Humanities through the American Rescue Plan in partnership with the Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums.
In addition to engaging in a variety of culturally relevant activities, the children also will be learning about health and wellness through hiking, sports, nutrition education, indoor and outdoor games, and quality time with their counselors, who serve as positive role models and mentors every step of the way.
These are vital relationships, so each year, the ZYEP staff devotes the first two weeks of June to providing the 16- to 24-year-old counselors with the resources they need to be effective and successful. This includes intensive training and a two-night counselors’ retreat.
This year’s in-house training took place from Monday, June 5 to Thursday, June 15. ZYEP Youth Development Coordinator Kiara “Kiki” Zunie and Food Sovereignty Leader Dylan Solomon were instrumental in preparing for this year’s Summer Camp, and they got the ball rolling on Monday morning when they met with lead counselors Kylie Awelagte and Koi Zunie at 8 a.m. and then welcomed the full crew at 9 a.m.
“Dylan and I had the opportunity to be lead counselors in 2021, so we understand what to expect and what these young people will get out of the experience,” Zunie said. “I look forward to seeing the group come together. It’s always surreal to have everyone in the same room.”
Training sessions included suicide prevention through SAMHSA, cultural preservation and reclamation, conflict resolution, classroom management, and Native food sovereignty. The counselors also earned their Food Handler’s certification, and they received CPR, AED and EpiPen training in conjunction with the Zuni Safety/Injury Prevention office.
The counselors had to take in a lot of information in two weeks’ time, and some of the subject matter was challenging. Suicide prevention and bullying, in particular, proved to be heavy topics.
“These are sensitive subjects,” Zunie acknowledged. “Anyone could opt out of the exercises if they were uncomfortable, and we were happy to provide alternatives for them.”
The ZYEP team also ensured that the counselors had opportunities to engage in fun team-building activities throughout the training weeks. These included a “Zuni-fied” version of Rock Paper Scissors, Magic Carpet, Blindfold Tag and a variety of relay games.
“These activities gave them some relief after the intensive sessions,” Zunie explained. “They enjoyed fresh air, laughter and movement. They also were learning communication and teamwork, and they were building trust.”
The day after training ended, the counselors departed Zuni for their eagerly anticipated weekend retreat with Zuni staff. This year, the group visited multiple sites, including Cottonwood Gulch, Mount Taylor, and El Morro National Monument.
After ZYEP Built Environment Coordinator Enric Tsalate led the group in prayer on Friday, June 16, Program Manager Tara Wolfe and Water Conservation Specialist Zachary James loaded the counselors into the youth project’s two vans, affectionately named Helga and Betty.
The first stop was Cottonwood Gulch base camp, which is 100 miles west of Albuquerque at the foot of the Zuni mountains. After a lunch of loaded nachos, the counselors joined Chiz for Cheii, a nonprofit that provides firewood to Navajo elders.
“They taught our counselors the importance of teamwork,” Wolfe explained. “They shared the story of their sobriety, challenges and accomplishments, and why they do the work they do. Our team helped load the wood, and they left feeling accomplished.”
After getting set up in the Cottonwood Gulch’s cabins, the group gathered for their campfire talk session. This annual retreat activity gives counselors a new way to connect and get to know each other better.
“It was a great campfire,” James reflected. “It was so positive, with everyone wanting to share what each person brings to camp.”
On Saturday, June 17, the group traveled to 11,305-foot Mount Taylor, a dormant stratovolcano northeast of Grants, New Mexico, in the Cibola National Forest. Wolfe expressed surprise and relief that Helga and Betty successfully made the trip to mountain’s base, which sits at roughly 10,000 feet.
James agreed, noting with a laugh, “They’re off-roading vehicles now!”
Together with Cottonwood Gulch staff, the group set up camp for their second night. The counselors learned to set up their tents, hiked to the top of the east tower hill just before sunset, and then returned to camp for a nourishing meal of bean soup.
Before dinner, the counselors played games and helped set up a makeshift campfire made up of flashlights inside water bottles, due to the high winds on top of Mount Taylor. After their evening meal, they their attention to the evening’s topic: making friends with someone new.
“There were so many new connections,” James said. “It was great to see the quiet ones opening up and talking more.”
On Sunday, June 18, the group woke up at 4 a.m. to climb Mount Taylor. According to Wolfe, the steep trail tested everyone’s endurance, both physically and mentally.
“It was early in the morning, and some people didn’t sleep well in their tents,” she said. “I told them to envision their ancestors making similar journeys on the same mountain, and to think about this as they climbed straight up. Amazingly, all the counselors made it to the top to see the sunrise.”
On top of Mount Taylor, counselor Sophia Riley led the group in a morning prayer. Afterward, the group took a little time to enjoy the view and appreciate the significance of the spot.
“Warren Lementino, a returning counselor, said the trip for him was a very spiritual connection to our ancestors,” Wolfe said. “The morning hike connected him closely to the father sun and ancestors before us. It also was a time to reflect that you keep going, even if your day doesn’t go as planned. You keep trying your best.”
Returning to the base, the group enjoyed a breakfast of warm oatmeal before breaking camp and driving to El Morro National Monument.
“We were too tired to do another hike, so we played games and shared highlights, lowlights and what we learned on the trip,” James said. “It was like a group of different people! The trust we have now… we all have each other’s backs, which is important going into Summer Camp.”
“The Helga van was full of laughter and tons of stories,” Wolfe agreed. “She was no longer full of quiet, shy people but a new little Summer Camp family team!”
The group returned to Zuni later that day, and the next morning, it was time to go to work. ZYEP’s 15th annual Summer Camp season began on Monday, June 19 with “Wellness Week,” a series of 10 mini-camps, and then the signature eight-week Summer Camp program began Monday, June 25.
Together, these initiatives — and these dedicated 21 young counselors — are serving more than 200 Zuni children this summer.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
