ZUNI, NM (May 22, 2024) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project has announced that this year’s Wellness Week will take place June 24-27, and its eagerly anticipated 16th Annual Summer Camp is scheduled for July 8-26. Due to the programs’ popularity, the community’s 6- to 12-year-old applicants secure their spots through a lottery-style registration system.
Applications will be accepted through May 31. Hard copies must be dropped off at ZYEP’s offices at 13 Chimoni Drive in Zuni.
The theme for this year’s programs is “Dream, Believe, Achieve.” According to Rani Yamutewa, one of ZYEP’s youth development leaders, the theme reflects the post-Covid resilience of this generation of children.
“This summer, our campers will build their confidence, explore new ideas, and educate themselves as they connect to local resources within our community,” Yamutewa said. “We also want to bring back that old summer-camp feeling of simple fun and joy, helping our campers burst out of their comfort bubbles.”
During the four-day Wellness Week program on June 24-27, participants will enjoy eight “mini-camp” activities: hiking, biking, football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, art, and Shiwi Chefs, which is a cooking activity. The weeklong program can accommodate 170 children.
At Summer Camp, ZYEP’s longest-running program, children will enjoy nine activities: traditional art, contemporary art, nutrition, greenhouse, physical activity, life skills, Wilderness Explorers, traditional dance, and self-love. Every Friday during camp is a “Fun Friday,” and each will feature a fun activity such as arts and crafts, a visit to local radio station KSHI, and field trips to El Morro National Monument and the Zuni Senior Center.
On Friday, July 26, ZYEP will host a Summer Camp closing celebration so campers have the opportunity to showcase what they have learned for their families and community. This year’s three-week program can accommodate 120 children.
At press time, ZYEP was interviewing applicants ages 16-24 to fill 18 counselor spots, including two lead counselors; these counselors will work with children during both Wellness Week and Summer Camp. Once again, the youth project is working with Zuni High School and Twin Buttes Cyber Academy to reach potential applicants.
Once the counselors are selected, they will undergo extensive training to prepare them for the busy summer ahead. This training includes a three-day outdoor retreat in partnership with Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions; CPR and First Aid training with Zuni Fire and EMS; “Question, Persuade, Refer” suicide prevention training; ZYEP Youth Leaders Manual review; food safety demonstrations, cultural competency training, inclusivity/LGBTQ+ workshop, classroom management training, financial literacy training, and a visit to the Zuni Senior Center.
This year’s Wellness Week and Summer Camp will be made possible with support by the Zuni Education and Career Development Center, Zuni Public School District, National Recreation Foundation, Outdoor Equity Fund, MeowWolf Foundation, 7th Generation Fund, Native American Food Sovereignty Alliance, Nike, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Department.
Individual donors also are essential to the success of ZYEP’s popular summer programs, according to Executive Director Tahlia Natachu.
“We wouldn’t be able to host such large-scale programs for hundreds of Zuni children if it weren’t for our many friends around the country,” she said. “We are so grateful for their support. Almost half of our counselor applicants are former campers, and some of our staff are, as well — myself included. We can attest to how important it is for our youth to have access to these experiences and so many positive role models and mentors.”
To make a contribution this year’s Summer Camp, visit zyep.org/donate.
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.
