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Native Vision Year-Round Program
This year we are proud to announce the launching of Native Vision year-round programming on the White Mountain Apache reservation. The annual Native Vision sports and life skills camp has continually been a highlight for many youth. Using the Native Vision camp as a springboard, we are now exploring further ways of mentoring and providing positive activities for youth. While the annual sports camp does a phenomenal job of encouraging youth toward positive development for 3 days, the other 362 days that occur between camps are often difficult for youth. Therefore, the goal of our new year-round programming is to build upon the progress made during the annual camps and provide programming that will keep youth engaged throughout the entire year.
In the past 4 months, Native Vision staff has interviewed youth, parents, teachers, coaches, counselors, and leaders of the WMAT community with the aim of developing youth programming that is supportive of programs already established in the community, sustainable, relevant for youth, and reflective of the Apache culture. With the help of The Kennel, a youth-outreach center in Whiteriver, Native Vision hosted a “kick-off” party for year-round programming. At the event, youth and adults were able to share their ideas for what they would like to see established in their community. Not only was community support for Native Vision demonstrated by the 200 youth and adults who were in attendance, but also by the fact that community sponsors and members contributed food, a live DJ, prizes, lighting, and a facility at no cost to Native Vision.
Although we are still in the formative stages of year-round programming, the past 4 months of simply listening to the ideas of the White Mountain Apache community have led us to structure our programming around the following activities:
- Quarterly sports and life-skills clinics (2-3 days every quarter): Professional athletes will coach one or two sports and assist in life-skills training for youth, behavioral specialists will lead parenting classes for parents of participating youth, and varsity athletes will help professional athletes coach younger participants.
- Sports leagues for 1st – 4th graders: Community members will help coach and referee one sports league in fall and one sports league in the spring for 1st – 4th graders, for whom no school sports programs exist.
- An ongoing goal-setting/achieving component: At quarterly clinics, youth will set individual goals for each school quarter with the help of Native Vision staff, letters of encouragement will be sent by professional athletes to youth, and those who strive to reach their individual goals will receive recognition and awards.
The first quarterly clinic will be held on November 2-3, 2007 and focus upon the sport of lacrosse. The event is open to 3rd – 8th graders and will be held at Canyon Day Junior High. We look forward to an incredible year!