Our Crowdfunding Groups
Your support secures the 2018 American Indian Youth Wellness Camp. This weeklong residential health and wellness program specifically targets American Indian children and teens from tribes across the Southwest, primarily Arizona.
It’s no secret: obesity is one of our century’s biggest challenges, especially in American Indian communities and increasingly among youth. Obese individuals are at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke and more.
We can intervene.
At camp, kids learn healthy eating habits and ways to make exercise fun, consistent and habitual. The best part? All camp activities take place in an American Indian context, deeply rooted in culture. This integration increases our effectiveness, empowers participants and reinforces the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Personal check-ins monitor each youth’s progress. With innovative technology, we collect data measuring body composition, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose and much more. These assessments occur at camp, 3 months after camp and 6 months after camp, intricately tracking progress. We use this data to support individual health of our participants and to improve the quality of programming.
The sun rises, poking light through cabin windows. Inside, 50 eager children wake to a new and promising day. A different tribe begins each morning by leading our daily reflection, then we take our daily walk and have breakfast. From there, students cycle through a collection of activities and lessons. They learn traditional native games, do Zumba and Tai Chi, dance, swim, practice arts and crafts and more. They learn to read food labels for sugar and how to plant their own seeds. After a day of activity, learning and fun, it’s off to bed for a busy tomorrow!
Your support allows us to hold camp, impact kids, conduct research and enrich our post-camp offerings to campers and parents.
Join us! Together we’ll create a brighter and healthier future for American Indian kids.
We would like to cover the costs for 25 youth to attend camp and your support can help us accomplish that.
Camp convenes July 28 - August 3, 2018 at Mingus Mountain Campground.
Please consider a gift today to reach our goal so youth can attend camp.
Click on the Project Owner icons above to learn more about the people are vested in our camp.
You can also mail us a check, payable to the UA Wellness Camp Attn: Francine Gachupin, Camp Director UA COM FCM PO Box 245052 Tucson, AZ 85724.
Camp Logo: "Spiritual Sunrise"
Artist: Ivan T. Gachupin, Jemez Pueblo, itg09@hotmail.com, (575) 834-7835
Hygiene products - toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, lotion, body wash, shampoo and conditioner - for youth to use at camp.
Fruits and vegetables to use in daily interactive healthy snack instruction.
Art and craft supplies, items for our community garden, materials for education sessions and physical assessment materials for each child.
Provides each Camper with a t-shirt, water bottle, jump rope, Frisbee and basketball. Campers take the sports equipment home as incentives to stay active!
Appropriate footwear and socks, so each youth has a safe and comfortable experience during Camp's daily walks, exercises and activities.
Camp fee for one American Indian youth to attend camp at Mingus Mountain Campground in Prescott Valley, AZ. This includes room and healthy meals for one week!
All camp fees, essential hygiene products, shoes and socks, t-shirt, sports equipment and supplies for a youth for the entirety of camp!
Thank you! You will be contributing to this year and also to NEXT year's camp.
