By Jim Kober | Executive Director
Dear Friends:
On Monday we entered the 5th week of the Gu Vo Youth Academic Summer Adventure - an academic summer camp that combines fun activities with education to inspire Native American students from the Tohono O'odham (T.O.) Tribe in Arizona to stay in school and break the cycle of poverty on the T.O. Nation. We have had a steady count of 40 tribal youth attend each session of the camp. Parents are sending us reports of how kids are going to bed early in order to wake up in time to get a ride to the Summer Adventure!
Each daily session begins with outdoor activity. Recent studies have shown the mind is at its best after exercise. After outdoor time, the students adjourn inside for reading and math lessons through our educational software. Students and outcomes are tracked through the use of this software.
In addition to keeping up with studies during the lull of summer, these students are having a great time playing games that teach teamwork, such as Sinking Ship, a game that is very similar to what many of us played as kids where the floor is lava and all furniture is safe. In Sinking Ship, gym mats are laid one atop the other and the kids have to help one another get from mat to mat and finally to safety. If they touch pavement, they are out of the game. Sinking Ship is an excellent way to teach these youth teamwork.
As camp moves into its final two weeks for 2015, we are excited to move forward with our daily academic lessons as well as a number of spirit days for the kids. There will be a "Crazy-Hair Day" a "Super Hero Day" a "Favorite Jersey Day" and a "Pajama Day."
The kids truly have had an incredible summer camp this year, and it is all thanks to donors like you. Thank you again, so much, and please keep the Native American Advancement Foundation (NAAF) in mind for future donations. We are making big things happen on the T.O. Nation.
"T.O. the TOP!"
Kindly,
Jim Kober, Executive Director
Native American Advancement Foundation
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