Photos from week two will be posted soon!

Several of the campers and one assistant jump for joy!

Jessica corralling campers after meeting the Mountain Men.

Here are the campers on the last day of day camp, week 1!

Next week, we start day camp at Stokes Nature Center.  We are super excited for these camps; this group of campers will get to stay one night overnight!

We will acknowledge here, on our website, and elsewhere those donors who wish to be recognized. We still have space for seven (7) campers; if you would like to sponsor one, please contact me, Madeline, at mhart-andersen@youthdiscovery.org. I can answer any questions you might have.

Why are we funding scholarships specifically for multicultural students? Multicultural students are a growing population in the Cache and Logan School Districts. They often score lower on state and national exams than their Caucasian counterparts. Sometimes, they do not feel welcome in their schools, leading to disaffection and dropping out. The number of multicultural students in Cache Valley continues to grow.
It is imperative that we create an atmosphere of inclusivity  for these students, and ensure that they are making appropriate academic progress. These young students are the doctors, nurses, librarians, and teachers of the future. It benefits us, our children, and our grandchildren to give these students the tools they need to succeed.

What will they be doing? The day camps will include many of the traditional AWHC day camp activities, such as milking cows, baking with a wood-burning oven, or participating in traditional mountain men competitions. However, we will also be incorporating literacy skills into the day camps, so that multicultural students who are learning English or need to improve their English language skills will be able to practice writing, reading, and vocabulary over the summer in a fun atmosphere.

Why are scholarships necessary? Many of these students’ families have limited income, and their parents are unable to pay for summer activities. Studies have shown that extracurricular, non-traditional academic programs are a valuable asset for all students, and help keep them motivated to learn and remain in school. If we can help to ensure these students’ success now, we will see fewer drop-outs in the future, as well as a host of other benefits: lower youth delinquency and crime rates, lower teen pregnancy rates, an increase in enrollment for higher education – all of which benefit not only the youth but also the communities of Cache Valley

Again, if you or your place of work would be interested in sponsoring a camper, please get in contact with Madeline at mhart-andersen@youthdiscovery.org.

While summer camps such as those offered by the AWHC are important for all students, we are focusing on multicultural students because of their low numbers of participation. While 10% of the Cache County School District’s students are Latino, and 30% of Logan City School District is Latino, less than 1% of the youth attending the AWHC day camps are Latino. Some summers, none of the attending youth are Latino. Youth Discovery and the American West Heritage Center believe that it is vital summer camps, especially educational ones, serve all youth, including those who are traditionally under-served.

The Run for the Kids will take place on April 23rd, with the first event beginning at 9am. You can register online at www.youthdiscovery.org, or on the morning of the race out at the American West Heritage Center.