camps

🧠 S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)

• Critical and creative thinking: Youth learn to question, design, and test ideas, boosting innovation and confidence.

• Academic achievement: Hands-on, inquiry-based learning deepens comprehension and retention—especially in math and science.

• Equity in access: When culturally relevant and art-infused, STEAM becomes accessible to diverse learners, closing opportunity gaps for BIPOC and Indigenous youth.

🎶 Music

• Cognitive development: Rhythm, melody, and repetition enhance memory, pattern recognition, and language skills.

• Emotional expression: Music provides a safe outlet for emotions, reducing stress and anxiety.

• Cultural connection: Learning traditional and contemporary songs strengthens identity, belonging, and intergenerational bridges.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Movement & Mindfulness

• Body awareness and regulation: Yoga, dance, and breathwork teach self-control and reduce behavioral outbursts.

• Mental health: Movement decreases cortisol, boosts mood, and improves attention span.

• Inclusivity: Adaptive, trauma-informed movement practices welcome all bodies and abilities.

🎭 Performance (Theater, Storytelling, Dance)

• Voice and confidence: Performing helps youth articulate ideas, advocate for themselves, and practice leadership.

• Collaboration: Working as an ensemble fosters teamwork, empathy, and accountability.

• Public speaking skills: Builds lifelong confidence and communication strengths for school and beyond.

🥗 Nourishment & Cooking

• Healthy habits: Cooking empowers youth to make nutritious choices and understand food systems.

• STEM connections: Recipes build math, chemistry, and problem-solving skills.

• Cultural grounding: Sharing food traditions fosters pride, identity, and intergenerational exchange.

🌎 Culture & Heritage

• Identity formation: Rooted cultural education counters erasure and supports self-esteem.

• Community pride: Youth see their traditions reflected and celebrated—reducing isolation and internalized bias.

• Civic engagement: Cultural knowledge inspires stewardship, responsibility, and belonging to place.

💬 Language (Spanish / Bilingualism)

• Cognitive flexibility: Bilingual learners show stronger multitasking and memory skills.

• Cultural literacy: Language deepens understanding of history, family, and community narratives.

• Equity & opportunity: Spanish fluency opens academic and career pathways while affirming identity.

🧺 Life Skills

• Practical independence: Budgeting, time management, cooking, and planning build readiness for adulthood.

• Resilience: Mistakes become learning experiences, not failures.

• Leadership: Skill mastery encourages youth to teach others and step into mentorship roles.

🤝 Social Skills

• Emotional intelligence: Youth learn to name, understand, and regulate emotions in community.

• Conflict resolution: Collaborative projects teach negotiation, empathy, and repair.

• Belonging and safety: Strong peer and mentor relationships reduce isolation and build protective factors against trauma and risky behaviors.