7-Day Native American Service Project
Prepared for Creekside Learning Center
Proposed Dates, first week in May; 16 Participants and 2 Adults
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#4c859b” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” top_padding=”25″ bottom_padding=”25″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Dear Stacey,
Thank you for contacting me about arranging a custom-designed program to support your class at this important point in their journey. Deer Hill Expeditions has over 30 years of experience guiding young people on wilderness expeditions and service projects in the Southwest, our home and backyard.
While fun and adventure, such as paddling through a Class 2 or 3 rapid, is built into every program, it is Deer Hill’s mission to guide young people to find their unique place in their community. To this end, discussion and reflection about participants’ experiences are major components of Deer Hill’s approach. Typically, Deer Hill staff facilitates this learning process through what we call Circle—honest and candid conversations in which individuals share their hopes, fears, thoughts, and reflections in an occasion where non-judgment and acceptance have been established as the ground rules. Additionally, in order for participants to carry their newfound insights back into their everyday lives, Deer Hill staff facilitates a closing ceremony or activity as is fitting to your group. These elements add depth to the fun and adventure of a Deer Hill trip.
Based on our communications so far, I have prepared an outline of a Native American service project for your class that I believe will provide a truly meaningful experience for your students.
Please review this proposal for descriptions of the program components, for dates and costs, and for details specific to Deer Hill. This proposal serves to provide an outline for further refinement in the development of a contract between your school and Deer Hill. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.
Yours sincerely,
Gabriel Bernier
Outreach Director[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_image=”7163″ bg_position=”center bottom” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” top_padding=”300″ bottom_padding=”300″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
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Service Projects in Native American Communities
Deer Hill has partnered with families in the Navajo Nation, and in Zuni and Hopi Pueblos for over 20 years. The hosts we work with tend to involve other members of their community to help with a project, or to share elements of their culture with the groups they host. Cultural learning opportunities include traditional performances of music and dance, inclusion in ceremonies, artisan workshops such as silversmithing, traditional agriculture, storytelling, and simply learning about your hosts’ lives and personal histories.
Our host families or community leaders identify the service projects based on what would be helpful to them. In the past, this has included the construction of corrals, fences, barns, shade arbors and erosion control dams, as well as repairing buildings in the plaza in Hopi Pueblo, or helping elderly residents with household projects and ranch work that help them to carry on traditional practices in a modern world.
Prior to arrival at a service site, your Deer Hill instructors will orient you to working with your service host. Leaders will facilitate a conversation about appropriate etiquette and your class’s views on service in Native American communities.
Maintaining flexibility in the design of the project allows groups the opportunity to join in local events such as a ceremonial dance, or a basketball game with community youth. Additionally, it gives our host families the opportunity to teach traditional arts such as jewelry making, pottery and beadwork.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_style” images=”7278,7236,7163,7160,7159,7153,7119,7118,7116,7115,7092,7091,7090,7031,7029,7028,7027,6941,6808,6572,6437,6436,6432,6387,6373,4807,4802,4552,4407,4378,4314″ onclick=”link_image” img_size=”600×400″][vc_column_text]
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”30″ bottom_padding=”15″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Itinerary
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#4c859b” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”30″ bottom_padding=”15″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Day 1
Times to be determined: Fly into Durango, CO airport. Deer Hill program leaders will pick you up and bring you to Basecamp in Mancos, CO. You’ll have dinner and prepare for your service project.
Day 2
Morning: After breakfast, you’ll head out to your service site.
Afternoon/Evening: When you arrive at your service site, you’ll meet your hosts and set up tents in the designated area. Your hosts will lay out the ground rules and what they have planned for you.
Days 3-5
At Service: As indicated above, flexibility in the design of these projects allows for a variety of authentic experiences to unfold. The overall structure, though, will certainly include very real work on a project, as well as time to connect with your hosts, and experience meaningful aspects of their culture and lifestyle.
Day 6
Morning: Wrap up your project, break camp and say goodbye to your hosts.
Afternoon/Evening: Return to Basecamp in Mancos for showers and a hot, home-cooked meal. Your group sleeps in rustic cabins.
Day 7
Morning: After breakfast, we hold a closing ceremony to conclude your program and help students transfer the experience to their everyday lives.
Afternoon: Your leaders drive you to the Durango airport in time for your return flight.
Financial Information
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#4c859b” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”center” top_padding=”45″ bottom_padding=”15″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Estimated Price: $1175 (per participant)
Quotes are conditional on final group numbers, activities and travel arrangements. We require a minimum of 10 paying participants to run the program. Final pricing will be confirmed in a contract. However, final price is subject to change based on adjustments to program, travel arrangements, arrival and departure times. A 25% deposit is due to reserve your group.
Program price includes:
- The teacher/trip organizer will attend free of charge with the group. Additional adults will be charged the participant rate
- All meals, snacks and drinks from lunch on Day 1 through lunch on the final day (depending on arrival and departure times),
- All guiding activities, service materials, and group equipment (rafting gear, cooking gear, tents, service tools, etc.)
- Permits, fees and insurance
- Personal gear (sleeping bags, pads, etc.) and clothing items (e.g. rain gear and fleece) is not included. These items may be rented from the Deer Hill outfitting store at a very reasonable cost. We will provide you with the price list for rental items along with detailed information after contracting. We require a per-student cash deposit, or credit card, to cover participant rental gear.
Food and Accommodations
At your service site, you will be camping in 3-4 person, single-gender shelters. Deer Hill provides healthy and balanced meals and can accommodate a wide variety of dietary needs and preferences.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”light” text_align=”left” top_padding=”15″ bottom_padding=”50″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Additional Information
- With travel times yet to be determined, I have structured the first and last days based on what we have found works best for groups: arrival around midday on Day 1, and departure in the afternoon of the last day. This, of course, is somewhat flexible, but times can impact the itinerary.
- A second concept–a shorter program that Creekside will pair with another program, hosted by Crow Canyon, is in the works. This page will be updated when the second proposal is ready.
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[/testimonial][testimonial title=”Testimonial” id=”1475266977537-0-6″ name=”Lisa Archer, Teacher, Tucson Waldorf School” quote=”Thank you again for a memorable trip. As I’ve told everyone, a class trip with Deer Hill is so much more than just rafting or camping with a tour group. You make the trip meaningful with marvelous guides who facilitate nightly ‘Circles’, solo time, and closing ceremonies that make the trip so much better. Deer Hill is more than a trip, you are creating connections with people.” tab_id=”1479243711815-8″] [/testimonial][testimonial title=”Testimonial” id=”1475267043440-0-7″ name=”Jeff Jackson, Cedar Springs Waldorf School” quote=”Thank you so much for organizing this wonderful trip for us. Your leaders were incredible. The trip REALLY met all our needs and effected a genuine transformation in my students.” tab_id=”1479243711832-9″] [/testimonial][/testimonial_slider][/vc_column][/vc_row][full_width_section background_color=”#c2b59b” text_color=”custom” custom_text_color=”#352300″ top_padding=”60″ bottom_padding=”50″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][gravityform id=”47″ title=”false” description=”false” ajax=”false”][/vc_column][/full_width_section][vc_row type=”full_width_background” bg_color=”#1f414e” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” bottom_padding=”25″ overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]Service at Deer Hill
Most of Deer Hill’s service projects get you working alongside Hopi, Navajo and Zuni families on projects that they have proposed. Oftentimes, host families will share cultural knowledge, stories, and arts with participants. Other service projects are conservation oriented, and arranged with the US Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management. Service projects in summer expeditions will earn you between 20 and 56 service credit hours.
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Wilderness Adventure
Deer Hill’s programs offer young people a chance to connect with nature in some of the world’s most remarkable landscapes. They also push individuals to overcome challenges and learn new skills to stay safe when enjoying the backcountry. Deer Hill’s wilderness adventures typically include a combination of white water rafting and canoeing, canyoneering, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and backpacking.
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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″][vc_column_text]About Deer Hill
Deer Hill Expeditions was founded in 1984 by Doug and Beverly Capelin, who still own and operate the Mancos, Colorado-based company. Since 2005 Deer Hill has designed custom programs for school and community groups to provide fun, meaningful, and memorable culminating experiences, retreats, and educational expeditions. Deer Hill is accredited by the Association of Experiential Education, and maintains an impeccable safety record.
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