AMLT Youth Summer Camp
The Native Youth Summer Camp is a program of the AMLT, funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy. It reconnects Native youth (ages 10-17) to the coastal territories of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band and provides culturally relevant environmental education to the next generation of Native American youth stewards. Alongside representatives from California State Parks, Native Stewards, Summer Interns, tribal elders, and staff, participants are given a glimpse into the world of traditional and contemporary stewardship, while building their sense of tribal identity. Built into the camp itinerary were four areas of focus:
1. Conservation- Invasive species removal, cleaning public beach sites, and stabilizing archaeological sites.
2. Environmental Education - Plant identification, botanical history, and learning ecological field methods.
3. Cultural Relearning - History of Mutsun stewardship, storytelling, tribal history, ceremonial practice.
4. Recreational Activities - Educational nature walks, gathering, planting, and more.
The youth stewardship camp expands AMLT’s existing programming to reach a new population – the future Native stewards of Popeloutchom. Year after year, the youth camp has demonstrated that this effort is effective, appreciated, and greatly needed. We are actively seeking funding to continue providing this opportunity to Native youth.