Icebreakers are a vital part of every summer meeting, setting the tone and foundation for meaningful engagement. These activities encourage youth to step out of their comfort zones by working together to complete fun and interactive tasks. More than just games, icebreakers create opportunities for young people to connect—learning about each other's backgrounds, discovering shared interests, and building a sense of community. By fostering collaboration and conversation, icebreakers help transform a group of individuals into a connected and supportive team.

Fieldwork is a key component of our summer program, designed to provide youth with meaningful, real-world experiences that connect directly to both the annual project theme and culturally relevant sites throughout San Diego County. While the summer theme changes each year, the rich diversity of cultural landmarks in the region ensures that youth are exposed to a wide range of topics and perspectives.

These field visits allow participants to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to real-life settings, deepening their understanding through experiential learning. In addition to educational enrichment, fieldwork days are also meant to be fun and engaging, giving youth the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors, explore new environments, and create lasting memories with their peers.

By combining learning with hands-on exploration and recreation, fieldwork supports the overall goal of fostering curiosity, cultural awareness, and personal growth in every participant.

Learning activities within our summer program are designed to complement the annual project theme while offering youth exposure to a wide range of engaging and educational topics. These activities often include interactive presentations and workshops led by collaborative partners such as Tribal Youth Court, local universities, and other community organizations.

A core goal of these sessions is to acclimate students to the university setting and support their pathway to higher education. Through workshops on subjects like climate change, engineering, and more, students not only expand their academic knowledge but also gain insight into future academic and career opportunities.

Importantly, all learning activities are rooted in a culturally relevant framework that affirms and celebrates Native American identity. By integrating cultural knowledge and perspectives, these experiences help build confidence, strengthen self-identity, and empower students to see themselves as future leaders in their communities and beyond.