Have you ever wondered what life is like on a reservation? Are you open to working with communities to accomplish tasks? Now is your chance! Join us for an unforgettable service trip. We will be traveling to Arizona and visiting the culturally rich Diné (Navajo) and Hopi reservations. We will fly into Phoenix and make our way up through the diverse landscape of Northern Arizona to the town of Polacca. We will participate in a wide variety of hands-on service projects around the reservations, including house painting, construction, hauling wood, and food and/or clothing sorting. 

This immersive experience will allow students to learn about the history of these tribes, interact with local people, and deepen their understanding of past and ongoing injustices faced by Native Americans, such as the residential school movement, racism, substance abuse, and entrenched poverty. Systemic problems linked to extreme poverty are wide and varied; for example, Arizona Public Radio estimates that “40% of Navajo households lack running water.” In addition to confronting these challenging injustices, we will also have opportunities to embrace the beauty of this area and understand its importance to those who live there. Experiences may include a visit to the Canyon de Chelly, hiking/exploring, traditional ceremonies, and visiting local sites such as Walpi, a Hopi village founded in 900 AD.