For the second year in a row, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation was excited to partner with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for the Native Youth Community Adaptation and Leadership Conference (NYCALC). This week long conference brings Native youth from across the country to the USFWS training center in West Virginia to learn about each other’s cultures, explore careers in conservation and environmental work, get outside, and work on projects relevant to their community based around climate issues.
To make this project a success and running smoothly for the students, a lot of work goes into the planning. Months before any students arrive, NMWF staff – mostly our Development Director Wendy Sandidge and Office Manager Susan Calt – organize travel for the 90 plus students and their chaperones, read through applications, and coordinate schedules with USFWS staff. This work leading up to the week goes a long way in making sure the students, many of whom have never left their village or home town, have a positive experience at the conference.
Students came from Alaska, New York, Hawaii, American Samoa, New Mexico, and everywhere in between for this opportunity. On the first day students discuss topic ideas for their week long project and break themselves into small groups. Students spend a lot of the week working on these projects which focus on cultural beliefs and practices, political activism, and a changing environment. The project outlines are very open ended and the students got really creative! At the end of the week each group presented and the projects were amazing – especially given the short time to work on them. One group created a fake political ad about the importance of voting, another read poems they wrote about their topic, and another highlighted cultural practices around the land from each of their communities.
In addition to working on projects the students also participated in a service day, a day on the Potomac, and had guest speakers almost every night. From the hip hop artist Frank Waln to entrepreneurs, and a comedian the students had a jam packed week!
As the partner organization, it was the responsibility of the NMWF staff to make sure students got to and from the facility safely, chaperoned service projects and field trips, assisted our amazing resident nurse Ashley Davis, and added a helping hand wherever we were needed. The week was a great opportunity to get to know students from across the country and learn more about how federal agencies operate.
NMWF will be facilitating this trip for the next four years. If you know Native youth interested in the trip, please email wendy@nmwildlife.org.