Where are we going?...and What about the weather?

We've received more information from Amizade on the location of our place of stay for this trip. Here is a link to some data in the Google street view database on the site. The group that is hosting us at the site is the Tuba City Church of Christ. Their facility has lodging made up of four hogans and they work in conjunction with Amizade to provide this housing to visiting volunteers.  

As mentioned previously we are traveling in February. In case anyone is wondering here are the current weather conditions and here is some historical weather data for the month of February at our destination.

What is the group going to be doing on this trip?

As a member of the organizing committee for this Cultural Odyssey (and an adult advisor planning to go on the trip) I often get asked, “What is the group going to be doing on this trip?”. The answer is simple and at the same time, not. As you may have read below we have identified an organization, Amizade, to host us in the Navajo Nation. They will be providing us with food and lodging for the week and will be giving us work assignments. We do not know yet exactly what the nature of that work will be but they have pointed us to two writings that provoke thought on how they view service. I've shared them here in the following links. The first is “What We Don't Talk about when We Don't Talk about Service” and it gives some perspective on the nature of the question posed above. The second is an excerpt from the book  “Beyond the Four Corners of the World: A Navajo Woman's Journey” by Benedek, Emily. It is a chapter entitled “My Mom Always Says,‘Never Trust a White Person’”. It gives some insight into the cultural perspectives of the people with whom we will be working. 

What is the group going to be doing on this trip? We will be volunteering at a Navajo boarding school in Tuba City, doing whatever is asked of us. But more importantly we will be trying to close the distance between ourselves and those we serve.

This Saturday!

This Saturday!!!

Pre-registration available at the Youth Group Table at Coffee Hour.

Water Bottles

Right now, with a donation of $15 you can receive one of these lovely blue aluminum water bottles.  On each water bottle is written in Navajo: Hózhóogo naashàa doo, which translates to "In beauty I walk."  

Please stop by the Youth Group table at coffee hour to get your own during Sundays in December!

Amizade

The first major task that the AIRPAC was charged with was selecting an organization with which to volunteer.  For  two weeks each member of the AIRPAC was charged with looking into organizations that might be possible.  Through countless hours of online research, in depth discussions at AIRPAC meetings, and many e-mail correspondences the AIRPAC made a unanimous decision that Amizade is the right fit for us.

The main considerations in the decision:

• Size - Amizade was the only organization we looked at that can accommodate our size.  Everyone else balked at our early estimate of ~45people.  Now that we know we will be 56 we are lucky to be working with an organization that can house all of us.  
• Timing - We knew our time frame was February vacation.  Most of the organizations we found had opportunities available in the summer and not in February.
• All-inclusivity - One of the things that worked really well during the last New Orleans service trip was that we worked with a group that was able to arrange everything for us once we got to New Orleans.  Amizade is set up similarly.  For one fee per person Amizade will provide 3 meals per day, arrange our work schedule and arrange many different cultural opportunities.  
• Customizability - Another factor that made Amizade the clear choice for our group was the opportunity to customize our trip.  Because of our size Amizade is willing to help us make our own experience.  Although they are accustomed to groups of no more than 20 they are willing to work with us to make this trip fit our needs as a group of 56.  

In corresponding directly with Amizade staff we have also learned that the this location has a great safety record.  The only safety issue they have had in the past was one trip to the hospital for a participant who broke a toe by walking into a chair.  

For more information on Amizade please visit their website: http://amizade.org/.

Ways that you can contribute to our Fundraising Efforts!

We have a number of upcoming fundraisers scheduled.  Please plan to come to one or all of them!

Sundays in December, Coffee Hour, Navajo Water Bottle Sales:
The youth group will be selling stainless steel waterbottles inscribed with Navajo phrases.  A perfect, eco-friendly, culturally aware holiday gift!


Tuesdays in December, Not Your Average Joes:
Go out to dinner at Not Your Average Joes in Arlington Center on Tuesdays in December and 15% of your check could come to support our trip!  Just bring a flyer (available at First Parish) with they will make a contribution to us!


Saturday, December 11, 2:00 - 5:00 Gamewright Game Afternoon: 
Come and play tons of Gamewright games with your friends and family!  Fun for all ages!  Games will be available for purchase.  Get some of your holiday shopping done!

Saturday, December 18, 10:00am - 4:00pm, Kids Holiday Fun Day: 
Bring your children to the church for a fun-filled day of games, crafts and holiday activities while you squeeze in some last minute holiday shopping!  Children of all ages are welcome.  Pre-register at Coffee Hour in December!

Friday, January 28, 7:30 pm, Youth Group Music Benefit: 
*** New Date*** Saturday, February 12th, 7:30 pm, Youth Group Music Benefit:
An all ages event!  Bring your friends and family to hear numerous musical acts perform.  Come and be inspired!  $10 per person.  Tickets on sale during Coffee Hour in January and at the door.

Ongoing: Babysitting and Dog-walking services:
Hire a team of youth to perform any of these tasks!  E-mail ChaliceYouthServices@gmail.com to sign up.  $10/hr/youth, minimum 2 youth and 1 hour.

Fundraising Goals

The youth group must raise $19,000 in order to participate in this Service Trip.  We have a comprehensive Fundraising plan and we are confident that we can reach our goal.  Please note that $6000 of this fundraising goes to scholarships for youth who would otherwise be unable to attend this trip.  The other $13,000 offsets the individual cost for each participant, as well as covers the cost of our ground transportation and insurance.

Grant Writing:
In addition to individual events, we have a dedicated team of youth and adults writing grants to various organizations, foundations and businesses.  If you know of a likely funding source, or if your company may be able to contribute to our trip, please contact airpac@firstparish.info.

Important Dates and Additional Information

The trip will take place during Arlington High School's February break.  We will be gone from Sunday the 20th until Sunday the 27th.

We have a group of 56 going on the trip, 43 youth and 13 adults.  We are all so excited to go to Tuba City and bring back with us all of our new knowledge and experiences!  When we get home, the group will great outreach programs so as to inform and involve the entire community in our service trip!

What will we be doing?

During our stay in Tuba City, the youth group will have the opportunity to participate in a large variety of activities.  Although our itinerary will not be finalized until closer to our departure there are many possible activities we will participate in.  A major part of our volunteer work will be done in local schools mentoring and tutoring kids in academics, art and music.  Another possible activity is helping to make a senior citizen center more handicapped accessible or repairing schools and shelters.  We will work with Amizade to find tasks that are suitable for our group's size, interests, and skills.

Along with volunteering and making a difference in the community, the youth group will also get the chance to learn about Navajo and Hopi culture.  We will likely hear stories around a fire pit, learn about long-standing traditions, and have the chance to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony.  We will also be surrounded by beautiful land and have the opportunity to hike and visit local markets and towns.  The cultural relationship will be one of give and take; we will learn about Native American culture while teaching them about our own.

The Basics

Trip Information

This year the youth group will be going on a service trip to a Navajo and Hopi Native American Reservation in Tuba City, Arizona (near Flagstaff).  AIRPAC (American Indian Reservation Planning Action Committee), the planning committee for the trip, has been meeting every Wednesday night from 7:00 to 8:30.  AIRPAC's goal is to organize and plan a fun and enriching volunteer trip while still making it accessible to all youth who wish to attend.

The youth group will be hosted by a program called Amizade.  Amizade is an organization that specializes in setting up service projects.  They are thrilled to have our group on one of their favorite sites and have nothing but great things to say about this trip.  The Amizade employees have assured us that the Reservation is very safe and the program staff are trained and friendly.  For more information on this program and further details on the trip, please visit the Amizade website at: http://amizade.org/programs/locations-to-serve/the-navajo-nation/

About our Group

The Youth Group at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington is made up of more than 50 high school students from Arlington and the neighboring communities.  Each year the youth group participates in some kind of service project either a local project or a service trip.

This year we will be going on a service trip and this blog will document our adventure.  Thanks for visiting!