New summer camp aims to help American Indian youth get college ready

Native American Indian youth make up a small percentage of students attending college and completing degrees.

To help address this disparity, University of Nevada, Reno Extension is hosting a new, week-long summer camp for high school-aged youth and incoming college freshman to provide resources and support aimed at getting more of these students on a path to attend college and earn degrees.

“The camp will help address some of the stresses that are causing American Indian students to not apply to college or complete degrees,” said Extension American Indian Student Coordinator Daniel Coen. “A lot of these students come from a tight-knit community, so we want to help them and their families with the transition and changes that come with attending college.”

The American Indian Alaska Native College Prep Camp will be held June 6-10 at the Nevada State 4-H Camp in Stateline. The camp will have activities to help the youth build self-esteem and see that attending college is an attainable goal. It will expose the teens to Nevada tribal careers and provide them with information on preparing for the application process, obtaining financial aid and being successful at college life.

The camp will also feature speakers and presentations from colleges and departments across the University, including the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources and the College of Engineering, as well as the Experiment Station’s Desert Farming Initiative.

Being at the Nevada State 4-H Camp set on the shores of Lake Tahoe, there will also be time set aside for some outdoor recreational activities and social interaction. The camp costs $170 per student, and includes food, daily camp fees and an event t-shirt. Registration closes June 1, and can be done online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unr-cabnr-american-indian-college-prep-camp-tickets-310122794627.

The camp is funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Institute of Food and Agriculture Tribal Students, and the Native American Agriculture Fund. For more information, contact Coen at dcoen@unr.edu or 706-877-0197. Persons in need of special accommodations or assistance should notify Paul Lessick, civil rights and compliance coordinator, at plessick@unr.edu or 702-257-5577 at least three days prior to the scheduled event.