seven-day school trip to a National Park held by HIS at the beginning of the school year. Kayla and Quentina wore their traditional Navajo regalia when presenting. This opened the door for conference attendees to ask them about their culture and experiences growing up indigenous. When Kayla told an attendee about Holbrook’s gardening program, she learned about networking and building community with other groups who experience similar barriers to enjoying outside activities. Students chose and attended different conference sessions, where they learned about fun outdoor activities for young children, the importance of advocating for change, the impact of spending time in nature on healing trauma and improving mental health, and the importance of decolonizing history. The Children & Nature Network, founded by Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, seeks to help educators, government entities, city planners, mental health professionals, and parks and recreation departments work together to ensure every child has an opportunity to spend time in nature. When the conference ended, the HIS group visited the Georgia Aquarium to learn more about animals and ecosystems they don’t see in Arizona.
These student experiences could not happen without the faithful contribution of HIS supporters. Thank you for continuing to make Holbrook Indian School a place of opportunities for Native youth. ____________________ By Anita Ojeda
Holbrook Indian School (HIS) is a first- through twelfthgrade boarding academy operated by the Pacific Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. HIS also manages a first- through eighth-grade day school on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Eighty-seven percent of funding comes from individuals who have a desire to support Native American ministries and Christian education. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities they serve. Thank you for your support.
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 910 • Holbrook, Arizona 86025-0910
(928) 524-6845 (Ext. 109) • Development@hissda.org HolbrookIndianSchool.org
Holbrook Indian School
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