The Gallup McKinley County School district is currently replicating the Project Venture Model in seven of the area schools. These schools include Central High School, Tse yi gai High School, Tohatchi High School, and Ramah High School. Classes use the Project Venture curriculum along with the Peer Assistance Leadership curriculum to develop leaders at each of the school sites. As students learn through our experiential and service-learning model, they in turn will lead activities and events, and eventually mentor younger students.
In year 4, (2006-08) the 4 sites will each host a gathering of Elders. The gatherings will focus on themes selected by students and elders in consultation. The gathering is a 3 hour dialogue where the elders each speak and a discussion follows. Elders are given a gift and food is provided.
Youth in Project Venture experience challenging activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, canoeing, backpack trips, ropes course, mountain biking, orienteering, as well as service-learning projects and cultural activities that support their development as capable, productive members of their community. Project Venture includes an in-school component, which focuses on team building, group problem solving, communication and cooperation through experiential games and activities. The out-of-school program builds upon the in-school component, and focuses on the wilderness activities that also includes weekend, holidays and summer activities, including our annual national camp. 2007 will mark the 25th year of our camp program.
In 2004, Project Venture was officially designated as a Model Program, by the National Registry of Effective Prevention Programs. Project Venture was developed over a 15 year period with funding from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. Currently, Project Venture has been replicated in over 70 sites, in 20 states.
Since 1990, over 3000 young people, in 5th—12th grades, have participated in Project Venture in the local area, through NIYLP programs. Another 20 replications within the state of New Mexico are serving over 1000 more.
For detailed information on Project Venture's model status, please click on the link below.
The Walking In Beauty Program (WIB) is an adaptation of Project Venture for adolescent girls. The program supports the transition to womanhood through cultural teachings, skill building experiences and service learning, based on the Navajo Kinaalda’ ceremony.
During the past year WIB participants prepared traditional foods such as tamales, stew and oven bread for religious ceremonies at the Zuni Pueblo.
WIB participants also traveled to the Hopi Reservation where they learned about the Hopi rites of passage ceremony for girls, where the Hopi maiden grinds corn for four days and does not see the sun. The young women appreciated and celebrated the similarities of their own culture as well as the differences.
In addition, the young ladies of Walking In Beauty are challenged to develop resiliency and inner strength and life skills through outdoor activities such as mountain biking, camping, hiking, rock climbing, rappelling and backpacking.
The young women are also encouraged to reconnect with their community and develop a life long ethic of service. This past summer WIB plastered a traditional Hogan at the Na’Nizhoozhi Center so that individuals can utilize the Hogan for healing purposes.
Walking in Beauty has been funded by several sources, including the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), the new Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division, the W.K. Holt Foundation, the Ohrstrom Foundation and others.