2023 Endurance Camp Dates/Locations
(Please only register for one Endurance Camp so others may participate in these events with limited capacity)
Monument Valley Endurance Camp. Hosted by the Salazar family in Monument Valley Tribal Park. Campers should be planned to be dropped off between 3 & 5pm on Sunday, June 11th. Pickup will be between 3pm and 5pm on Tuesday, June 13th. Host site is about 2 miles down the dirt road beyond “The View” hotel and Park visitor’s center. Road is passable even for low clearance sedans when dry. In the event of wet/muddy roads, alternate arrangements will be made to shuttle campers down to the host site.
Registration link HERE (limited to 35 campers)
Camp Asaayi Endurance Camp. Hosted at Navajo Nation Tribal Park “Camp Asaayi”, northeast of Navajo, NM. Campers should be planned to be dropped off between 3 & 5pm on Sunday, July 23rd. Pickup will be between 3pm and 5pm on Tuesday, July 25th. Dirt road to camp is passable even for low clearance sedans when dry. In the event of wet/muddy roads, alternate arrangements will be made to shuttle campers down to the host site.
Registration link HERE (limited to 35 campers)
Diné Endurance Camps aim to provide Native youth ages 12-18 with an unique summer camp focused on running, mountain biking and trail building. Hosted in some of the most beautiful landscapes on the Navajo Nation, each Endurance Camp will offer three days and two nights “roughing it”. With decades of experience assembling all-Native crews of college-aged mentors committed to participating alongside summer campers, Wings of America can assure the engagement of attendees in a well supervised, nourished and safe setting. No prior camping, mountain biking or running experience is necessary. The location of each camp provides unique opportunities for camp hosts, participants and instructors to teach each other lessons about the Land and how it relates to culture and shared histories.
Participants will engage in early morning runs on each day of camp. After breakfast, they will be split in to smaller groups and rotate through “stations” that will provide them more-specific instruction and the opportunity to practice running, mt. biking and trail building alongside Wings, Silver Stallion and Navajo YES staff. Night time will provide time around the fire and opportunities for laughter and storytelling. Participants are encouraged to bring their own camping gear- but Wings has some for loan, for those in need.
We are excited and honored to continue program collaborations with Silver Stallions Bicycle & Coffee, as well as Navajo YES. Since 2018, Silver Stallion has created spaces for for southwestern Native youth to learn to ride and repair (mountain) bicycles. This experience leads participants to competition and travel opportunities, as well as leadership and job experience mentoring younger Stallion participants. Navajo YES has lead trail building, outdoor event coordination and experiential education initiatives in collaboration with local champions across the Navajo Nation since 1988. We could not do these camps without their experience, knowledge and help.