Camp Dos Cabezas
Cultural Crossroads Youth Education Program
www.houstonculture.org/camp
There's a great stone face looking up at my mine. If you pass three red hills
you've gone too far. The rays of the setting sun shine on my gold.
-- Jacob Walz
CAMP OVERVIEW
Camp Dos Cabezas is an educational adventure camp that gives children the experience of a lifetime to help them stay in school and achieve success. Mentors and camp volunteers accompany the children as they explore the dramatic Chiricahua Mountains and regions of southeastern Arizona, the crossroads of many cultures in America's history.
Campers stay in the Chiricahua National Monument, and go on educational hikes and field trips each day. The canyons of this national monument create an amphitheater of stone faces and tall spires, formed by wind and rain erosion. The landscape of the volcanically-created Chiricahua Mountains is dynamic and unique at every turn -- the perfect setting to inspire the kids and captivate their imaginations.
To enhance the educational experience, campers keep field notes about native plants and geological formations, which they use for identification as they tour museum exhibits. Rangers and volunteers offer tours and campfire programs.
Leadership skills are developed as the campers attend a planning meeting each night to prepare for activities the following day. To further their experience, the children practice photography and keep a journal to help them make presentations to their schools or community centers when they return.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Dos Cabezas is a prominent two-headed peak, named by Spanish explorers, that dominates the landscape. Mentors and students work in pairs, using their two heads, to solve many of the region's mysteries.
Historic sites in Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pima Counties introduce the campers to many cultures, including the Chiricahua Apache and Chief Cochise, namesakes of important landmarks in the area. At the Coronado National Memorial, campers try on Spanish armor and learn about early Spanish exploration. They visit an historic Jesuit Mission, San Javier del Bac, south of Tucson.
Many cultures crossed paths in the region -- Mexican ranchers, Chinese railroad builders, Serbian miners, Mormon battalions, Jewish pioneers, and African American soldiers. Many names were made famous in this western frontier -- Geronimo, Pancho Villa, General Crook, Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, Ah Lum, C.S. Fly, and the Lost Dutchman.
Children study the impact of early industries, like transportation (the Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach and Southern Pacific Railroad), journalism (the Tombstone Epitaph frontier newspaper), and mining (the Copper Queen Mine). They learn about the impact of natural and man-made disasters in history, such as fires, earthquakes and draught.
Campers learn about the clash of cultures at Fort Bowie National Historic Site, where the famous U.S. fort was built in the Apache homeland. The children learn about military life at the Fort Huachuca Museum Buffalo Soldiers Exhibit, and frontier history at the Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park.
From their forested campsite, the kids hike a short distance through the Silver Spur Meadow to Faraway Ranch, where they learn about pioneers, their relationship with the indigenous people, and the establishment of the national parks. On an evening hike to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, campers can see mountain ranges cutting across the Chihuahuan and Sonoran desert landscapes, and visit with a park ranger at a fire lookout. They also learn about archaeological research work at the Amerind Foundation.
SAFETY ISSUES
Children are as safe at Camp Dos Cabezas as they are whenever the play outdoors, maybe even safer. There is a extraordinary amount of adult supervision. Rangers and camp volunteers give the kids safety instructions before each activity, which typically involves hiking on maintained trails. No climbing is permitted.
While the Chiricahua National Monument is a natural environment, it is not a remote wilderness. Nearby towns have excellent medical facilities. Park rangers can address safety concerns with parents and additional safety information will be provided to the parents.
HOW THE CAMP WORKS
Camp Dos Cabezas features several flexible plans of operation. Houston Institute for Culture will recruit mentors to provide scholarships for deserving children who are selected to participate in the camp. By working with the Houston Institute for Culture, other organizations can implement the plan into their own activities. Parents with sufficient means may also use the camp itinerary, as well as other planning materials, to provide an educational adventure for their own children on a memorable family vacation.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Without community support, children who can benefit most from this great experience, will not. The camp was conceived to benefit children who could be successful and independent, but do not have this kind of opportunity in their lives to inspire them to study and stay in school.
Anyone can help. Community members are needed to spread the word about this effort to potential mentors. Others are needed to help identify deserving children. You can volunteer a week of your time to work at the camp. The possibilities are endless, but many important connections are needed to make the camp happen.
For more information, see www.HoustonCulture.org/camp. And please tell others.
Houston Institute for Culture is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting cultural education and awareness through cultural activities. Our goal is to provide free and low-cost events, services and classes for the community. The organization's sphere of interest is Houston, the regions that have affected Houston's cultural history and the international origins of Houston's diverse population. Membership is free and all events and informational resources are open to the public.
HOUSTON INSTITUTE FOR CULTURE
Camp Dos Cabezas
Astrodome Station, Box 20182
Houston, TX 77225-0182
Phone: 713-521-3686
Email: info@houstonculture.org