The sun is shining, local Tribal ceremonies are finishing up, and another traditional summer event was successful. The 2026 UIHS summer camp, May-Gay-Tolh-Kwe, which means “the healing place” in the Yurok language, was held at Sue-Meg State Park, just north of Trinidad, from July 7-10. It is an overnight camping experience that is rooted in the traditions of local Tribes. At the camp, youth participate in a full range of cultural and educational activities while enjoying time outdoors. Matthew Hinshaw, UIHS Traditional Land Management Specialist, and Andre Cramblit, Cultural Resource Specialist, served as this year’s camp staff leads.
Different departments from UIHS, like the Community Food Garden, Diabetes, Health Promotion and Education (HPE), Community Health Care, Suicide Prevention, and Traditional Tobacco programs, provide educational presentations to help our youth gain knowledge and skills as they mature. Community speakers also share their cultural experience with the campers. Youth participate in a variety of activities, from Brush Dance protocol to making flower dance sticks, playing traditional games, and other cultural activities. A favorite event is the outing to Big Lagoon, where everyone enjoys kayaking on the lagoon and riding in the traditional redwood canoes.
We hosted 42 campers this summer, providing a wonderful opportunity for participants to meet other Native youth from throughout our service area. In addition to serving youth, we also hire nearly 30 workers to help run the camp, including camp co-coordinators, adult counselors, peer counselors, night security, and of course the cooks who feed our hungry campers and staff. Campers participate in activities that promote and encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and many enjoy the camp so much that they return year after year, with some even coming back later to work as camp counselors. A few are even employed permanently at UIHS.
The Tribal and Cultural Health staff would like to thank the UIHS Board of Directors and all the departments’ staff who helped make the summer camp so successful and valuable for our youth. A special shout out goes to Sarah Scott and Ty Allen-Colegrove, who worked long, hard and diligently to provide an outstanding experience for our campe
