Hau Kola Learning Camps

The Hau Kola Learning Camp was born out of a tutoring project that started in 1998 as an afternoon component of the morning VBS project. It was apparent that working on learning activities with the Lakota children was a beneficial endeavor for both the learners and the tutors as relationships were easily formed in this small group or one on one setting. The VBS/tutoring program was stopped in 1999 and a new model was born in 2003 - the elementary learning camp model. This first camp was an activity based model but lacked structure and the need for a different model was identified. The Hau Kola Learning Camp station rotation model started in 2004 and was very successful. The campers were guided by counselors to 5 different learning stations which were lead by one or two additional staff members. This rotation model was used in 2005 and 2006 and continues to be the model for the elementary learning camp at the Makasan site.

The Pine Ridge Hau Kola Learning Camp was started in 2006 and had elementary and middle school campers. The curriculum was an activity based one and used the HOP (Hands On Projects) program of the South Dakota State Library system. The focus of the hands on activities was Color and Light and each day's activities revolved around one of these topics. The HOP Dino Stories will be used for the 2007 Pine Ridge Hau Kola site.

The Makasan Middle School Camp was started in 2006 as a mentorship model. The camp staff numbered 9 and they worked with 12 middle schoolers in small group and one on one activities. This small, mentorship model will be used again in 2007 with a project based focus with a GIS/mapping project, a puppet theater /Jr. Counselor - Leadership project that will evolve into a program for the elementary and pre-school camps, and a community work project where Hau Kola staff and Lakota teens work as a team to do work projects in the Oglala community.

The Pre-School and Baby FACE program was started at Makasan in 2006 during the same week as the elementary camp. This program proved to be a very successful one and will continue as a separate camp in 2007. The morning pre-school camp will be open to 3 - 5 year olds and will be based on early childhood literacy and will have an activity rotation model. The afternoon Baby FACE program will be a family/child learning together program for parents and children birth - 3.

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