Kimochi

2008

Volunteer General Information

Navaho Workcamps

Changes made to this page on 06/27/09 05:34 PM

The Navaho Workcamp will be located in the northwestern part of New Mexico and on the northeastern part of the Navaho reservation. This area of the Navaho reservation is known as the Checker Board area.   The Huerfano area of the Navaho reservation is isolated and arid. 

The Workcamp primary mission will assist in the construction of the Institute of Indigenous Relevant Technology. 

Also, the volunteers will help local families and elders. Most of our work will be home repair projects, cleaning trash, cutting wood and other intensive labor projects. The Huerfano Chapter will coordinate the work that will assist local elders Navaho residents in general labor.

Other work activities:  

Navaho Workcamp Volunteers must apply to the SCI-International Voluntary Service.  Volunteers must pay SCI application and other fees.  These fees are apart from the Kimochi Workcamp fees that described below. 

CAMP DATES: There are five Navaho Workcamps scheduled from July 3 to September 16. 

LOCATION OF WORKCAMP: The primary project site is at Huerfano, New Mexico near Farmington, New Mexico. It takes an average of an hour to travel the 40 miles from Farmington to the Workcamp site.  Map 

HOW TO GET THERE: The major town nearest the work area is Farmington, New Mexico. Farmington is a border town of the Navaho reservation and has a population of 60,000 people. The nearest major city is Albuquerque, New Mexico which is served by most major airlines. Farmington is approximately 160 miles northwest of Albuquerque. 

Farmington is served by Greyhound Bus Line and a few airlines. The national telephone number for Greyhound Bus is 1-800-231-2222.   The Farmington Greyhound Bus station is located at:

101 E ANIMAS
Farmington NM 87401

Telephone Numbers:
Main: (505) 325-1009

You will have to check with a travel agency for the airline services into Farmington. 

PICKUP:  Because of the difficulty of getting to Huerfano, we are arranging for a general PICKUP in Farmington, New Mexico on each "pickup date."  Farmington is the PICKUP point for the project.  If possible, we would like everyone to arrive in Farmington in the early afternoon, .  Please fill out the Navaho Travel Form, link is located in private volunteer page.

Each Workcamp has a specific "pickup date" in which volunteers are met in Farmington, New Mexico.   Check here for the specific dates for the workcamps.

We will make only one PICKUP run. There is not any other transportation, other than hitching, to the job-site. Volunteers MUST NOT arrive later than the designated pickup date of each Workcamp since this imposes an extreme hardship on the organizers of the camp. Each Workcamp is located at an isolated site on the Reservation, so the PICKUP date is important. 

We will focus our meeting of volunteers at the Greyhound Bus Station and the Farmington Airport. 

If you are driving into the area with a private car on the assigned pickup date, go to the Greyhound Bus Station and call us at 303 494 9542 (Cell Phone Number).   Please fill out the travel form with a estimate time of arrival at the bus station.  

Also, note that if you arrive before the PICKUP date, you will be responsible for your own food and housing in the interim. Please notify us of your travel plans by filling out the Kimochi travel form.   

DEPARTURE dATE:  The last day of each Workcamp falls on a Friday.  Everyone must make their travel arrangements for leaving on the Friday "departure date" from Farmington or Huerfano.   Also, note that if you remain and leave the camp area after the Friday "departure date," you will be responsible for your own food and housing in the interim in Farmington, New Mexico.

CLIMATE:  The climate is normally quite HOT during the summer, with occasional thunderstorms and wind and the nights may be quite cold.   The days may be hot, but at night, you will be wearing a sweater and jacket.  Thermal underwear may be needed at night.  

However, it has been strange weather for the past few years and volunteers should be prepared for cold and rainy days.  And, It is important that you bring suitable clothing warm days and gear for a rainy climate.  

During one workcamp, it rained for the entire period and each tent was flood.  But, it was fun and we did get a lot of work done. 

CAMP ACCOMMODATIONS: We will be doing a lot of camping so you must bring your own small and light tent. It is also important to stress that living conditions will be rough.   Basically, we are camping in the desert without electric power or running water. 

Cooking, showers, etc. will be basic and rustic.   And, we will be fighting with two horses and several dogs.  If there is a large number of volunteers, we will have to get water every day.  So, we have to be careful with our water usage.  

The camp diet will be determined by the volunteers.  Each volunteer should have a list of foods in mind upon arrival in Farmington.  During the pickup day, we will be buying food and supplies for the camp.  We do not have cooling ability at the camp, so food has to be basic and able to store without cooling.   There will be limitations on fresh vegetables. 

If you are a strict vegetarian, be aware that you may feel left out when the local people have a meal, as meat is usually featured. If you need anything special, bring it with you. In addition, all volunteers are responsible for their own "junk food" addiction.

Each volunteer will take turns cooking meals.  And, each volunteer will wash dishes after meals.   Since are cooking methods are primitive, it takes a great deal of time to prepare meals.  So, it requires the efforts of all volunteers to help with meals.   In the morning, getting up early to prepare breakfast is the rule.

WHAT TO BRING: Generally, good boots, working gloves, cool work clothing, warm night clothing, hat, swim wear, rain wear, sun lotion or screen, towel, sleeping bag, mattress pad, tent, tent fly/cover and flashlight.  Each volunteer should limit themselves to one backpack-size piece of baggage.  Click here to see complete CHECKLIST.

WORK SCHEDULE: Volunteers are not paid, but they are expected to follow the work schedule established by the camp leaders. We will work a five-day week, with weekends set aside for attending local ceremonies or visiting the surrounding sights. Work hours will usually be from 7:00-12:00, 2:00-5:00 to avoid the heat in the early afternoon. However, each day is different depending upon the work project.

KIMOCHI WORKCAMP FEE AND ADDITIONAL FEES/COSTS:  All volunteers are required to pay to Kimochi  the equivalent of 200 Euro in US dollars for attending the Workcamp.  The fee is due on the first day of the camp. 

A weekend in Chaco Canyon and Gallup are included in the camp fee.  Usually,  we camp in Chaco Canyon for one night and then spent the night in a motel in Gallup, New Mexico.  The extra weekend cost is 10 Euros per person per trip.  

A list of possible extra charges beyond the initial $500 Workcamp are:

CULTURAL CONTACT:  You must remember that Navahos are very private people and there may be limited contact with local individuals who are receiving assistance from our program.  There may be contact with other tribal community leaders. There are several cultural rules that will be explained during the project orientation. When possible and given the opportunity, we will attend local/tribal ceremonies, but the volunteers must realize this will only be by chance and should not be depended upon.

RESEARCH:  Studies and social research of Indian individuals and communities are not allowed during the Workcamp.

ADDRESSES:

Before June 18

Charles Cambridge

Kimochi 

1293 Aikins Way 

Boulder, Colorado 80305 

USA 

Cell Phone: (303) 494-9542  

Email: charlescambridge@yahoo.com

After June 18

Charles Cambridge 

Kimochi

P.O. Box 1172

Durango, Colorado  81301

USA

Cell Phone: (303) 494-9542  

Email: charlescambridge@yahoo.com

 

Local Contact: Our community contacts are the tribal officials at the Huerfano Chapter. Their address is: 

Huerfano Chapter, P.O. Box 968, Bloomfield, New Mexico 87413. 

The telephone number for the Huerfano Chapter is (505)325-1400.

 

EMERGENCY WORKCAMP PHONE NUMBERS: The Workcamp cell phone number is 303 494 9542. This cell phone number will be on during the day and early evening at the Workcamp site. Since there is a problem with the lack of electricity to charge the phone batteries on site, the cell phone service may be disrupted during the day.

PERSONAL CELL PHONES: Despite the isolated setting of Huerfano, there is a nearby cell phone tower and some personal cell phones may be possible in this area.

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