Football camp on Navajo rez

Native youth learn skills from former pros

By Keith MorrisThe three-day camp held June 11-13 has really grown since the first camp in 1996 featured one sport (football) and drew 91 campers to the Navajo Reservation in Chinle. There were approximately 50 athletes from basketball, football, lacrosse, soccer, track and running and volleyball conducting clinics and offering advice on sports and life in the latest camp.

"The camp is specifically designed for Native Americans," said Stephen Stake, coordinator of activities in the White Mountains area for Native Vision. "The coaches come out and they address different issues that Native Americans face and a lot of the leadership workshops and all the entertainment and everything is basically run by Native Americans. All the volunteers here, most of them are from the community." Allison Barlow of Johns Hopkins University's School of Public Health and the Center for American Indian Health, co-founded the program along with former National Football League players Nick Lowery and Clark Gaines.Below:  "Darnell Hughey takes part in a football drill at the Native Vision Sports and Life Skills Camp at Alchesay High School on June 12. Hughey will be a senior at Alchesay High this fall."