Surfing, Leadership, Culture, Wellness, Academics.
Ages 12-20 years old

Native American, Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native focused.  Program bridges Surf with cultural wisdom with science, health and lifestyle.

Native Like Water Hawaiian youth on a Traditional kumeyaay Tule Boat paddles out from La Jolla Shores. Picture featured on Surfer magazine and News from Native California, PHoto Credit: @slipperywaterchronicles

Native Like Water Hawaiian youth on a Traditional kumeyaay Tule Boat paddles out from La Jolla Shores. Picture featured on Surfer magazine and News from Native California, PHoto Credit: @slipperywaterchronicles

NLW’s summer program continues with a "holistic, indigenous, approach to education." Wellness, culture, leadership is weaved into a life-changing experience. Over the years, 1000's of youth and adults have been enriched locally, nationally, and internationally during NLW San Diego multi-day programming and community learning. Elders, top professionals, leaders, mentors provide support.


Tentative Itinerary Below Primary Locations for the summer program are La Jolla, San Diego, UC San Diego Campus, Local San Diego Reservation / Tribal Nations. “Within an ocean environment, what are the birds, turtles, nature telling us? How can our presence, history, ancient stories and current actions as surfers reveal so much? How do we better the environment ?

Coastal re-creation (recreation) and access to the coast is key to our survival

Coastal re-creation (recreation) and access to the coast is key to our survival

Day 1-4, UC San Diego, La Jolla, La Jolla Shores, Scripps Beach, Torrey Pines high bluffs aside majestic views of the Pacific Ocean. This coast was once a number of village and important Kumeyaay sites. This seen as sacred. With the indigenous lens, Indigenous people are all around. We just open our eyes.

During our coastal residence here, Safety always paramount, and continuing to improve our ocean and water skills.

Start the morning on the beach with yoga and surfing. Fellows will begin a clinic in surfing, culture and science. We will host a public surf clinic to youth from local San Diego Reservation and Urban community.

That afternoon, an Introduction to Surf Therapy and talking circle on Indigineity in Surfing Culture led by Auntie Dina. A brief look at Scripps Pier at UCSD's world famous Scripps Institute of Oceanography. World-renowned scientists will guide our tour and help us understand our vital relationship with the ocean and its life.

That evening we take in the natural beauty, and possible evening surf session in Oceanside, California.

Each day of the program is concluded with a guided talking circle, allowing for thought, deep connections and solutions to overcoming shared challenges.

Solid time to practice, water safety, traditional ocean use, tribal games, surfing and body-boarding skills will be on order for each day.

Food as Medicine Our program's food service is one of the standout memories of our program. Organic, native foods help clear our minds and improve our future generations. Hot Pozole, relaxation, story. Inspired by our days together, we take this night to share each of our cultural backgrounds.

Day 5, 6, 7, SD Reservation and College Tour

Day 8-10,
Continuing days are filled with ITY's culturally-relative writing module, art, indigenous science, surfing, oceanography, multiple guest presentations and another day of surfing.

Huntington Beach pier , site of vans us open.

Writing/Art multi-media pod workshops and projects are finalized as we prepare to celebrate each one's accomplishments.

Fellows spend more days in the water to round off our experience. Re-uniting with the ocean and beach is always a refreshing way to maintain balance. We will casually evaluate how far we all have come in such a short time. A life-changing experience sets in as we have a "golden moment".

Our tour and personal journey with students ends for now as we transition and continue on the path of success, enlightened, and refreshed in mind and spirit. We will have a Pre-Lunch Recognition of participants and wish everyone well as we continue to make a better world for ourselves, our families and future generations.


Watch Video: Lessons, one ship. An example from San Diego Annual Intertribal Youth Summer program. In 2018, Youth and mentors gathered from various tribes from throughout California, Hawaii, and Panama.

Programs include 1st class accommodations, great food, nutrition, and access to the top ranked universities in the world. Daily curriculum focus is on wellness, culture, writing, storytelling, performance art, and indigenous earth and biological sciences. Our mentors and teachers are accomplished individuals and include young PhD doctoral candidates and guest lecturers known nationally and internationally for their work. With access to this experience, we guarantee a life-enriching experience second to none.

Questions? Please see our San Diego Fact Sheet and Frequently Asked Questions Click here

We encourage giving. "It takes a village to raise a village" Monetary or service donations contact us or: click here.

 Watch this great San Diego Union Tribune feature video, below, from a past Summer serving teen-age youth.

watch VIDEO Union Tribune TV News: More then an academic enrichment program, we gather in ceremony, in reverence of our land, ancestors, and each other. A short glimpse.