Raíces de la Tierra Summer Camp: Learning, Culture, and Community
- suleiny altamirano
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 21
From August 4–8, the Well Being Community Center, in partnership with The Clearwater School, hosted Raíces de la Tierra Summer Camp in Bothell, WA. This bilingual program brought together children, youth, and families to explore the natural world, build community, and learn through hands-on experiences.
A Journey That Began in Spring 🌸
This summer camp grew out of our work with the Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders (WSCACL) through the HEAL (Healthy Environment for All) Grant. In the spring, we launched our first pilot with the goal of serving 25 kids—but to our surprise, we welcomed 61 children. We also hosted Conversation Circles on environmental stewardship and an environmental immersion camp that in total engaged 84 attendees. Families described it as “a dream come true” and asked for more opportunities.
The overwhelming success of that initiative inspired us to expand into the summer, creating an even larger camp that continued building on the same foundation of environmental justice, bilingual learning, and community connection.
Impact in Action 🌟
89 kids participated, ages 5–18, with the option for parents to stay and engage.
Bilingual learning environment where kids could grow in English and Spanish, plus six other languages..
Daily activities that connected nature, culture, food, and community.
Highlights from the Camp ✨
🍎 Apple cider making from scratch: Kids washed, cut, pressed, and shared fresh cider with their families.
🫔 Cooking together: From pupusas to pastry, to pasta , food became a bridge between cultures.
💵 Financial literacy with BECU: Youth explored the basics of saving vs. spending in a practical, interactive way.
🌿 Nature scavenger hunts: Children learned to identify plants, connect with the land, and explore the outdoors.
🎨 Cultural immersion through arts & crafts: Creative projects allowed kids to express identity and imagination.
⚽ Classic outdoor games: Soccer, 4-square, and group play brought laughter, teamwork, and joy.
Community in Action 🤝
Every day at Raíces de la Tierra, learning was more than lessons—it was about connection, culture, and collaboration. Families shared gratitude for the opportunity to see their children learning by doing, surrounded by mentors and peers who cared deeply.
As one parent expressed:
“Mi hija no quería que se acabara el campamento.” “My daughter didn’t want camp to end.”
Why It Matters 🌍
Raíces de la Tierra reminds us that education can be joyful, cultural, and community-driven. From the HEAL Spring Initiative with WSCACL to this expanded summer camp, we’ve seen firsthand how children grow when given space to connect with nature, language, and each other.
👉 Stay tuned for future camps and events at wellbeingcommunity.org. Together, we continue building bridges between language, culture, and community.
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