Letters from youth

My experience being here at 7 Tepees has been just great. When i just started a lot of people came up to me and introduced themselves to me. Then just talking to mostly all the Middle Schoolers i got to meet High Schoolers. Then after just three days of coming to Tepees I felt that i was apart of a family. Now i have been here for two years and friends with every one i have become part of the Student Council here. We try to step up and help other youth and make Tepees a better place.
-Aldair (8th grader)

My experience with 7 Tepees is a good one. My first day wasn't so good, but as i started to come more often i made a lot of friends. My days here are good because i have a lot of friends and i know most the middle schoolers and some of the high schoolers in this program. I think this is a good place to come and do your homework and on Fridays just hang out. I have seen some graduates of Seven Tepees come back and tutor. It's fun watching them come back and help us out.
-Luis
I found out about 7 Tepees from my cousin. I started in the summer program when I was in Middle School.First, we ate snack and then we did our activities and later we went to go and do some community service. That was our schedule during the summer and it was cool. I got the opportunity to meet new people. Then school started, i was in seventh grade, and i met my best friend Eliseo. We formed a team called B.O.D (Brothers Of Destruction). We got our name from an over night backpacking trip with our mentors, and we was always together. It was fun getting to meet new people, getting tutor help and the trips.

-Joel (9th grader)

Mentor Backpacking Trip

For our latest adventure, Mentors and their Mentees participated in a overnight trip to Pt. Reyes. The Mentors and Mentees left the city behind and connected with nature together. This helped established an even greater connection towards one another. This was the FIRST time Seven Tepees has ever done this kind of over night trip. During this trip we hiked around 14 miles and both Mentors and Mentees always encourage one another to keep on moving forward. We've created a short video of this event. Hope you guys enjoy!!

A letter from Elsa Ramos

Picture by Steve Soesbe
My name is Elsa Ramos and I am 18 years old. I come from a low-income, Mexican-American family in San Francisco. I, and many people like me, don't ever get the chance to be able to leave the city and have a great experience like the one we just had with Seven Tepees. I feel extremely blessed to be able to come on this Retreat and grow as a person.
One thing that I truly appreciate about the retreat was that we had the luxury of being a part of the outdoor environment. We had time to balance ourselves with nature and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. Sleeping under the stars is a breathtaking experience-it is something that we rarely get to see living in a big city.The campfire was also something that gives us such a positive and great energy. It's great to have time to sit with my second family and reflect on all the good memories we created while being outdoors in the wild around a fire. "Leave No Trace" is a concept that Seven Tepees teaches us. Which basically means that since we appreciate what nature gives us we should show our gratitude by keeping it clean and not changing anything about it. The terrain was so nice and beautiful, that we had no problem in respecting the environment, since it was such a memorizing place.
During this retreat we were able to escape from all the troubles and difficulties we have to face at home, and reflect upon our lives. Together as a family we played games, shared laughs and created memories that will last a lifetime. We separated into little groups and had deep and personal conversations, we individually made collages to show our dreams and then put them all together, we got to make new friends and learn from one another. My favorite part of the trip was when our program coordinator read an inspirational poem to all of us and then told us to all write a poem about ourselves After we finished, we read them all out loud to each other. It was one of the most powerful thing I have ever experienced in my life. I got to see everyone's confident, revolutionary, leadership side come out and it was very inspirational.
I greatly appreciate all the people who made this trip possible. This truly was a life changing experience that i will never forget.
Many Thanks,
Elsa Ramos

High School Retreat pt.2

I have been a part of Seven Tepees for now going on it's seventh year--I've been to a lot of trips, but I can honestly the High School Retreat is the best trip I HAVE EVER BEEN ON!
Many of the youth who went on the previous High School Retreat always use to tell me "Man, It's the best","We be having hella fun!" so I had to experience it myself. And man do I have to agree with every word they mentioned. This trip helps youth get out the city, but more importantly prepares them for life. From learning how to De-escalate to learning about managing their finance. The Retreat allows every high schooler an opportunity to step up to the plate in becoming a great leader. So as long as this Retreat keeps running like it is already, we will continue seeing more leaders developed.

-Carlos Chan

High School Retreat!!

Mt.Lassen with high school

Mt. Lassen was a week long trip for both high school and middle school. This trip helps youth interact with nature and leave the city life behind for a while. Besides hiking and swimming we also do activities to build trust between all new incoming students from uprising high schoolers to incoming six graders and staff. At the end of the day this trip is one the best i have been part of.

-Carlos Chan

Mt.Lassen pt.3

"We just came back from a hike, and at first it was really hard because we were going up a hill and it was hot! I really learned alot of things like how to pack things into a backpack so it can fit perfectly. My experience backpacking was difficult but fun. I really enjoyed getting to know new people and the people who never camped before."

-Eliseo

Mt.Lassen pt.2

Seven Tepees Middle school Mt. Lassen

Seven Tepees summer 09

Summer 2009! All our community service and fun activities all in one movie!! Check it out!!

Food Bank..

"When we were in the van going to the food bank I felt very happy because we were giving back to our community. After when we got to the food bank we started packing carrots. I had lots of fun because we were talking and packing carrots. Doing this helps our community by feeding 24,000 people. After giving back to our community I felt good."-Jacob

Seven Tepees Pledge video

Presidio 7/7/09

Giving back is much better with friends..

Franklin Square Workday with Seven Tepees

Was Watching Youtube and stumbled on to this..check it out

The begning of new friends and adventures..

Enjoy!

The new members of the Seven Tepees Family..

Seven Tepees collage

Many stories and memories all in one collage...