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December 30, 2009

Youth Mission Trip for 2010!

Avenue of the Giants Mission Trip

We are pleased to announce Trinity’s 2010 youth mission trip!! We will be pairing with Church of the Epiphany’s youth group during the week of June 13th-20th to participate in the 2010 Avenue of the Giants Mission Trip to Arcata! Entering freshmen who have just graduated 8th grade through exiting seniors are invited to attend this trip!

The trip ties into the Millennium Development Goals for environmental sustainability, and alleviating hunger and poverty, it is “local” in the sense that it doesn’t require air travel (though it is still about 6 hours away so it feels like we’re really going somewhere for our trip), it helps our teens to recognize that there are people right here in California living in desperate poverty (Humboldt County is one of the most economically depressed counties in California), and it draws us into conversation with and contemplation of Native Peoples of our own state.

This year we will be going to Indian Island, a small piece of land accessible at low tide, which the native Wiyot tribe used for centuries for an annual seven to ten day “World Renewal” celebration. In 1860, in the middle of the night, settlers crossed the channel to Indian Island, massacred the native residents of the permanent settlement of Tuluwat, and took possession of the island. After a tumultuous series of relocations, elimination of national status, court battles, and near extinction (the population dropped to a mere 100 people at its lowest), the tribe began to reclaim its identity, and in 2001 was able to purchase back a 1½-acre piece of their sacred land on Indian Island. In 2006 the county of Humboldt granted the return of 60 acres, and the tribe has been actively working to recondition their land for the past eight years (it was used as a shipyard from 1870-1990!). The goal of the “Tuluwat project” is to restore the cultural heritage and ecological resources of the site and surrounding salt marsh, to construct a cultural center open to the public, and to restore the site to once again perform Tribal ceremonies there.

Our group will be participating in projects on the island for four of the days we’re on the trip. Also while in Arcata, we will be working for a half day with Friends of the Dunes to remove invasive plant species from the dunes and learning about the delicate microclimate and ecology of dune life. The other half of that work day will be preparing a meal and helping to serve it at the local soup kitchen in cooperation with St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Arcata.

While in Arcata, we will be staying in the Humboldt State University dorms, which offers a summer conference rate that includes three meals per day.

For program we will be discussing the Millennium Development Goals, issues surrounding historic and current treatment of indigenous peoples, and what service,stewardship, and faith look like in the Episcopal Church. For our day off, we will be exploring the North Coast—tidepools, estuaries, redwood rainforest, and the local attractions such as live music, community activities in the park, coffee houses, movies, fine (and eclectic) dining, etc.

We need help in raising money for the Mission Trip. The total cost of the trip is $8000. If you are interested in making a donation or sponsoring a youth please contact Youth Director Ali Steele at ali.e.steele@gmail.com or 650-454-6678.

Peace, Ali Steele
Youth Director, Trinity Parish