Program areas at Deer Hill Foundation
The Deer Hill Foundation (DHF) awards student scholarships for individuals and groups to participate in wilderness expeditions and cross-cultural service programs. Awards are based on financial need. These experiences promote greater self awareness, cultural sensitivity, and personal empowerment for high potential students who would otherwise be unable to afford program costs. One of the largest programs is a three-element program, which consists of rafting, Native service, and mountain backpacking over a three-week period served 27 students for a total of $96,990 in scholarships. The largest two-element program, which consists of rafting and Native service, served schools and nonprofit groups in Montezuma and San Miguel counties, plus one group from the University of Virginia, for a total of 24 students at a cost of $16,270.
The Deer Hill Foundation (DHF) supports cross-cultural projects in Navajo, Hopi and Zuni communities in Arizona and New Mexico. DHF provides logistical and technical support as well as tools, materials, and supplies. Native service projects for 25 youth groups, totaling 302 students averaged four days on site for a total of 8456 service hours. Projects included building fence; irrigation; tree planting; community garden; building a shade arbor; planting and tending cornfields; tending and shearing sheep; re-building stone bread oven; and clay whitewash in preparation for Kachina dances in Hopi communities. Conservation service: 3 youth groups, for a total of 145 students participated in conservation projects from 1-3 days in length for a total of 1320 hours. Projects included trail work and signage in partnership with BLM, and general farm work to support the Montezuma Land Conservancy in Cortez, CO.
COVIDs impact lessened in 2022 but remained challenging in regard to employment, housing, and basic necessities (e.g. food, clothing, transportation). With so many families already living below the poverty line, Native peoples are especially vulnerable. Every family has stories of loss, even death during the pandemic. DHF continues to support Native Host families with food, livestock feed, tools and materials, and clothing.