Our Story

When UAII began operations in 1974 on Skid Row in Downtown LA, there were many American Indian families battling issues of alcoholism, violence, and poverty. UAII leadership wanted to provide an opportunity to show the youth something different - outside their concrete jungle. Through the vision of Robert Sundance and David Rambeau, opportunities were created for the youth to introduce them to a "larger" world beyond Skid Row. 

In 1990, UAII held its first summer camp with only a handful of kids, 2 staff, and donated food. From those humble beginnings, we have grown to become a youth summertime institution in Los Angeles. Thousands of youth from Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Diego, Inyo, and Arizona have joined us at camp and shared in our tradition. Our motto for our program is "Different Clans, One Nation, Our Dream for Future Alcohol-free Generations."

The camp is comprised of youth ages 5-12 (85%), and teens ages 13-18 (15%). Supported by all the programs of United American Indian Involvement, Inc., and our partner organizations, we provide a week-long residential camp that offers outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, fishing, and camping. Social activities like arts/crafts, theatre, and games offer our youth a relaxing environment to get to know other American Indian youth. What makes our camp unique is our shared American Indian culture which is infused into all our programming.

Manahu!

2023 marks the 33rd year that UAII has hosted the Robert Sundance Summer Camp. This year we plan on taking up to 50 youth for a week-long resident camp experience to the beautiful Eastern Sierras. Participants will depart UAII (1453 W. Temple Street, LA, CA 90026) at 10am on Monday morning and return at 3pm on Saturday.

Our camp is primarily designed for American Indian Youth (ages 5-12), living in Los Angeles County. A limited number of slots are reserved for teens (13-18) selected to participate in our Counselors in Training Program. Our camp program is provided by UAII at no cost through a grant from Indian Health Service.

Our camp is located at the Bernasconi Education Center, which is located at 941 Sugar Loaf Road, Big Pine, CA 93513. If you have any questions about our camp, please contact the Camp Director at (213)202-3970, ext 7193, or email renriquez@uaii.org.

ELIGIBILITY: Each campers must be registered with the American Indian Clubhouse AND register (or update) their UAII Client Registration with the American Indian Health Project.

REGISTRATION: Fill-out our online Camp Registration Form first. Our staff will contact you and let you know if you need to update your AIC and AIHP registration. If it has been a year since your last update, please contact the American Indian Health Project to update your paperwork.

HEALTH EXAM: Each camper must get a Physical Examination at the UAII Clinic. This is a new requirement and we will not be able to accept physicals from outside providers. Contact the American Indian Community Clinic to set an appointment at UAII. Physical Examinations may be completed no earlier than 60 days prior to camp. No health examination will be done the morning of camp. Unfortunately, we cannot take campers on psychotropic medications. 

CONFIRMATION: Once all paperwork is turned in, the Camp Director will send you a final confirmation letting you know that all the paperwork is complete and your child is set for camp.

COMMUNICATION/UPDATES: The camp uses a closed messaging services to provide updates, share information, and exchange photos from camp. Each parent will need to download the BAND app, and we will send out an invite code to all parents which will add you to our group. 

Camp fills up quick, and seats for camp can not be guaranteed until all paperwork is completed and turned in. Applications received after camp has filled, will be put on a wait list. We will make every effort to take as many youth to camp as possible, if they have completed their paperwork.

The deadline for all paperwork submission is July 13, at 6:00pm.