Earth Circle Foundation Inc

WINGS USES "RUNNING" AS A CATALYST TO EMPOWER NATIVE YOUTHS, LEADING TO INCREASED SELF-ESTEEM, HEALTH & WELLNESS, LEADERSHIP & HOPE. WINGS PROVIDES RUNNING & FITNESS CAMPS, COMPETITIVE RUNNING OPPORTUNITIES, LEADERSHIP TRAININGS, PRODUCT DISTRIBUTIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH. COVID SEVERELY IMPACTED WINGS PROGRAMS, BUT THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO RETURN TO PHYSICAL CLINICS, WHILE ALSO CONTINUING WITH VIRTUAL CLINICS AND MENTORSHIPS, WHICH WERE DEVELOPED DURING COVID

GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RECEIVED BY WINGS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS RUNNING AND FITNESS CAMPS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES AMOUNG AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH AGES 6-18. THESE FREE CAMPS ARE HELD AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS AND ARE DESIGNED TO UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR EXERCISE. FACILITATORS OF THE CAMPS ARE TRAINED EACH SUMMER. THESE FACILITATORS HELP CAMP PARTICIPANTS FIND THE INSPIRATON THEY NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO A HEALTHY, ACTIVE AND CULTURALLY CONSCIOUS LIFESTYLE ON THEIR OWN TERMS.

WINGS RETURNED TO TRAINING ATHLETES AND COACHES IN PERSON DURING 2022. HOWEVER, COVID FORCED WINGS TO INTRODUCE VIRTUAL CAMPS AND MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS WHICH THEY CONTINUED TO CARRY OUT THREE TIMES A WEEK DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2022, IN ADDITION TO THEIR IN PERSON PROGRAMS.WINGS CONDUCTED VARIOUS RUNNING PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS AN ELITE ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND THE BOSTON PURSUIT PROGRAM DESCRIBED BELOW.BOSTON PURSUIT PROGRAM: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND HARVARD UNIVERSITY, WINGS STARTED THE BOSTON "PURSUIT" PROGRAM, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO EXPOSE A SELECT GROUP OF AMERICAN INDIAN HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS TO THE REALITIES OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS PROCESS AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR MARATHONS. THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO VISIT COLLEGES, CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND PARTAKE INT HE FESTIVITIES OF THE MARATHON.WINGS HAS PARTNERED WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NEW MEXICO AREA TO BETTER SERVE THE NATIVE YOUTH INCLUDING PUEBLOS, CROSSROADS, GLOBAL FOOTPRINT YOUTH RELAYS/SANTA FE TO BUFFALO THUNDER HALF-MARATHON, SANTA FE PUBLIC SCHOOLS NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT SERVICES AND ORGANIZED FUN RUNS AND RACES WITHIN THE 19 NM PUEBLOS.

GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS ARE RECEIVED BY WINGS TO SUPPORT IT'S ATHLETES AT VARIOUS RUNNING EVENTS. ONE OF WINGS' BEST PROGRAMS EACH YEAR IS THE USATF CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS NATIONAL TEAM, WHICH EMBODIES THE ORGANIZATION'S PHILOSOPHY OF YOUTH DEVELOPMENT YEAR AFTER YEAR. WINGS SELECTS A MEN AND WOMEN'S TEAM OF JUNIOR STUDENT-ATHLETES, AGES 14-19 AND PROVIDE THE ATHLETES WITH COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING GUIDANCE, GEAR AND TRAVEL ACCOMODATIONS AS THEY PERPARE FOR THE COMPETITION. WINGS PROVIDE THE STUDENT-ATHLETES WITH A CROSS CULTURAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE THAT BROADENS THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THE WORLD AND FUELS THEIR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE. WINGS PROVIDED RACE REGISTRATION AND OR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE TO 49 NATIVE AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL RUNNERS TRYING OUT FOR THE WINGS NATIONAL TEAM.

WINGS COACHES AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING BRINGS NATIVE YOUTH MENTORS TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT RUNNING AND COACHING AND TO SHARE AND LEARN THE HISTORY OF NATIVE RUNNERS. GUEST SPEAKERS ARE INVITED FOR THE COACHES CLINIC PORTION OF THE PROGRAM TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT RUNNING AND NATIVE CULTURE. AFTER THE ONE DAY CONFERENCE, PARTICIPANTS MOVE ON TO THE LEADERSHIP CAMP WHERE WINGS FACILITATORS TEACH EACH OTHER THE PRACTICAL SKILLS NEEDED TO COORDINATE SUMMER RUNNING AND FITNESS CAMPS. THIS TRAINING CAMP INCLUDES CAMPING, MORNING RUNS, GAMEPLAY DEMONSTRATION, NATIVE RUNNING HISTORY SHARING, AND PRESENTATION CREATION, AS WELL AS GROUP MEALS. AFTER THIS 4-DAY TRAINING, WINGS FACILITATORS ARE PREPARED TO COORDINATE A SERIES OF FREE RUNNNING & FITNESS CAMPS FOR TRIBAL YOUTH AGES 6-18. IN 2022 THERE WERE 35 CLINIC PARTICIPANTS AND 22 GRADUATES OF THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING.