National Summer Youth Practicum

If the student is graduating from 12th grade in May/Spring 2025, are they eligible to apply? 

• If the graduating senior is still under the age of 18 by July 20, 2025, yes they can apply.
• If the graduating senior (May/Spring 2024) is 18 years old or older before July 20, 2025, they are not eligible.

Tribally enrolled students are eligible to apply, how about descendants? 

• Yes, student’s that are descendants may apply. In addition, we recommend/suggest that if students are descendants and want to ever claim “Indian Preference” on future college scholarships, jobs, completing the BIA Form 4432 is necessary and would be helpful. The BIA Form 4432 requires certain signatures, so ensure that allocate adequate time to complete.

How are students selected to attend the National SYP? 

• Student applications are reviewed by the National SYP review committee. Reviewing applications take time due to carefully assessing student’s creative submissions and to ensure that all prompts are addressed.

What travel is covered for the student attending the National SYP?  

• We cover the student’s airfare from their home to Denver, CO. We provide food and lodging for the duration of the program from lunch on July 13 to breakfast on July 19, 2025. We send a check prior to their travel to cover student’s mileage (GSA-based) from residence to the nearest airport (2 round trips, mileage from residence to airport then airport to residence, up to certain dollar amount dependent on funding).

Do you fund a chaperone’s travel to travel and attend with the student?

• Currently, we do not. The past years of the National SYP program, we did not have chaperones attend and travel with the student. Students have been traveling on their own to the National SYP – we do provide a Flight Guide to aid in student’s travel, hold a parent/student meeting prior to travel to go over logistics/questions, we pick up the students at the airport, and we provide all of our contact information so we stay in contact through the student travel process.
• For student’s flying for the first time, we encourage parents/guardians to walk them through the airport process, review the Flight Guide together, and if possible, take the student to the airport prior to travel to walk them through how the airport process works/flows.
  • If a parent/guardian is interested and concerned about their students safety through the airport, we will reimburse for a gateway pass (NOT an airline escort) for one parent or guardian, so that parent/guardian can walk with their student to their airline gate as long as a purchase receipt from the airline is submitted to NAFWS. Additionally, it will be the parent/guardian’s responsibility for arranging the purchasing of gateway pass.

Do you have applications to be a chaperone for the National SYP?

• No, we do not have applications for chaperones or mentors, we utilize NAFWS staff, interns, members and partners to serve as chaperones for the National SYP.

Do you pay for the student’s luggage? 

At the time of travel, we do not pay or provide funding for the student’s checked luggage for their airfare. However, after the National SYP, we allow the student/parent or guardian to submit a Luggage Reimbursement Form (attached with luggage receipts), then we send a check for luggage reimbursement for 1 checked bag round trip ONLY, we do not cover overweight luggage or 2nd checked luggage.

What airport do the student’s fly into?

Student’s fly into Denver International Airport, where they will meet with NAFWS staff to be picked up.

What if we (parent/guardian) want to drive our student to Colorado to drop off  before the program and pick up after the program?

You can decide to drive to your student to Colorado, however there is only 1 drop off point which is at Denver International Airport (DIA); and only one pick up point which is at the hotel in Denver; however, we will have to do a price comparison for the travel costs, to abide by our NAFWS Travel Policy. This means that if driving (mileage) costs more than a roundtrip airfare, the NAFWS will cover the most cost efficient (cheapest) mode of travel.

What if we (parent/guardian) want our student to fly to Denver but, we pick them up after the program? Or Vice Versa?

You can decide to do this option, however you must let SYP Staff know at time of travel arrangements, if not, you are responsible for any changes and fees associated with flights changes or cancellations. You much pick up your student at the hotel in Denver after final presentations; We will have to do a price comparison for the travel costs, to abide by our NAFWS Travel Policy. This means that if the one-way flight ticket and driving (mileage) costs more than a roundtrip airfare, the NAFWS will cover the most cost efficient (cheapest) mode of travel.

I have two or more students that want to attend together, do they submit 1 application or would they all need to submit an application?

There should be 1 application submitted per student, even if the student’s are siblings. Also, note that there is no guarantee that students that want to or plan to attend as a group or together, will all be accepted. This allows space and diversity for other student’s who may be applying on their own.