What is Minitown?

The overall goal of the KMS Minitown is to empower students to become leaders in transforming their schools and communities to be more just and inclusive.  The experience is designed to lay the groundwork for students of different backgrounds to step out of their comfort zone and begin to understand themselves and others.  Participants gain a new awareness of themselves and others and how they are all impacted by one another.  The objectives of KMS Minitown are to teach effective leadership skills, to nurture a sense of individual self-worth and to promote cultural awareness, understanding and the celebration of diversity.  In order to reflect the diversity on our campus, we select delegates from varying ethnic, economic and religious backgrounds. A more detailed description of the Minitown experience as well as the path towards future leadership opportunities through minitown has been provided by our lead counselor, Donald Smith, and is attached.

Mini-town information

When is Minitown?

Friday-Sunday, September 28-30.  Busses leave at the beginning of the school day and return on Sunday afternoon.

Where is Minitown?

Camp Wamatochick in Prescott, AZ.  It is still a “sleeping bag experience” with some luxuries.  Students sleep in typical camp cabins with shared restrooms.

How is it supervised?

Teachers and KMS staff are asked to lead and supervise a group during day time activities of 8-12 students.  These activities will be accompanied by a high school/college age counselor who is in charge of planning and carrying out all activities.  Counselors are assigned to supervise each cabin with boy cabins located on the opposite side of girl cabins.  All teen and young adult counselors and junior counselors work under the supervision of the head counselor, Donald Smith, who has long time hosted many past KMS MiniTowns along with other Kyrene Diversity Day experiences and MiniTowns for other middle schools.

How does my child apply?

• Have your child fill out the minitown application
• The form will be live until Friday, September 14^th.  Late applications will not be accepted.
• Delgates will be selected based on their form responses and notified the week of September 17^th.
• Families are invited to attend a parent informational meeting on Thursday, September 20^th from 5:00-6:00pm in the library.  This will be hosted by head counselor, Donald Smith and Ms. Sottile.

What if I have questions or need financial assistance?

Please contact Ms. Sottile at 480-541-6651 or ssottile@kyrene.org.