The Youth Services Jr. Quail Mentorship Program is one of seven mentorship programs open to youth in grades K-12 who are enrolled in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community or who reside here.

Jr. Quails have opportunities to engage in cultural, educational, social and emotional learning and wellness events that enrich their lives, such as activities with AZ Health Zone, an outreach program that focuses on nutrition and gardening, and the weekly “Storytime with a Snack.”

“The mentees were fully engaged in their exploration of root vegetables,” said youth program manager Debra Apodaca about a recent session of the program. “They used all five senses to learn about various vegetables, such as radishes, jicama and carrots.”

Apodaca said that the kids were most excited to learn that the pigment from radishes is so intense that you can color with the outer part, like a crayon. They also learned how all plants have roots and how the roots help plants take in nutrients and provide stability.

“I liked learning about the vegetables. I liked tasting carrots the most. They are my favorite,” said Jr. Quail mentee Aiden O.

For a recent storytime session, the Jr. Quails read the book “Anatole” by Eve Titus, which is about a mouse who uses his sense of taste to rate cheese at a factory in Paris.

“The kids are generally more interested in the story when they have a snack,” said Apodaca. “They can relate what they hear to an experience.”

The kids enjoyed mini pancakes with fresh berries, syrup and a touch of whipped cream while listening to the story “If You Give a Pig a Pancake” by Laura Numeroff.

In the coming weeks, the Jr. Quails will participate in Halloween-themed crafts and activities to get them into the holiday season. Apodaca said the kids love STEM activities and will be building monsters out of LEGO^® bricks soon.