Youth Workforce Development

Our Youth Workforce Program is the largest piece of our work experience program and serves youth ages 14-24 years old, many of whom have never been employed.

Summer Youth Program

Each summer, WSCAT enrolls 25-50 youth in work experiences. Youth have the ability to develop a project with WSCAT or work with partner organizations to gain work experience.

Some past and current work locations include:

  • WSCAT

  • Mountain Star

  • Early Childhood Education 

  • Painted Pony

  • Twisted Teepee

  • KWSO

  • Behavioral Health Services

  • Public Utilities

  • Tananawit

  • The Museum at Warm Springs

  • Paplaxsimisha

  • CRIID

  • PIRS

Opportunities at WSCAT include:

  • Activities (Buffalo nightwalkers basketball…)

  • Technology

  • Business

  • Technology (filmmaking, IT…)

  • Art (photography, sewing, painting…)

Youth who participate in our summer workforce program also have opportunities to gain other hard and soft skills. Some opportunities include CPR certification, financial education, changing currents water summit, OAME small business conference, Trailblazers tour and job panel, and a community tour.

Year-Round Opportunities

WSCAT also offers year-round opportunities for youth, many of whom are disengaged from the traditional school system. These work experiences are similar to those offered during the summer workforce program, but are tailored to the individual's interest and needs. We try to partner youth with an organization and activities that fit their interests and skillsets. 

Wana Waixtishima

Wana Waixtishama is a program that was developed by two of our summer youth to teach other youth about traditional waterways, whitewater kayak skills, and Native languages. In 2021, two youth were trained in whitewater rafting and participated in the Paddle Tribal Waters program preparing for the first descent down the Klamath River after the breach of dams. What started as a youth run project, has turned into a bigger job training opportunity and cultural activity for youth in Warm Springs. 


You can learn more about the program in Wana Waixtishima under Youth Programs.

Filmmaking

Our youth workforce program has a growing focus on filmmaking. In 2022, WSCAT hosted our first filmmaking workshop. Since then, we have begun offering internships to youth to learn how to write, produce, and edit short films. Youth have opportunities to work alongside Warm Springs Tribal Member and filmmaker LaRonn Katchia and Indigenous Actress Cara Jade Meyers (Killers of the Flower Moon) to learn the process from start to finish. For information on other filmmaking activities, see Filmmaking.

Youth Printing Business

One of our newer manufacturing opportunities is a youth printing business out of the Wyam Youth Center. We have a garment printer with the ability to print on a variety of types of apparel. Youth participate in job training opportunities to learn how to operate a small business using the garment printer. They are able to design, print, and sell the items. The business opens doors for youth to get into fashion, as well as fulfill custom printing orders for programs, events, and businesses on the reservation.

Tribal Bar Prep (In Development)

One area of need in the Warm Springs community is legal representation certified to practice in Warm Springs Tribal Court. WSCAT is developing a Tribal Bar Prep and Tribal Advocacy Curriculum. This curriculum is meant to educate Tribal Members about major governmental documents and prepare them to take and pass the Warm Springs Tribal Bar, which is a potential business opportunity.