I arrived at my base camp in Colorado with an open mind and eagerness on the first day of a summer program called PanimWorks, a two-week summer program that brings Jewish teens into direct contact with Native Americans through community service. Participants do work to help improve the conditions and lives of their hosts and learn about Native American culture. The experience is framed through the lenses of Jewish values, social activism and advocacy. 

After meeting all of my fellow participants—who hailed from 15 different states—we soon learned that we would be broken into smaller groups for the rest of the journey. As I looked around at the faces of my group members, I had no idea that they would become my brothers and sisters by the end of the trip. Then our leaders introduced themselves and began a discussion about what we could expect to see at the reservation in terms of customs, lifestyles and environment.

We headed next to a reservation, where we would be staying. When we arrived, our previous expectations were replaced with a new reality. Our group was based in Ft. Defiance, Ariz., which is just one small corner of the Navajo reservation, the entirety of which is about the size of West Virginia and has a population of approximately 80,000.

We all were a bit shocked when we arrived in one of the reservation's main cities and found, among other things, stray dogs wandering parking lots, cows walking along the sidewalks, hitchhikers, communities of worn-down buildings and little else. Yet the people were just as modern as any of us. They wore the same clothes, lived in small yet normal houses, shopped at typical superstores, and spoke English for the most part. Any former misconceptions about Native American life that we perhaps learned from movies or other popular culture references were quickly corrected.

When we first got to our campsite we met Molly and Gino, our Navajo hosts. We also met several Navajo kids who had also volunteered to help with work on the reservation. That night, our group was asked what time we wanted to wake up. Some of us casually requested a wake up time of nine o'clock, or even 10 o'clock. We were told instead wake-up would be at six. There was work to be done!

That first morning we learned what heavy rains and flash floods were doing to the surrounding land. We were told how we could create erosion controls up in the hills in order to stop further damage to the land. We did this for the next two days, resting only for meals.

At night, PANIM participants and our Navajo hosts would talk together in a giant circle around a campfire. This was when we learned the most about Navajo culture, and the Navajos learned about our culture. They told us about interesting traditions and tough struggles that they have been facing throughout their lives. 

The next few days were spent landscaping a beautiful new hospital. Our favorite thing about this hospital was that it had running water and flushing toilets! We had a new appreciation for such modern luxuries after being in the wilderness all the time. We worked very hard for about three days at the hospital and went back every night to our campfire to learn more. 

It was during this time around the campfire that I realized I was having the time of my life. I loved talking with the incredible people we worked with. When we did have spare time, we would organize big football games and soccer games with the Navajo teens. We also found a muddy river where we hiked, played and did some messy mud wrestling. These were some of my best memories.

By the time the trip was over, we had weeded the yard of a Navajo elder with Alzheimer's, cleaned various areas, completed erosion control projects and built outhouses. We also had the amazing opportunity to be in a Navajo sweat lodge. 

Not only did I leave feeling helpful and accomplished, but I learned so much from the experience. I learned that water is the most precious resource we have. You truly realize this after you have lived in a place with no running water for a week. We didn't shower for eight days but, by the third day, we all were used to it. I realized that taking a shower is a privilege.

We also learned many similarities between Judaism and Navajo spirituality. For instance, we got to participate in a Navajo puberty ceremony that we could compare to a Jewish bar mitzvah. In addition, the Navajo word for "universe" is also a Hebrew name for God.

This experience was so much fun. In the end, we were very sad to say our goodbyes to our Navajo hosts. However, we were also excited to get back to base camp and share our stories with the other three groups that went to different areas of the reservation. They had just as much fun as we did. The experience was a memory we will all keep with us forever.

Matthew Stevenson is from Boise, Idaho, and is going into his senior year of high school.