Sankoré Vanguard

Sankoré Vanguard is an organization for adolescent African American men. The purpose of Sankoré Vanguard is to prepare young men for responsibility and leadership in African American communities. We place special emphasis on leadership in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Each summer Sankoré Vanguard hosts a four-week training session for young men who will be entering the 8th grade. The theme for the 2010 summer training session will be Survivalism. The young men who attend will learn, practice and apply a range of basic skills needed for wilderness survival. Among these skills young men will learn to…

Prepare a meal by foraging for food from plants,
Prepare a meal by catching and processing live game,
Build a shelter for protection from the elements,
Administer basic first aid,
Determine direction and navigate using a compass,
Determine direction and navigate using the night sky,
Build and maintain a fire for different purposes,
Purify water with naturally occurring material,

In addition to becoming master survivalists, the young men attending Sankoré Vanguard will learn practice and apply principles of teamwork & brotherhood, physical fitness, and African history.

The Sankoré Vanguard is a very challenging experience. It is full of adventure. The young men who complete it are never the same!

The 2010 Sankoré Vanguard summer training session will be held in central Indiana at Bradford Woods. Bradford Woods is a 2,500 acre campground owned by Indiana University’s Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies. The Bradford Woods facilities include: meeting areas, challenge courses, trails, food services and an infirmary. For more information visit the Bradford Woods website.

Interested Organizations

Sankoré Vanguard works with schools, community groups, churches and other organizations interested in bringing groups of young men to our annual summer training session.

Our staff may be able to provide the following types of assistance related to participation in Sankoré Vanguard:

completion of grant applications;
assistance with fundraising to cover the cost of participation;
publicity and promotion for your organization; and
curriculum planning prior to and following summer session.

If you know of an organization whose youth might be well-served by Sankoré Vanguard, contact us at info@sankoreinstitute.org.

Interested Parents and Youth

Young men interested in joining Sankoré Vanguard should complete a Vanguard membership application and return it to Sankoré Institute. Applications will be available November 16, 2009 and may be obtained from the Sankoré Institute Website. Applications are due no later than April 5, 2010 for the 2010 summer training session. Once completed applications should be returned by mail, fax or email. Once applications are received and reviewed, applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview. Applicants who are accepted to participate in the Sankoré Vanguard summer training session will be notified no later than May 15, 2010.