Supporting Camino Canicas: A Day of Healing, Play, and Community at Eagle’s Nest

There are moments in life that catch you completely off guard. The kind that open your heart in an instant. Watching a child at Lake Atitlán receive a simple gift like a football, a backpack, a set of bright pencils and seeing their whole face light up with unfiltered joy… it does something to you. It reminds you of the joy in the simple things. It reminds you of the impact a simple gesture can make on somebody’s life.

At Eagle’s Nest, we’ve always believed that community is at the heart of everything we do. This month, we had the joy and honor of hosting the children and families of Camino Canicas, a community-led initiative creating trauma-informed expressive arts spaces for young people around Lake Atitlán. And what unfolded here was nothing short of magical.

What Is Camino Canicas?

Camino Canicas is a grassroots project founded in 2017, dedicated to empowering children from the Tzʼutujil and Kaqchikel communities — kids from the towns around Lake Atitlán — through creativity, play, emotional support, and safe connection. Many of these children have lived through experiences no child should ever face — from loss and abuse to poverty, natural disasters, and unstable home environments.

Small acts that make a lasting difference

From catering for the most basic needs to expressive arts, storytelling, music, rituals, and mindful movement, Camino Canicas offers these little ones a space where they can breathe, express, regulate, and feel held. It’s an environment where resilience is nurtured gently and consistently — through joy and safety.

Sometimes it’s things as simple as taking the kids to the doctor or buying a new pair of shoes — things that are unfortunately still not given for all families here in Guatemala. And any extra money is used to celebrate christmas, birthdays or organize trips to nature. All donations received always go directly to the project, and without the community all of this important work would not be possible. The whole project is run 100% on donations.

A Trauma-Informed, Heart-Centered Approach

The project blends psychosomatic practices, mindfulness, and age-appropriate creative expression to help children strengthen their emotional intelligence and self-regulation. In these spaces, the kids paint, sing, make art, move their bodies, and learn how to communicate their feelings safely.

But the work doesn’t stop with the children. Camino Canicas also supports parents and families, offering tools to navigate difficult emotional landscapes and encouraging new patterns of connection at home.

A Magical Day at the Nest

When the Camino Canicas kids arrived at Eagle’s Nest, the entire space filled with laughter, movement, and bright, curious eyes.

There were heart-opening songs with Sito Reno, courage-building circus play with Ale and Hannah, joyful acro yoga lifts from our volunteers, and beautiful gifts curated with so much love — backpacks, shoes, art supplies, footballs, vitamins, and more.

A beautiful reminder of why community matters. Why safe spaces matter. And why supporting projects like this creates ripples far beyond a single afternoon.

Meet Kanika, the Visionary Behind the Project

Founder Kanika has spent over 20 years weaving together art, social change, youth development, and trauma-informed education. Her work spans India, Spain, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Chile, and now her home on Lake Atitlán.

With degrees in Social and Behavioral Sciences and specialized training in Dance Movement Therapy, she has dedicated her life to creating healing spaces for young people. Camino Canicas is the embodiment of that devotion.

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How Donations Create Real Impact

Camino Canicas relies on community support to stay alive — and every contribution, no matter the size, makes a tangible difference.

Your donation helps fund:

• Workshops, field trips, and creative classes

• School materials, clothing, and food

• Medical care, emotional support, and specialist visits

• Safe transportation and community space rentals

• Birthdays and milestone celebrations

• Higher education scholarships

• Housing improvements for families in crisis

• Volunteer support and project sustainability

From $10 for school supplies to $10,000 for full program support, every gift seeds hope and bring a smile to a child’s face.

Why Eagle’s Nest Supports This Work

Belong. Play. Elevate.
These are our values and our way of life. Our passion has always been to uplift and create community and Camino Canicas embodies this wholeheartedly.

We’re honored to stand beside Kanika and this beautiful project as it uplifts the next generation of this lake we call home.

How You Can Help

If your heart feels called to contribute, the Camino Canicas 2025 fundraiser is open and receiving support here.

Together, we can make sure these safe, creative, healing spaces continue to grow.