As a part of their 2025 summit in Scottsdale, the Student & Youth Travel Association made a special stop on Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community land at Medieval Times.

The King, Queen, Royal Falconer and knights greeted the association as they rolled up to the entry portcullis in their bus before opening the heavy medieval gate. The association, which promotes student and youth travel worldwide for participants to gain a greater understanding of the world through travel, held its 3-day summit in January.

Each member of the association was then greeted inside the castle by Miss Salt River 2024-2025 Sialik King, who presented them with shell necklaces.

After settling in, the visitors listened to a panel of Medieval Times and SRPMIC employees discuss the castle and the Community.

The panel included Medieval Times Senior Vice President of Marketing & Sales Celeste Lanuza, SRPMIC Community Development Department Principal Planner Richard McAllister, Discover Salt River Division Manager Maleena Deer and SRPMIC Senior Environmental Specialist (Range Management) Brian Gewecke.

“Our address does say Scottsdale, but we are on sovereign land,” Deer explained to the visitors. “Within our division, we are very conscious about how we are incorporating culture.”

After the panel spoke, the group dispersed and mingled while former Miss Salt River 2020-2021 Isabella Dockerty sang tunes from up in a balcony.

SRPMIC members and mother/daughter basket weavers Alice Manuel and Raeann Brown joined basket weaver and potter August Wood at a table, where they demonstrated for the association members traditional ways of utilizing the natural resources of the Valley.

Chef Julio Ramos and his team at TASH, a restaurant located within Talking Stick Resort, prepared food and light refreshments, including a prickly pear mocktail. Vendors from businesses located on tribal land including Great Wolf Lodge, Staybridge Suites, Comfort Suites, Top Golf and OdySea Aquarium were also on hand to give visitors information and ideas so they can continue to broaden their worldview through travel and tourism.