The Cheyenne River Youth Project® is currently seeking 10 summer interns, ages 12 to 17. The interns will work on special wellness projects and on programs related to the 2-acre, naturally grown, pesticide-free Winyan Toka Win garden.
Interns must commit to working a total of 60 hours at CRYP’s East Lincoln Street campus before school resumes in the fall. Thanks to funding from Diabetes Action Research (DARE), each intern will receive a $500 stipend at the conclusion of his or her summer internship.
“We’re really looking forward to getting our teens even more involved in the garden and in our wellness programming,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Not only will they develop a strong work ethic and take on a valuable leadership role at the Cokata Wiconi teen center, they’ll learn so much about respecting the land, the water and the foods we’re growing.
“They’ll learn about sustainability, from rain-water harvesting and drip-irrigation to food preservation methods like canning and drying,” she continued. “And perhaps more importantly, they’ll learn to incorporate Lakota principles into everything they do, which will enhance their connectedness to both their land and their culture. We’re excited, because we’ve always envisioned our garden as an outdoor fitness center, a health food store, an engine for economic development and a classroom for all ages. With the new internship program, we can see that vision come to life.”
Twelve- to 17-year-olds who are interested in the summer internship must contact Craig Martin, CRYP’s garden coordinator, at (605) 964-8200 or (7665) 669-0765 to obtain and complete an application. Applicants are encouraged to contact Martin soon, as spots are limited, and the internship program starts on Monday, July 15.
To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.