When young robotics enthusiasts from California’s Silicon Valley traveled to the Cheyenne River Youth Project this past summer, they came prepared to share what they knew. They brought robots, iPads, engineering projects and coding challenges, along with lesson plans designed to make STEM engaging and accessible for young people of all ages.
They also came prepared to learn.
Two groups — Silicon Valley STEM and Team 3256 WarriorBorgs — each spent a week at CRYP, sharing their enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and math with Cheyenne River youth. Now, both groups are staying connected with CRYP, exploring opportunities for virtual STEM programming during the school year and raising funds to return to Cheyenne River in summer 2027.
Silicon Valley STEM
For Quan Lin, an ASIC design engineer with Synaptics and president of Silicon Valley STEM, the journey to Cheyenne River began with former CRYP volunteer Esther Wu.
The San Francisco Bay Area-based nonprofit is dedicated to expanding access to STEM education through hands-on activities, mentorship and community partnerships. After learning about CRYP from Wu, he said he was inspired by the organization’s mission and saw an opportunity for his student volunteers to engage in meaningful service.
“We hope that the Cheyenne River youth can be introduced to STEM, develop an interest in it and ultimately benefit from it, both in their personal growth and in their communities,” Lin said. “At the same time, we also hope this experience provides our student volunteers with the opportunity to connect with and learn from the community.”
Lin traveled to CRYP with four student volunteers. Together, they introduced young people to engineering concepts by building scissor-lift and parallelogram-lift mechanisms, designing spinning tops from robotics parts, creating customized Pong games using Scratch programming, and driving small robots in a soccer-style challenge.
The volunteers adapted the projects to meet children of different ages and skill levels. They incorporated art, geometry, counting and problem-solving for younger participants and introduced older students to more complex engineering, robotics and coding concepts.
For Lin, the most memorable part wasn’t any particular project. It was seeing children come back.
“Several students attended every session and returned each day eager for new challenges and activities,” he said. “Many proudly demonstrated their projects to friends, mentors and staff members, and they showed increasing confidence in sharing their ideas and accomplishments.”
The children also were excited to hear about the possibility of future robotics competition teams, he said, and expressed interest in continuing their STEM journeys.
Team 3256 WarriorBorgs
CRYP welcomed another group of young STEM enthusiasts when Team 3256 WarriorBorgs arrived from San Jose, California. The members of this high school robotics team have interests ranging from business to engineering and fabrication, and they already had experience providing STEM outreach in South Dakota reservation communities when they connected with CRYP.
“Outside of competitions, a major focus for us is bringing hands-on STEM education to communities that lack consistent access to these opportunities,” said Meghna Venkatesh on behalf of the team. “We connected with CRYP through our prior work with reservations in South Dakota and immediately knew we wanted to be part of this.”
During their week at CRYP, WarriorBorgs volunteers Pranav, Alessandra, Bhavya and Arushi used Sphero robots and iPads to introduce young people to coding through activities that blended technology with art, logic, science and math. The children programmed robots to draw patterns and designs, navigate mazes and even serve as bowling balls, with plastic cups standing in for pins. One participant even figured out how to program a Sphero to write his name.
“Teaching at CRYP was an incredible experience,” Venkatesh said. “The kids learned quickly and brought immense energy to every session. Seeing them light up when their code finally made the robot move was the best part. It reminded us why we do this.”
The WarriorBorgs also wanted their contribution to have a life beyond their week at CRYP. On the final day, the children demonstrated their new skills for the CRYP team, and then the volunteers trained staff members on the curriculum themselves.
Staff learned to program and test the Spheros, and they worked through the activities so they could continue guiding young people through the curriculum. The WarriorBorgs plan to remain connected through virtual sessions with staff and youth.
CRYP Programs Director Jerica Widow said both organizations are actively fundraising for their return in summer 2027. The funds will help purchase necessary robotics parts and support the volunteers’ travel to Cheyenne River.
Since they returned home, the STEM volunteers reflected on the many ways their work at CRYP extended beyond robotics and coding. The visitors spent time working in the Winyan Toka Win (Leading Lady) Garden, caring for shared spaces, cooking for young people and getting to know community members.
Lin said the kindness and hospitality they encountered left a deep impression, including families preparing homemade meals and presenting the volunteers with flowers. Venkatesh remembered spending time with Lakota elders Renée and Manny Iron Hawk, learning about Cheyenne River history, Lakota culture and practices, and the tradition of oral storytelling.
“We made so many meaningful connections with the children and learned a great deal about the Lakota people,” Venkatesh said. “We wish to thank the Cheyenne River community for giving us this wonderful opportunity. We truly appreciate their hospitality and collaboration during our week of service.”
For Lin, that exchange was equally important. His student volunteers came to Cheyenne River hoping to inspire young people to explore STEM, but they also valued the opportunity to build relationships across cultures.
This is a dynamic that has long been central to volunteer service at CRYP. Volunteers may contribute their time, talents and knowledge, whether they come from across South Dakota, the country or the world. In return, they become part of the life of the youth project for a little while, working alongside staff and community members, connecting with children and families, and learning from the people whose homeland they have entered.
For details about volunteering at CRYP, and to apply online, visit lakotayouth.org/volunteer/.
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 lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Vimeo and YouTube.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River Sioux 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.