Volunteering here is deeply meaningful yet challenging. Nonprofit work requires energy, adaptability and commitment. The days can be long, and things don’t always go as planned. But the rewards are extraordinary. Whether it’s encouraging a child to open up or helping develop an arts program that fosters creativity, the impact is real and lasting.

Volunteers contribute in countless ways: implementing youth programs, delivering family services, preparing nutritious meals, maintaining facilities and supporting holistic wellness initiatives like nutrition education. Most importantly, they care for our children — not just by lending a helping hand but by shaping the future. When we entrust our youth to volunteers, we ask them to nurture, guide and uplift.

From the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Canada and beyond, people create a vibrant cultural exchange when they join CRYP. Our children love meeting new people, sharing their culture and learning about others. When you volunteer, you become an educator, mentor, diplomat and friend.
While CRYP provides the tools and opportunities to make this experience unforgettable, the true impact comes from what you bring — your dedication, passion and willingness to engage.

Why Is Volunteering with CRYP Unique?

Volunteering with CRYP is more than service. It’s an act of healing and cultural preservation.

Native communities carry intergenerational trauma caused by colonization, which disrupted traditional lifeways, cultural connections, language and food systems. Here on the Cheyenne River reservation, CRYP responds by providing programs that are deeply grounded in traditional culture and values. It strives to ensure that the community’s children have access to safe spaces, positive role models and mentors, nutritious locally grown foods and robust creative outlets that strengthen their sense of identity. And it innovates and adapts to meet youth where they are, helping them to heal, grow and step into leadership.

Whether they are supporting hands-on art projects, food sovereignty initiatives, youth programs, family services or special community events, volunteers contribute to creative placemaking, cultural reclamation and long-term wellness. As a volunteer, you aren’t just lending support for a week or a month or even a year; you are joining a decades-long movement that uplifts Lakota youth and strengthens the Cheyenne River community.