Although the Cheyenne River Youth Project has welcomed youth of all ages in the Main Youth Center throughout its 20 year history, it came as no surprise that our young adults  rarely chose to participate in our activities once they reached the age of 13 or 14.  Teenagers everywhere feel the need to distinguish themselves from their younger counterparts. They need resources of their own to develop into adulthood.

For this reason, CRYP created the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center in partnership with our affiliate organization, Running Strong for American Indian Youth. Cokata Wiconi is space to address the specific needs of teenagers on Cheyenne River, such as gang violence, drug use and alcohol dependency, all realities which young people face in our community. As we design our teen programs, we keep these pressures in mind, along with other important issues like self-esteem building and developing valuable life skills.

Of course, the new Teen Center will certainly enhance our ability to provide activities that interest and challenge our young people. See the section on "Our Future" for the types of activities planned.

Visit our programs by clicking on the links at the left to see what we are doing for youth on Cheyenne River.  If you, your family or your organization would like to contribute to our efforts, please visit our Volunteering or Help CRYP sections for more information.