Inside the Boys and Girls Club

"SuAnne was a nationally known role model who dedicated her short life to helping make the Pine Ridge Reservation a better place to live for everybody. She dreamed of a place she called "Happytown"- a place where young people could learn and be safe from drugs and alcohol, violence and gangs. After her untimely death 'Happytown' became a reality and spearheaded the proliferation of American Indian Boys and Girls Clubs across the country. It is with highest respect that we acknowledge and thank the late SuAnne Big Crow. For if it were not for this beautiful dream, Boys and Girls Clubs of America may have never come to Indian Country."

The SuAnne Big Crow Boys and Girls Club now serves over 900 youth from 7 through 17 years of age. However, there are approximately 20,000 Oglala Lakota youth throughout the 2nd largest reservation in the United States. Due to great distances and lack of public transportation, many of the youth on the Pine Ridge were not benefiting from the services the club offers. But now, due to a tribal initiative, the SuAnne Club has developed and opened satellite sites in Martin and Wanblee.

The original club, opened in 1992, was housed in a converted industrial building which was donated by the Tribe. One room was used for indoor recreation such as pool, foosball, table tennis, etc. Another room was used for arts and crafts, discussion groups and story time.

Our new facility is a state of the art facility with an indoor gymnasium, competion sized swimming pool, library, computer, teen, dance, arts and crafts rooms, plus a spectacular lobby/games room. This dream come true is the result of President Bill Clinton's visit to the reservation in the summer of 1999, and subsequent grants from four Federal agencies.

The new facility is located on State Highway 18, about one mile east of Pine Ridge Village (the intersection of Hwy 18 and 385). See the map below. From the east on Interstate 90, exit at the Kadoka exit, #150, and follow highway 73 south to Highway 18. Travel west on Highway 18 through Martin and Batesland, to the club, which will be on the right hand (north) side of the road.

From the Black Hills area or from Rapid City, Take highway 79 south towards Hot Springs, and follow the signs to Highway 18, through Oglala and Pine Ridge Village. At the traffic light turn left to stay on Highway 18 and continue one mile past Pine Ridge Village. The Club will be on the left. The location of the new facility is marked by the dot labeled Pine Ridge at the center of the map.