Once in a Lifetime, Unique, and Impactful Cultural Experience
Summer of Service (SOS) is a summer cultural experience, open to those entering grades 10-12. SOS provides participants an intense, hands-on, cultural immersion on the Cheyenne River Reservation at the Sioux YMCA in Dupree, South Dakota. By spending a week on the reservation, teens are working directly with the community by planning and delivering a week of day camp for the youth in Dupree.
Build relationships.
Cultural understanding and awareness.
Respect for cultural diversity and uniqueness of others.
Better comprehension of the world that we live in.
Create a sense of community.
Make lasting memories.
Teen Leadership Development Programs Available to All
YMCA programs are open and available to everyone within our communities and you do not need to be a Y member to participate in any of the Teen Leadership Development programs offered. No person shall be turned away due to the inability to pay.
Y Experience Scholarships
Y Experience Scholarships help remove the financial barriers to accessing YMCA facilities, programs, and services. Scholarships are provided based on household, income, and special circumstances. Please complete the application online and a Y staff member will contact you soon. Apply For A Scholarship.
See What Past Participants Have Had To Say About SOS
"My experience was life-changing. It was so fun to hang out with the kids, and learning about their struggles was hard, but also important. I originally went on this trip to try to make an impact in the lives of other people and help wherever I could. What I didn't expect was the astronomical impact it would have on me."
- Claire E., SOS Participant