Supporting Youth

The mission of Diamond Willow Ministries as a Christ centered relief organization is to
empower and develop healthy Christian youth,
families and leaders by meeting current spiritual, emotional, and physical needs
within the Native American community.

INDIVIDUAL MENTORING

Youth are encouraged by Christian examples and a genuine interest in their individual lives. Spending quality one on one time with the youth, allows an opportunity to share.

TEEN NIGHTS

Teens gather together weekly during the school year, each Saturday evening from 6:00pm-9:00pm. Activities vary and may include several of the following: basketball, football, ping pong, foosball, lesson time, healthy meal, and time learning from each other and sharing.

YOUTH NIGHTS

Once a month during the school year, youth ages 5-10 come together on a Tuesday evening. Activities vary and may include several of the following: board games, basketball, ping pong, foosball, lesson time, healthy meal, and time of learning and sharing.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Year round, special events are held for teens and youth. Events include, but are not limited to: Ice Fishing Contests, Snow Skiing, and Service Projects (mowing cemetaries, and yards; assembling and handing out care packages to the elderly; volunteering time at a soup kitchen; moving hay bales and cleaning the horse barn for the DWM Curly Horses; and assisting DWM staff in cleaning the Ikce Oyate Christian Center).

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

Providing healthy physical and faith building activities is the goal of summer youth programs. Youth programming varies each week in the summer. Physical activities include swimming at the beach on the Missouri River, fishing, playing basketball and football. Faith-building activities include singing, Bible studies, crafts and games. Week long specialty programs are held occasionally (i.e. basketball camp). At least one meal for the youth is served each day during youth programming.

SOUTH DAKOTA YOUTH CAMPS

As funds are available and opportunities arise, youth are able to attend camps during the year outside of the reservation. This provides an additional time for them to grow together as a group as well as individually and spiritually.