Teens Take on Wellness Internship

This spring, three students from the Cheyenne River Indian Outreach youth center participated in a wellness internship through the Cheyenne River Youth Project. The month-long program introduced students to a variety of topics, touching on wellness in every aspect of life — physical fitness, nutrition, Lakota (Sioux) values, and even finances. Students who completed 60 hours of program activities earned a stipend of $500.

The program began by introducing students to nutrition. They kept food journals, learned about making healthy choices and received health assessments from a diabetes educator. As they gained an understanding on how different foods affect their bodies, they learned about physical fitness and how their muscles work.

In addition to working on their own wellness, the interns contributed time and effort to the wellness of their community. The group planned and implemented a color run, a cooking class and a community fitness challenge.

It wasn’t just about eating right and exercising, though. The wellness interns had the opportunity to take classes and receive certifications in customer service, CPR, financial literacy and food handling.

"It was a great program," said Leah, Director of the Cheyenne River Indian Outreach Child Services Program. "The kids had a lot of fun and learned skills they will use the rest of their lives. It’s wonderful to partner with other organizations and give our students opportunities for a brighter future."