Club Teen Retreat Weekend was a Blast

When we ask our teens what they want to do, the overwhelming response is “hang out with the other Club teens!” In 2015 and 2016, unit

directors are working hard to make that happen. Thanks to the support of the Black Hills Area Community Foundation, with an additional

Celebrate Youth at the Blue Door Celebration

Great Futures Newsletter

| Winter 2016

Dear Friends, Thank you for your incredible support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Black Hills. Ongoing commitment and generosity from caring donors like you, who understand the life-changing work we do, make our success possible. Because of supporters like you, our Clubs have been changing lives for 14 years. In 2015, we continued to build upon our previous successes, and became even more focused on helping youth across the Black Hills achieve the goals of our three priority outcomes: academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development.

As we start this New Year, we would like to reflect on what 2015 has meant to our Boys & Girls Club family and we would like to celebrate what our donors, volunteers and giving partners helped us achieve. Please join us at the Blue Door Celebration as we honor and celebrate our 2015 successes, welcome our 2016 inductees, and recognize our volunteers, donors and amazing youth. Now is your chance to learn more about our Club programs and services throughout the Black Hills; and to hear more about wonderful 2015 moments you helped make happen. Please RSVP by calling our Club office at 605-574-2010 or emailing jessica@bgcblackhills.org by January 19, 2016. We could not do this without the support of our board members, donors, supporters, partners, staff and parents. We thank you for helping us build GREAT FUTURES for youth in our communities.

Lisa Sagdalen, Chief Executive Officer Boys & Girls Clubs of the Black Hills

Great Futures Newsletter | Winter 2016

Blue Door

Celebration

Thursday January 21, 2016 6:30 pm – Social 7:00 pm – Celebration

Boys & Girls Club 297 Walnut Ave Hill City, SD 57745

financial lift from Fall River Area Community Foundation, teens from all three

BGCBH Clubs will get to spend some quality time together. We kicked off this

fantastic collaboration in November with a teen retreat at the Boys & Girls Club

in Hill City. The retreat, headed up by youth development professional

Tracy Sigdestad, focused on teamwork and leadership. Teens played lively

leadership games, broke into groups to make dinner for the whole crew, and

made art to donate to those businesses that support our Clubs. The next

morning, they completed a low ropes course and a large scale community art

project. Right now, we are gearing up for a winter sports and survival weekend

in Lead-Deadwood. Teens will snowshoe on the Mickelson Trail, learn to build

a fire, learn basic wilderness safety and have a whole lot of fun. 2016 is

definitely the year of the teen at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Black Hills!

Thank you to all our wonderful donors for supporting the Clubs’ Annual GREAT FUTURES Campaign for Black Hills Youth. Your financial commitment helps us to continue to welcome and inspire more and more youth who need and depend on our Clubs each day. Thank you for changing our communities for the better, one child at a time.

Jeremiah Milbank Society (National Recognition Society $10,000+) John & Dusty Pence Jim Neiman

Legacy Investor ($2,000+) Barbara Trumbull Justin Cutler Ron & Karen Everett Jeannie Pavich Massa Dental Rushmore Forest Products

Blue Door Society Member ($1000-$1999) Greg Nepstad & Virginia Clark Lotus Up Expresso The Little White Church James & Margaret Cowan Madame Peacock's Walter & Christine Schirber Julia Laurenti Spearfish Forest Products

BE COMMITTED ($500-$999) Amy Oksa Justin O'Neill Mike & Erica Welu Bob & JoAnna Warder Kevin Wolfe Ron Simpson Chuck & Phyllis Landon Lisa Sagdalen Susan Haden Dave & Betsy Lyons Laurie & Jeff Tarrell Tracy Island Dr. Robert & Darla Houser Lyle Sonnenschein Tucker Day Rodeo

BE GREAT ($1-$499) AG. Trucano, Son & Grandson Dena Sheets Linda Scott Alison Stoeckmann Dennis & Margaret Lindskov Lions Club of Hot Springs Alayna, Club Member Dick Ashley Lynada Spencer Andrea Everett Diane & Dan Staeffler Mallory Hook Anne Rogers & Jamie Popejoy Doy Ousley Marian Johnson Attorneys at Law – Rapid City Dwayne & Mary Kay Breyer Mark & Kristol McKie Barbara Mueller Episcopal Church Women -Dwd Maria Herbert Barbara & James Miller Evergreen Garden Club Marcia Mitchell Beth Spitzer Franky & Jean Craft Marlo & Debra Heupel Bernie Reausaw Gerald & Martyann Apa Mary & Steven Ommen Bob & Jenny Mentosh Gerving Construction Maurice & Paula Haugland Bonnie & W. King Glorianne M. Davis McColley's Chapel of the Hills Brian & Judy Thies Helena, Club Member Michael Ortner Bree Oatman Hill City Dental Clinic Mikahala Ferguson Bruce & Sandy Jordan Hill City Regional Clinic Mike & Brett Runge Casey & Rachelle Elshere Hot Springs’ Catholic Daughters Mike & Lesta Turchen Carmen Null Hot Springs’ Chamber of CommerceMike & Sarah Hanson Central Auto Body - Sam Pierce Hot Springs’ Rotary Club Mike Trucanco Central Hills Real Estate Hot Springs’ Shakespeare Club Mim Hoff Chad & Carmen Ronish Holli & Jeff Edwards Mustang Sally’s Charles & Karen Carlson Jami Ferguson Nick & Jenn Bennett Charles & Janis Borstad Jean Welborn Owen & Carol Wiederhold Coffee Cup Fuel Stop Jeff & Amy Symstad Peri and Jay Knabel Comfort Inn & Suites - Dwd Jessica and Aaron Noteboom Philip Berggren Curtis & Brianna Tyler Jim & Pat Derby Pine Hills Retirement Comm. Cynthia & Bob McNeill Dr. Joan Irwin Ralph & Sandy Kruse Darwin & Gwendolyn Schroeder John & Kay Raderschadt Randy & Sonia Sieg David & Julie Gray John Robison Rick & Joanann Goeringer Dave & Laura Batchelor Keersten Simmons Rick & Mary Siemonsma Dave & Mary Larson Keene Realtors Inc. Richards & Richards Lawyers David & Wynne Cockrum Kevin & Faunille Cummings Richard & Stefanie Nelson Deadwood Dicks Saloon Kierstin Webster Rob & Melanie Timm Deadwood Super 8 Larry & Kathy Vetterman Ron & Teah Pray Deb & Dave Vardiman Laura Tarrell Sandra & Tom Fran Deb Fegueroa & Tim Davis Leavitt Heartland Insurance Shepherd of the Hills Deloris Waddington Linda Pierce Lutheran Women

How long have you been coming to the Club? I’ve been

coming to the Club since March 2010, so almost 6 years!

What is something the Club has taught you? The Club has taught

me to be selfless and to give back; respect other people and to be kind to others.

What is your favorite thing to do at the Club? I like helping Mr. Tim

(Hot Springs’ Club Professional Staff) with the Power Hour Homework Help Program. I really like helping the Kindergarteners and 1st graders with their reading and math. I always like to stay after homework help is done to make sure all the pencils are sharpened and the classroom is cleaned up for the next day.

What do you want to do when you grow up? I want to be a

police officer and protect people.

What do you love about the Club? The Club has given me a

safe place to go, grow and help other kids find their place.

Youth Spotlight

Important Club Dates

Youth of the Year

Feb. 29 – March 1, 2016

Boys & Girls Club Week

March 7 – 11, 2016

Hot Springs’ Great Futures Breakfast

March 6, 2016

Hill City Easter Egg Hunt

March 24, 2016

Club Prep Preschool Graduation

May 19, 2016

Staff Training | All Clubs closed.

May 23-27, 2016 Summer Program Begins

May 31, 2016

Day for Kids

September 17, 2016

Boys & Girls Club Week is coming, and we’re opening our doors to show our communities how Great Futures begin at Boys & Girls Clubs. Stop in your local Club for a tour!

Committee. She has helped raise over $40,000 and shares her passion with Club youth. Thank you, Jamie for sharing your time and talents with the Club! Learn more about Jamie’s inspiring story and other amazing volunteers like her at our Blue Door Celebration on January 21.

BE GREAT ($1-$499) Continued... Sharon Nash Tera and Ty McGuire Wally Matush Sonny's SuperFoods Terry & Robert Meissner Wells Fargo – Lead Branch Steve & Carla Simunek Thrifty White Drug Pharmacy Wendy Bobbe Steve Hallingstad Tracy & John Wiebe Whispering Winds Cottages & S&P Properties Trent & Nicki Johnson Campsites St. John's Episcopal Church TRL Properties Wilbur & Raye Jeanne Blundell Stephen Butsko Veronica Prautzsch William & Thomasetta Kuhl Susan Schnase Vernon & Tiffany Howe Wolff's Plumbing & Heating, Inc Suzette Wasvick Vowac Publishing Company

Partners for the Future (contributions of $500 or more for a three-year period) Black Hills Ladies Auxiliary Krulls' Market Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Black Hills VFW Lead-Deadwood Ministerial Assn. Church CAI Construction Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital State Farm Insurance - Bill Graves Dakota Stone Lodge at Deadwood St. Anthony's Church Deadwood Connections Nelson's Oil & Gas St. John's Lutheran Church First Interstate Bank - Hill City Rushmore Cave Twin City Hardware EMH Consulting Scheels Quality Inn – Hill City Hills Materials Sentinel Federal Credit Union Wharf Resources (USA), Inc.

Special Event Sponsors

Ace Hardware First Interstate Bank – Hot Springs Pete Stach All Season’s Printing First Interstate Bank – Lead Pine Hills Retirement Community Bank of the West First National Bank ProBuild Black Hills Community Bank Golden West Telecommunications Quinn Construction Black Hills Federal Credit Union Hills Construction Rushmore Forest Products Black Hills Power Hot Springs Elks Lodge #1751 Saloon No. 10 Blue Bird Mesa Lead-Deadwood Kiwanis Club Scull Construction Cabela’s Lynn’s Dakotamart – Hot Springs Southern Hills Title Cascade Chiropractic Lynn's Dakotamart – Lead Spitzer Construction Celebrity Hotel Meyer & Dana Orthodontics State Farm – Bill Graves Climb Hot Springs Modern Woodman of America Steven’s Plumbing City of Hill City Mount Rushmore KOA Resort The Lodge at Deadwood Comfort Inn & Suites Northern Hills Dental The Lodge at Palmer Gulch Deadwood Eyecare Nelson’s Oil & Gas Thrifty White Drug Pharmacy Deadwood Elks Lodge #508 O’Neill Law Office T & R Commodities EMH Consulting

In-Kind Support 1880 Train Family Dollar Pete Stach A. J Sternhagen Family of Mary Losch Rabbit Bicycle Anne Rogers First National Bank Raye Jeanne Blundell Barbara Morson Gwen Hess Rachelle & Casey Elshere Bauernfeind Family Handbag Store Reinhart Foods Bethesda Lutheran Church Handley Recreation Center Robin Larson BH Institute of Geological Research Hot Springs American Legion Rushmore Forest Products Bountiful Baskets Jessica Noteboom Rushmore Mountain Sports Brian Spitzer Joan Irwin Samantha Burleson Family Bunce Family John & Dusty Pence Shane Fugier Carla Krueger John Robison Shari Williams Carmen Martinez Keersten Simmons Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Chapter Y PEO Kevin Wehner Church Cheri Chavez Krull’s Market Spring Burks Chubby Chipmunk Laura & Dustin Floyd Stachia Walker Cliff Littau Lead-Deadwood Arts Center St. Patrick’s Church Connie & Detlev Prautzsch Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital Susan Haden Dakota Stone Lisa Sagdalen The Homestake Chophouse Darla Auld Lotus Up Espresso The Vault Davis Family Lynn’s Dakotamart – Hot Springs Thrifty White Drug Pharmacy Deadwood Comfort Inn Lynn's Dakotamart – Lead Tim & Cheryl Theusch Deadwood Mountain Grand Marian Johnson Tim & Michelle Ediger Deadwood Recreation Center Mary Goulet Tom & Melissa Campbell Deb Fegueroa Micole Davis Tonya Weisbeck Destiny Derby Nikki Williamson Veronica Prautzsch Donna Cotton Naked Winery Wally Matush Ed & Carol Harvey Natasha Fuller Western Lifestyles Photography Erica Welu Peri Knabel Wharf Resources

Thank you for your investment in the youth of our communities. Please accept our sincere apologizes if we have accidentally omitted your name. We greatly appreciate your continued support and the powerful impact you have on our members.

Volunteer of the Year

Jamie Gilcrease-Heupel

Club Moments that You

Helped Make Happen

Foster giving in youth

Teaching kids to believe

Open doors at 3 pm

Inspire creativity

Stay Connected!

Jamie is the owner of Lotus Up Espresso & Deli in Lead and for two years has played a vital part on BGCLD’s RD

Grant Support Yields Active, Awesome Summer in

Lead-Deadwood

Hill City Rocked Summer Vacation

Summer has a sneaky way of flying by. From seeing Birds of Prey, to swim lessons to a field trip to see Shrek the Musical at Black Hills Playhouse, Hill City Club kids were given access to engaging activities to continue the learning process throughout the summer months. In addition to the Club’s regular programming with Mindworks hands-on science kits, C.A.T (Clubs Against Tobacco), Project Learn, Smart Moves, and Triple Play, the Club added some new summer programs. Summer 2015 teed off with youth golf lessons at the Hart Ranch Golf Course for 28 kids, ages from 7 to 13 years old. The Club was excited to have partnered with the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) and Hart Ranch’s Assistant Professional, Dustin Lecy to introduce Black Hills youth to the game of golf. This continued partnership will continue to help youth build character, develop healthy lifestyles, and learn the game of golf. Club members were also able to participate in a swimming grant that enabled us to provide access and transportation to weekly, free swimming lesson at the YMCA in Rapid City for 64 Club members. In addition to golf and swimming lessons, Club kids also participated in a Mindworks’ Land of the Lost programs that is part of the Boys & Girls Club’s effort to bridge the learning gap during summer vacation. Throughout the summer, members studied a variety of lost civilizations, artifacts, and historically significant information. Youth researched, designed, and executed plans for creating a museum exhibit, which contains displays made from different mediums with focus on different topics. We also spent a lot of time outside, which included biking at least once a week, a program that was enhanced by receiving a grant from Trips for Kids. We had an awesome summer and are looking forward to these programs again!

This summer, Lead-Deadwood youth nourished their bodies and minds with exciting new experiences thanks to tremendous support from the Wellmark Foundation, Deadwood Elks Lodge #508, Tomahawk Country Club, the PGA and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Twice a week, youth headed to Tomahawk for golf instruction with PGA professionals, archery lessons with certified staff and a nutritious lunch provided by Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital. The Elks, Tomahawk and the Lead High School women’s golf team all provided additional mentoring and instruction, yielding a positive and well-supported outcome for our kids. Most kids tried both sports for the first time, and two of our middle school students have made the high school golf team for this season. We’re so proud. It takes a village to get a program like this coordinated, and our village came through in a big way. We can’t wait to get back out there next summer and see what our youth accomplish!

Adventures at Wind Cave

The Park offered Boys & Girls Club members a variety of wonderful opportunities to learn about the natural resources of the Wine Cave. Each week, Club members explored the park by participating in Ranger guided hikes, cave tours, and enjoying their campfire program, which provides interesting information about many different aspects of the park. The weekly program was facilitated by two GS-5 park rangers and consisted of various subjects including a forest safari, hydrology, weather, prairie ecology, fire ecology, tricks of the trade (settlers, cave explorers, and history), geology and nocturnal nature. This program was designed by Wind Cave staff to help area youth learn about the park and the forces of nature which formed it, the value of stewardship, and how to safely recreate in the natural world. The program culminated with a graduation ceremony for our Club members. There, each participating member received a certificate of completion as well as a mileage counter for the miles they hiked over the course of the summer. This was a GREAT opportunity and we thank Wind Cave National Park and its staff for the awesome experience. .

To see more photos of the exciting things taking place at our Clubs, follow us on

The summer of 2015 was adventurous for the Boys & Girls Club of Hot Springs. Golfing, biking, and swimming are a few of the weekly activities our members engaged in. The highlight of the summer was discovering Wind Cave National Park on our weekly field trips.

Photo by Western Lifestyles Photography

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Black Hills is excited to announce our new Club program, Trips for Kids of the Black Hills. This new and engaging bike program initiative encourages and enables young people to get up and get active by simply riding a bike. Trips for Kids provides fun-filled, daylong and afterschool mountain bike outings for our Club members across the Black Hills. The mission is to use bicycles as a vehicle for lessons in confidence building, achievement, health, fitness and environmental awareness through the development of practical skills and the simple act of having fun. The trips are led by Club staff who, with the help of our dedicated adult volunteers, teach local youth basic mountain biking skills, promote healthy living and environmental stewardship. Club staff, use the outdoors as classroom as they incorporate lessons on local ecology and natural history. In addition to learning bike handling techniques and rules of the road, the program fosters vibrant and inclusive opportunities by going on field trips, learning bike mechanic skills, and discussing how to live healthy lifestyles. This past summer local youth explored the beautiful Black Hills while they rode on some of the area’s premiere trails such as the 114-mile Mickelson Trail, Spearfish canyon Byway and Hot Springs Freedom Trail. Club youth also completed the Gear up for Great Futures 100-mile challenge and celebrated with a party at the end of the summer. Trips

for Kids provides the bikes, helmets, water bottles, bags and technical expertise to safely facilitate a fun-filled day on a bike. Trips for Kids of the Black Hills got off the ground this summer with its mission to share the thrill and healthy challenge of mountain-biking with local kids who might otherwise not have a chance to experience it. The Club was awarded a grant to start a Trips for Kids chapter and received 15 mountain bikes and 30 helmets to spearhead this program. We would like to thank Rabbit Bicycle and Rushmore Mountain Sports for assembling our Raleigh bikes. We appreciate your support to our Clubs and youth we serve. The Clubs are always looking for outgoing and enthusiastic cyclists who enjoy sharing their passion with youth to join our rides. To volunteer or to donate a bike, contact your local Club for more information.

Trips for Kids: gearing up for Great Futures

Boys & Girls Clubs of the Black Hills was honored to receive the Gateway to Impact Award in recognition of serving more members, more often at the October 2015 Midwest Leadership Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Each year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America present the Gateway to Impact Awards to organizations with noteworthy increases in Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and capacity utilization in the previous year. The Awards celebrate Clubs contributions to the mission and comprehensive strategy to drive ADA, increase

Great Futures Newsletter | Winter 2016

Boys & Girls Club Awarded Nationally for Serving More

Members, More Often

engaging them on a frequent basis at the Clubs, we offer regular access to essential programs and services. As a result, young people with higher levels of participation demonstrate greater positive outcomes. That’s why we’re working together as a Movement to encourage members of all ages to attend their Club more often, participate more deeply and remain involved as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood. Thank you again for opening doors for youth in our communities by supporting your local Boys & Girls Club – because of you, we are able to serve more youth, more often.

Club Staff pose for a selfie with John Miller, National VP, Organizational and Development Services

BGCBH received the Gateway to Impact Award from Fred Paulke, Midwest Regional Vice President. Left: Anne Rogers, Lead-Deadwood Unit Director; Lisa Sagdalen, Executive Director; Fred Paulke, Midwest Regional Vice President; Veronica Prautzsch, Hill City Unit Director

Trips for kids of the Black Hills hosted IMBA’s national "Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day" event on October 2, 2015 for all community members and kids to explore the Black Hills' beauty and trails. Thank you to all the volunteers for sharing your passion for Mountain Biking with our kids.

frequency of attendance and expand tenure of Club members. Regular attendance, which is a key component of the Formula of Impact, helps to ensure the greatest outcomes for youth. Our Clubs continue to significantly improve the Black Hills communities that we serve. With the generous support of great friends like you, our Clubs are able to open our doors for more youth than ever before. By reaching out to youth and

Club Prep Preschool Now Enrolling

PO Box 677

Hill City, SD 57745

Throughout the year we host a variety of events that raise essential funds for Club programs. Find an event that best suits you to support our youth in the Black Hills! Play in our Black Hills 3 on 3 Basketball tournament, get inspired by our outstanding youth at our Blue Door Celebration, get close to Mt. Rushmore at our Annual Fundraiser or have a fun night out with friends at our Top of the Chop event. • Blue Door Celebration | January 21, 2016 • Ugly Sweater 5k Run | February 27, 2016 • Top of the Chop | March 5, 2016 • 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament | April 2, 2016 • Fundraiser at Mt. Rushmore | April 9, 2016 • Day for Kids 17 | September 2016 • Light & Fright 5K | October 22, 2016 • Taste of Holidaze | November 5, 2016 • Wine & Wreaths | November 12, 2016 For more information about our events, please visit www.bgcblackhills.org.

Board of Directors John Pence, Board Chair Carmen Ronish, Past Chair Justin O’Neill, Treasurer Laurie Pauli-Tarrell Jason Alexander Melanie Timm Mike Hanson Tom Campbell

Resource Development Committees John Pence | Laurie Pauli-Tarrell | Rachelle Elshere | Chris Kattke | Shane Fugier | Tim Theusch | Marian Johnson | Briana Tyler | Aubrey Fraiser | Karen Street | Tera McGuire | Jamie Gilcrease-Heupel | Natasha Fuller | Karen Everett | Tracy Island

Hill City | Hot Springs | Lead-Deadwood

Mark your Calendars

At Club Prep Preschool, we are dedicated to providing the most effective early childhood education by combining engaging curriculum, while encouraging our students to explore, discover, imagine, and learn through a fun, safe, and nurturing environment. If you are interested in enrolling your child, please call the Boys & Girls Club in Hill City today!

Toddlers sprint towards candy during the Goblin Candy Dash on Oct. 24, 2015’s Light & Fight 5k.

Deadwood’s Mayor, Chuck Turbiville auctions off gourmet deserts during the Top of the Chop cocktail party at the Homestake Chophouse in Lead.

Summer Camp for Club Prep Preschool

School may be out, but learning doesn’t take a vacation. Summer Camp will begin on May 31, 2016 for children ages 3-6 years old, and the Club invites you to experience all the benefits Club Prep has to offer!

Club Prep features:

Nurturing environment

Creative learning

Quality programs

Personalized Attention

Nutritious lunch and snack

Easy transition for the big adventure of learning ...Kindergarten!

Each week, we will feature a different theme, keeping the kids engaged with learning through play and fun. We will be helping in the Club garden, having fun in the water and going on various field trips. Summer Camp for Club Prep offers a practical alternative during vacation, while creating an education-rich summer. Sign up now!

Photo by Western Lifestyles Photography

Great Futures Newsletter | Winter 2016

Left Photo: Hill City firefighters, Jason and Todd, showed the kids how a fire truck works. Right Photo: Kay Booth from the FBI visited our Club Prep Class and awarded the preschoolers as Junior agents.