Info for our June 2019 Trip 3

Hello folks, it’s that magic time of year again, when I start nagging you to join us on our annual mission trip to Pine Ridge, S.D.

Please, please, please, please come with us, pleeeeeeeease!

Travel info & dates

Okay, enough of that. Anyway, if you are interested, the dates for the trip are June 7 – 16. We’ll be leaving Indiana on Friday, June 7, and arriving in Kyle, S.D. on Saturday, June 8.

We’ll be leaving Kyle on Saturday, June 15, and arriving in Indiana on June 16.

Obviously, if you’re not travelling with us, your dates may vary, depending on where you’re driving from, how many people you have, and how fast you travel.

Accommodation info

As usual, we’ll be staying at the Lakota Prairie Lodge and Resort, in Kyle, S. D. (don’t let the name fool you – it’s nice, but not fancy). Most of us tent-camp, as that’s the most affordable option, but for those who are not up for tent camping, there are rooms and cabins available (usually – however demand can be high, so if you want one, you should book early).

Camping costs are included in the cost of the trip, but the cost of rooms or cabins is your responsibility, if you decide to go that route. On the up side, most of the rooms and cabins are large enough that you can fit at least two, and usually 3 or 4 people in them (depending on the quality of your friendship, and privacy requirements).

Cost info

Cost for the trip is $300 per person ($350 per person if you travel with us. The extra $50 goes to fuel and motel on the road). As stated above, if you decide to get a room or cabin, that cost is your responsibility.

For your $300, you get: Camping in a tent (always an adventure! if you don’t have a tent, we’ve got spare 8-man tents), food for 6 days (probably cooked by yours truly – don’t get your hopes up too high – but for the last few years, the lovely and talented Connie Davis has done a good bit of the cooking, and her food has actual nutritive value!), lots of water (you’ll need it), fuel while on the Rez. I think that’s about it, although there may be some minor things I’ve forgotten.

What your $300 does not get: Souvenirs, or anything to drink, other than water, lemonade, or gatorade. If you, like me, are a pop addict, you’re on your own (we do pass a gas station on our way to Potato Creek, so you can get your fix). Basically, if it’s not listed in the things you get, just figure you’re on your own.

What to bring

Work/play clothes: either enough for the trip, or there are laundry facilities available. If you, like me, are dependent on medication, bring enough to last the week, plus a couple extra day’s worth (just in case. better safe than sorry). If you’re camping, bring a tent (if you want your own), pillow, sleeping bag, air mattress/cot. It’s a good idea to pack it in a 20 gallon tub (to keep it dry – we always have at least one big storm while we’re out there). We’ve gotten pretty good at keeping out tents up and dry, but stuff happens.

Above all, bring a good attitude, and flexible expectations.

What not to bring

Don’t bring anything that you’ll be upset to lose. Don’t bring nice clothes that you’d be afraid to get dirty. Don’t bring unnecessary jewelry or electronics if you’ll be upset if they get lost or stolen. Theft is not usually a problem, but it does happen occasionally – for example, one night a few years back, I forgot to lock my truck, and had an Ipod and camera stolen. t happens.

What to expect

Exhaustion. Lots and lots of exhaustion. We stay pretty busy, but at least it’s a good kind of exhaustion. We don’t ask anyone to do anything that they’re not up for, and we realize that not everybody has the same capabilities, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. We’ve had people as young as 8 on this trip, and as old as 86, and haven’t lost anyone yet.

Fun. Quite a bit of fun. Whether it’s playing basketball with teenagers, or pushing little kids on the swings, flying kites, drawing with sidewalk chalk, or blowing bubbles, the kids on Pine Ridge are a lot of fun, and love it when someone pays attention to them. We also have a pretty good time back at camp. We spend some time in the Badlands, both in the park, and going cross-country.

Frustration. It can be a little disheartening to see the immensity of the problems the Sioux face, compared to the seeming feebleness of our best efforts. Still, that’s no reason not to try. There’s nothing as frustrating as seeing hungry little kids, or a toddler watched over by a 5 year old, or being told by a little kid to go fuck yourself, when you just want him to let you love him (or her).

Satisfaction. The flip side to frustration. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of knowing that for this week anyway, those hungry kids’ll have plenty of food to eat, that this week at least, both that toddler and the 5 year old with have someone watching over them, or seeing that foul-mouthed little kid who tested you so at the beginning of the week, give you a big hug on Thursday because you passed the test.

Fellowship. Not only with the locals, many of whom join us at camp for dinner, and sit around swapping stories, but with the other folks in the group, many of whom have formed little communities and stay in touch throughout the year. It’s a darned good bunch of people (me and Dave excepted, of course).

In conclusion

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, take a look at our past posts (I know some of them are old, but they’re still valid). Also, there are now several posts by folks other than myself, giving their perspective about the trip.

If you’re still interested, let me know, either through the comments here, or email me – moonandjess@frontier.com, if you have any further questions.

Also, here’s a link to Lakota Prairie, if you’re thinking about getting a room: http://www.lakotaprairie.com/

Anyway, hope to hear from you. Thanks for taking the time.