RESERVATION
MISSION TRIP
$479
HOW WE SERVE
In the middle of South Dakota, surrounded by rolling green hills and endless skies, lies the beautiful Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. Students will work alongside Cheyenne River Sioux tribal members and learn about their history, culture, and the challenges they currently face.
THE MISSION IN
CHEYENNE RIVER, SOUTH DAKOTA
This reservation is full of rich stories, beautiful scenery, and diverse culture. But like many Native American reservations, its history is also marred by hardship and injustice — the effects of which can still be felt today. Alcoholism, drugs, unemployment, abuse, and suicide all impact family dynamics and the larger community on a daily basis.
Our desire is to humbly walk alongside the friendships we have built and faithfully support the local organizations who work day in and day out on the reservation. Although families and individuals on the reservation face many challenges, there is hope. We know that Jesus deeply cares about this community and He is empowering individuals from Cheyenne River to rise up, advocate for their community, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and love the broken. God is there, and God is working.
While every partnership and project looks different, our goal is to meet the tangible, physical needs of people living on Cheyenne River. Usually this involves teams of students working on trailers and homes across the reservation. Even though our primary platform for partnership on Cheyenne River is construction-based, the heart of our ministry is relational. Students will have the chance to spend meaningful time with community members and hopefully leave their trip with a better understanding of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.
With Cheyenne River being a relatively new site, we are working hard to foster trusting relationships with the community. With your help, we will continue to be able to build relationships with families and organizations that are founded on trust, rooted in humility, and centered on learning.
We would love for you to join us next summer on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation!
PARTNERSHIPS
LAKOTA HOPE
Community Outreach
We partner with Lakota Hope in their Night of Another Hope event. Students gather with community members to share a meal, worship together, and hear inspirational messages from local leaders. We also have the opportunity to support local artists, as there are many people who come to sell their beautiful crafts at the weekly event. Lakota Hope is another connection point for us to families on the reservation.
HANDS OF FAITH
Construction Mentorship
Hands of Faith works to empower young adult men on the Reservation through a construction mentorship program. They believe that a healthy and consistent father-figure in the household can reverse problems on the reservation like alcoholism, abuse and suicide. They aim to help men grow spiritually, physically and vocationally. Hands of Faith is one of our connection points to families in the community.
#9 COMMUNITY CHURCH
Local Church
In addition to hosting weekly church services, #9 Community Church has developed a strong, local church community that serves the greater Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe. Whether building friendships or building houses, #9 Community Church is beacon of hope in this community. Next Step teams have had the privilege to work alongside #9 Community Church, meeting the physical needs of the Pine Ridge community.
SITE PHOTOS
YOUR EXPERIENCE
WORSHIP
Next Step wants your students to grow together in faith and understanding who Jesus is. Each year we create new devotionals for you to guide your students through at different times during the day, and each evening includes worship, a speaker to challenge them through a brief message, and a new video series created by Next Step for your mission trip. All of our program materials are designed to help you get the conversations started, and then let you do the framing and guiding of your students in the specifics of their faith! Each night ends with your chance to gather in your group and go over the day's lessons.
CONSTRUCTION
At Next Step, we partner with local community leaders and organizations to ensure that the projects are meaningful to them and the work they are doing in the community. Not all of our sites have construction based ministry ..or may have it every week, but on sites that do, your students will work on projects ranging from full home builds and home additions, to drywall, siding, flooring, wheelchair ramps, and more. Feel free to contact us and see what projects might be in store this year for your community and week of choice!
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Do you want your short term mission trip to make a real difference? At Next Step, students serve alongside local community members, churches and nonprofits, as we meet the needs of the community together. With projects being selected by our community partnerships, you will be part of a movement in ethical and responsible short-term missions. We actively pursue this as more than just buzz words. We strive to continue to be a forerunner in the collision of short term missions and sustainable community development!
LOGISTICS
We are housed at the Eagle Butte School dormitories. Groups sleep on air mattresses in rooms that are approximately 15x15. Each room has its own bathroom.
This site is bus accessible, but vans are strongly preferred as buses are not able to make it to certain sites. Some groups choose to fly and then rent vehicles for the week. The nearest airport is Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) in Rapid City, SD and is a two hour drive from Cheyenne River. Another option is the Denver International Airport in Denver, CO approximately 5 hours from Cheyenne River.
Twin Size Air Mattress
Bedding & Pillow
Fans
Water Bottle
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Insect Repellent
Towel
Toiletries
Swim Suit
Work Shoes
Work Clothes
Casual Clothes
Work Gloves
Safety Glasses
Hammer
SUNDAY (ARRIVAL DAY)
3:00-5:00 pm – Arrive to Mission Location
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship & Weekly Orientation
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
MONDAY – THURSDAY (WORK DAYS)
7:00 am – Wake Up
7:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
8:15 am – Morning Devotional
8:30 am – Depart for Worksite & Begin Working
12:00 pm – Lunch & Devotion
1:00 pm – Resume Working
3:00 pm – Clean Up/Return
4:00 pm – Community Involvement Activity
5:00 pm – Free time/Showers/Leader Meeting
6:00pm – Dinner
8:00 pm – Worship
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
FRIDAY (COMMUNITY / FUN DAY)
8:00 am – Wake Up
8:15 am – Eat Breakfast & Lunch Preparation
9:00 am – Morning Devotion
9:15 am – Leave for Free Day Activity
4:00 pm – Shower Time/Free Time/Leader Meeting
6:00 pm – Dinner
7:00 pm – Worship
9:00 pm – Church Time, Small groups, Free Time
10:30 pm – Lights Out
FAQS
When should I register for my trip?
Registration opens in July and will be available through early spring. To get your preferred dates, locations, and spaces, it is recommended to secure your spots sometime before October.
What is the min or max people per group?
There is genrerally no set minimum group size for most of our summer mission trips, but based on the location and dates there may be some applicable suggestions and/or restrictions. If you have less than five participants in your group, please contact our office so we can go over the logistics of a trip with a smaller group size. The maximum number of people that can register for a trip will depend on the specific location capacity and availability.
What is the adult to student ratio required?
Next Step Ministries asks each group to bring 1 adult for every 6 students.
Are background checks required?
Yes. Each church group is responsible for conducting background checks on each participant 18 years of age or older.
When will we find out what our work projects are?
Your group will learn about the work projects on the first night of your trip! Our staff will contact you 1-2 weeks prior to the trip to share updates and provide an adjusted tool list.
How are the trips staffed?
A Next Step Area Director facilitates community partnerships, lines up projects, leads the summer staff, and coordinates other logistics such as lodging and accommodations. The trip itself will be facilitated by a team of energetic, mission-minded college-age summer missions staff. The site staff will include a construction team, worship team, speaker, meal coordinators, and administrative leaders to guide you through the week.
What if the trip I’m considering is already full?
Each location has a different max capacity, so please contact our office to learn more about spaces available. In the event we are fully booked for the trip you are interested in, we can put you on a wait list or help find alternative trip options. To avoid these delays, we recommend registering for your trip as soon as you can!
What is the payment schedule?
Payment for a Next Step Ministries mission trip is separated into a deposit and two scheduled payments:
- Deposit - $50 non-refundable and non-transferable deposit per spot reserved due within 30 days of your trip registration date
- March 15th Payment – 50% of remaining balance of trip cost due
- May 15th Payment – 100% of remaining total balance of trip cost due
Is Next Step affiliated with a denomination?
No, we do not affiliate with a particular denomination. Next Step Ministries is an interdenominational organization and we partner with hundreds of churches from all different denominations on our mission trips. Please see our Statement of Faith to learn more about what we believe. In simple terms, we stick to the basics of the Gospel. Our foundation for ministry is to provide opportunities for students to connect and grow in a personal relationship with Christ.
How are the work projects selected?
Next Step Ministries works alongside community leaders, non-profit organizations, and the local church in order to set up work projects. Next Step Staff called Area Directors work closely with our community partners to determine how to multiply our impact in the community and prepare the projects you will be working on in advance.
Will our group be paired with other groups?
You will most likely be attending a trip with 2-4 other youth groups. All groups will share sleeping quarters and we will have meals and worship together as a large group. Many of our mission site locations can accommodate for 80-100 volunteers each week. For work projects, we love to mix students, but also understand many groups prefer to stick together. Please let us know your preference and we will plan accordingly!
Is the mission trip safe?
Yes. Next Step Ministries exists to give middle school, high school, and college students an opportunity to explore their faith, experience God, and extend service to others on a mission trip. Students are our top priority and safety is always our primary concern. Thankfully, because of our long-term commitment and involvement within the community, we have developed many close relationships with local families and organizations. The community is familiar with Next Step and we’ve worked hard to humbly earn their trust and respect. Because of these close friendships we are the first to know if something out of the ordinary comes up or is unsafe.
WANT MORE INFORMATION?
Day or night, Next Step Ministries is happy to hear from you. Whether you have a question, comment or concern, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, or just type "TRIP" in the chatbox to get more information. You can quickly schedule a meeting with us HERE. And feel free to download this brochure below for all of our basic mission trip information.
