Boys & Girls Club of Lower Brule Celebrates Grand Re-Opening! The Lower Brule Sioux Reservation is located approximately fifteen miles southeast of Pierre, South Dakota and 15 miles north of Interstate 90. There are approximately 2,200 enrolled tribal members with about 1,600 of those members residing in and around Lower Brule. Lower Brule residents enjoy vistas of the Missouri River, a tribal wildlife preserve, a successful tribal farm industry (which specializes in popcorn), and a local Casino/Convention Center facility. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lower Brule held a Grand Re-Opening on June 4th, 2003. The Club originally opened in the Fall 2002, then closed temporarily this spring to hire and train new staff and renovate its Youth Center facility. The re-opening event was a tremendous success with over 200 people in attendance throughout the day. The Youth Center features the following: a remodeled entry way (front desk, lockers and coat room); a remodeled kitchen for snack time and nutrition instruction; a new arts and crafts room (where Club members have added their artistic skills to the ceiling tiles); an outdoor playground space; and an updated and expanded gamesroom. The Youth facility also hosts the Lower Brule Community Library which recently featured a visit from Clifford the Big Red Dog. Club members enjoy each of these program spaces, and have been particularly mesmerized by the new air hockey table. Summer Power Hour is also thriving, fueled by a reading challenge program and science and math activities. In addition to the Youth Center, the Lower Brule Teen Center serves members ages 13-18. The Teen Center has formed a Youth Leadership Club that meets weekly to plan activities for the teens. Currently, their projects include a bake sale, basketball tournament and bike raffle. They have also designated one afternoon each week to perform community service work. For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lower Brule, contact Misty Ziegler, Executive Director at 605/473-0652 or lowerbrulebgc@yahoo.com.