About Us
Camp Laugh A Lot is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization based on the Pine Ridge Reservation dedicated to providing active outdoors nature-study and animal-related learning opportunities for Native youth from economically impoverished Reservations where a disconnect has happened between people and the natural environment, and where, despite strong historical cultural connections with nature, present day connections have suffered.
Camp Laugh A Lot helps reconnect Native youth to nature. Accompanying youth by providing them with fun and educational outdoor nature and animal study opportunities throughout their school years, we help to prepare the next generation to assume leadership responsibilities in nature conservation, animal care and environment-related fields. In this way, Camp strives to impact not only individuals, but also the societies in which we live, bringing about positive change in the relationship we as humans have with each other and with our environment.
There is no cost to go to Camp Laugh A Lot, but we believe it is important for youth to learn the concept of earning something, and we believe in the power of literacy. That's why youth earn their way to go to camp by earning the "Reading with Animals" badge.
Our effort began - and is still primarily focused on - the Pine Ridge Reservation, Oglala Sioux Tribe. Native youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity to spend time in the Black Hills (ancestral sacred land of the Lakota people, but no longer readily accessible to many Tribal members), benefit from the nurturing environment at Camp while engaging in fun, active times outdoors, nature study and appreciation, learning indigenous and other knowledge about the natural world, enhancing awareness and compassion for animals, building positive relations with others, and understanding that every individual has something special to give, and that everyone can and does make a difference.
We strive to impact not only individuals, but also the societies in which we live, bringing about positive change in the relationship we as humans have with animals and with nature.
Our Mission
Our mission is to reconnect Native youth to nature and healthy outdoor activities while strengthening traditional ties to ancestral lands and Native cultures and preparing tomorrow's environmental leaders. Included in our mission is enhancing awareness and compassion for animals -- to live as the Lakota and other cultures teach, with respect for all our relations.
Our Commitment
We are committed to ensuring that every child on the Pine Ridge Reservation will have the opportunity to experience carefree days full of fun and adventure at Camp at least once in their lifetime, and hopefully for their entire lifetime. We are committed to ensuring that Native youth have ample opportunities to spend time with others in nature and with animals, building relationships of respect and forming a foundation that will enable those who wish to, to pursue careers in conservation, outdoor recreation, or animal care. We are committed to partnering with Reservation schools to enhance literacy, supporting schools in teaching youth to read by providing incentives that motivate them to actually read.
Our Vision
Our vision is that within the next 10 years, every child on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and other Reservations throughout South Dakota and the region, will have the opportunity to experience carefree days full of fun, learning, and adventure at Camp. We will have the resources to invite more campers every year (and will never have to turn anyone away), and will have the capacity to support youth in their journey through and beyond school as some become Camp Counselors and Directors and others leaders in environmental and conservation fields. Camp will be a summer-long experience instead of short camp sessions offered periodically through the summer. Camp Laugh A Lot will have land in the Black Hills on which to establish a permanent Camp.
Our Situation
Camp Laugh A Lot began as an all-volunteer effort in the 1990's. It was legally established as a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation in the State of South Dakota in February, 2007. We are still tiny and have no paid permanent staff. Depending on available resources, we typically invite between 100 and 150 youth, ages 7 to 15, to Camp every summer for short 2-3 day sessions. There are many more children who want to come to Camp each summer who are denied the opportunity because of lack of resources to pay campsite, food, transportation and other costs.
We need your support to allow us to invite many more youth to Camp (free of charge to campers) and to provide the necessary resources which allow for long-term individual accompaniment of campers to ensure greatest impact.
We Need Your Support Today!
Our Board
Meet our all-volunteer Board of Directors and Officers
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Frankee White Dress
Director
Frankee is a member of the Oglala Lakota nation and lives on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Frankee has worked in the education field all her life, serving in important leadership positions, including as Principal of several schools on the Reservation, Department Head and School Reform Coordinator for the Pine Ridge School, Project Wakanyeja Program Director, Education Coordinator for the Tribe’s Head Start and Parent Child Centers and in her current position as Director of the Youth Shelter on the Reservation. She has been a teacher and administrator on the Reservation for more than three decades. She is committed to community development through education and has authored numerous papers on Lakota Community Leadership. Frankee cares deeply for the welfare of our animal relations. Over the years she has rescued many stray dogs and cats, and routinely has a house full of animals whom she is fostering. Frankee frequently volunteers her time for Camp Laugh A Lot -- taking everything in stride as she cares for all our relations, human and animal, one by one. Frankee is a member of the Board of Directors and currently serves as the President.
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Alice Phelps
Director
Alice is a member of the Oglala Lakota nation and lives on the Pine Ridge Reservation where she is the Director of First Families Now, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides vital necessities to children and families in high need communities and is also the Principal of the American Horse School. Prior to this, she was the Principal of the Wounded Knee District School on the Reservation. Alice graduated from Little Wound High School, then earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Oglala Lakota College (OLC), and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from OLC in 2004. She taught school at Rockyford School on the Reservation for seven years before becoming Principal at OLL for the next six years. Alice and her family travel the pow wow circuit, dancing and singing. In addition to competing in jingle dress competitions, Alice was honored with being the head woman’s judge at the United Tribes pow wow. Alice gives a great deal of credit to her family and tiospaye, and to the Looks Twice and Jumping Eagle families who helped set her roots, her foundation for her self-identity, and her cultural values and goals. Alice is a member of the Board of Directors.
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Virginia Ravndal
Director
Virginia is a senior Advisor to the United Nations on nature and wildlife conservation and has undertaken assignments for the U.N. in more than 50 countries around the world. Virginia grew up in South America and has devoted much of her life to enhancing the welfare of animals and people in need. Virginia lived along the Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Reservation and founded Camp Laugh A Lot because of the need expressed by Tribal elders to provide youth with more after-school outdoor opportunities, and because of her desire to inspire youth to care for nature and our four-legged relations. Virginia is also the founder of the Lakota Animal Care Project, a 501c3 non-profit organization that provided the basic animal health care for thousands of dogs and cats on the Reservation over the span of a decade. According to Virginia, life is better with a four-legged friend -- and better still when you can hear the laughter of children enjoying life with a four-legged friend! Virginia was a public school teacher in the U.S. and in Africa, and also worked with various organizations that promote literacy. Virginia is a member of the Board of Directors and serves on a voluntary basis as the Executive Director.
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Jody Brewer
Director
Jody is an enrolled Oglala Lakota Tribal member who has spent her almost 40-year career as a passionate educator working with students across the Pine Ridge Reservation. She has been both teacher and school administrator. Most recently, she was Principal of Pahin Sinte Owayawa school in the community of Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Jody is also currently an adjunct teacher at Oglala Lakota College. Jody is mother to six adult children as well as a devoted grandmother. In addition to her many other pursuits, Jody is working on her Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at Montana State University. Jody is dedicated to providing a quality education for the children of the Lakota nation and has worked tirelessly in the field of education for almost four decades. Jody is the newest member of the Camp Laugh A Lot Board of Directors.
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Peggy Smith
Treasurer
Peggy is a respected local business owner who has not only successfully managed a full-time business for more than thirty years, but is also an active volunteer in her community, dedicating time to the local food bank and volunteering to help Camp Laugh A Lot in many important ways over the past several decades. She is a real animal lover and has helped to find homes for many dogs and horses in need. Peggy is a person of many talents, being not only a business owner but also a professional Physical Therapist as well as a certified horse massage therapist and Instructor with the Masterson Method. Her never-ending energy and can-do attitude inspire others to work through challenges to seek good outcomes that help further our humanity and connection with others. Peggy serves as Treasurer.