The Wind River Reservation area is home to both the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribes as well as people living in communities surrounding the reservation in Fremont County and Lander. From mountain peaks, meadows and alpine streams, the natural beauty of the land is unsurpassed. Recreation includes amazing fishing, camping, climbing, white-water rafting and hunting. Despite the beauty of the land, residents of these communities face many social and economic challenges including poverty, unemployment and drug abuse. Your group’s ministry can bring hope to those who are struggling. From painting and weatherizing homes to reaching out to the local children and elderly residents, your service will have significant impact in the Wind River Valley.

Demographics

The Wind River Reservation encompasses more than 2.2 million acres in Wyoming. The reservation and surrounding areas have an estimated population of 23,250 residents, which include both Native Americans and Whites. We house in nearby Lander, WY. Lander has a population of 7,000 and Fremont county has a population of 36,000. The reservation sits on the eastern side of Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains, southeast of the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The Eastern Shoshone tribe originally chose this land and, in 1878, was joined by the Northern Arapaho in what was to be a temporary arrangement. A century later, the Northern Arapaho still live on the reservation. Although the two tribes own and govern the reservation jointly, they generally keep to different parts of the land—the Northern Arapaho in the east and the Eastern Shoshone in the west. Lander, the gateway to the Shoshone National Forest and the Wind River Mountains, formed when the first white trappers came into the area in 1811. It became a small military post in 1869 to provide protection for the newly established Wind River Reservation. In 1884 Fremont County was established and Lander became the county seat. Finding work on the reservation is a significant challenge. Unemployment for the Northern Arapaho tribe runs as high as 85 percent, and up to 70 percent for the Eastern Shoshone. Drug abuse is another concern, with drug possession on the reservation rising 163 percent between 2003 and 2006. While many people struggle to make a decent living on the reservation, they are resilient and kind. Join the community of Wind River to serve and encourage those in need. You will most certainly be blessed in the process.

About the Ministry

Participants serve in a variety of ways during a YouthWorks mission trip. Students may spend all week at one ministry or switch between ministries during the week. Ministries that your students may participate in are Kids Club and Work Projects. Kids Club is a hands-on program led by your youth offering high-energy games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help kids learn about Jesus. Whether we’re painting houses, performing minor home repair, cleaning up debris, volunteering in community gardens or other projects in the community, the projects students work on will serve as our way of blessing people in need. We cannot confirm until all groups arrive exactly what ministries your students will be a part of during the week. We ask that you come with a willing and flexible spirit!

Activities

Our goal with evening activities is to provide an exposure to the unique offering of the week and community. A list of evening/cultural activities we have done in the past include: hike at Sinks Canyon State Park; visit Sacajawea’s grave; participate in a community cookout; and participate in a community educational activity. These are examples of what your group might partake in during your mission week. These examples are subject to change due to weather or availability. In case of change, suitable substitutes will be provided. We try to arrange for free evening activities, but from time to time, an additional cost may be required for an activity. Please plan to bring an additional $10 per person to cover any extra costs. We will confirm the details closer to your trip.

Ministry Week

Kids Club and Work Projects.

Mileage

We will be staying near the town of Lander, WY, which is approximately 150 miles from Casper, WY. Both cities have airports.

Transportation & Travel

Each group is responsible for transportation to and from the site, and during the mission week. The Wind River Reservation can only accommodate standard 15 passenger vans or smaller.

Additional Information

If you would like more information on what there is to do in Wind River and surrounding areas before or after your trip visit: www.wyomingtourism.org.