by Tana Kappel
From the 1998-99 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide

Teens Go On a Treasure Hunt in Southeastern Montana

Meghan Phillippi is on a voyage of discovery. Not on a Jacques Cousteau ship, but in southeastern Montana.

What the 16-year-old 4-H'er is finding is hidden treasure--in her county of Powder River, but also in the nearby Northern Cheyenne Reservation. The area, she's learning, is more than an isolated place lacking in opportunities for youth and adults. For one thing, it doesn't have the problems some other communities face, such as high crime.

"On the surface, a lot of kids say 'it's boring here, there's nothing to do,'" said Phillippi, a member of the Boyes Puddle Jumpers 4-H Club. "But we've been learning to look deeper into the community. A lot of people here are proud of what we have."

Now, the challenge for the Broadus High School junior and the Powder River "action team" is to tap that pride and get the community involved in making it a better place, especially for young people.

Their "treasure hunt" is part of a national project called "Bridging the Gap of Isolation," which aims to increase youth opportunities in 10 "isolated" communities around the country. The project is sponsored by the National 4-H Council and the DeWitt Wallace Reader's Digest Fund.

"We're calling it a treasure hunt," said MSU Extension agent Mary Rumph, "Because we want to look at the community from the standpoint of its resources. That's a little different from asking 'what's wrong?'"

The Bridging the Gap project also involves a neighboring community, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, where project leader Emma Harris hopes to stir local residents to take an active role in improving their communities.

"We want to see the reservation become a place where young people see opportunity instead of isolation," said Harris, also with MSU Extension.

As part of their learning process, the two Montana teams attended a Bridging the Gap Institute at Red Lodge, which included teams from around the United States. While there, each team gave presentations on the history and current state of their communities.

The Powder River team was struck by the fact that their community had as much to offer--or more--than some of the other communities.

"Broadus isn't that bad," said Joey Talcott, 4-Her and team member.

"It made me appreciate what we have in Powder River County," said Marcy Fortner, an adult volunteer on the team.

Harris and two Northern Cheyenne teen participants came away with a different view, however. In the community of Muddy Cluster, "there's nothing for kids to do...There's a softball field, but it's going to be moved and not replaced. And the little kids have no basketball courts," said Harris.

"I don't think there was another community (represented) that has nothing in it--just houses," said Harris.

However, members at the institute observed that the communities of Lame Deer and Muddy Cluster had something other communities lacked: a strong sense of pride in their Native American culture.

As part of the institute, participants surveyed residents on the reservation. The goal was to get hands-on experience using a method of surveying called "asset mapping." The idea is to find out what people in a community want, and then determine what resources are already available, said Rumph.

"It was a real learning experience," said Phillippi. "Even the youth on the reservation focused on their heritage. They take pride in that."

Armed with hands-on experience, both Montana teams have begun their own asset mapping projects.

Phillippi said the survey in her county is finding that adults feel many of their needs are being met. There are some elderly folks who have needs for assistance with things like yard work, and there are some young people who would be willing to do yard work. "We want to try to match the needs with the people who can help with them."

Talcott said he learned that young people want a youth center in the community. And another youth need is transportation. "There are a lot of kids who don't yet have drivers' licenses, so transportation into town is a concern of theirs," said Talcott.

Meanwhile, the reservation team is just beginning its survey process. But they know they want to tap into the interests that are already there.

"We want to stir interest in people to take an active role in realizing they are in charge," said Harris. "The social needs of the people aren't being met. We've met the needs for food and shelter, but that's about it."

Fifteen-year-old Jeremy Kills Night had an additional observation: "The adults just make the decisions. We want youth to have a say in the decisions."

Kills Night and another team member, Stephanie White Grass, have ample opportunities to help make that happen. They participated, with Harris, in the Governors' Summit on Youth, and flew to San Diego for another Bridging the Gap Institute in June.

If you read this, we need to know who you are! Send questions or comments along with your city/state/country and subject of the item you read to Suzi Taylor . Or you can send letters to Suzi Taylor, MSU Communications Services, 416 Culbertson Hall, Bozeman, MT 59717.

Go to feature stories index arranged by category.

You are the 8552nd person to access this page.