Interact Dictionary Trip

     On Friday, October 20th, 24 members of the Interact club distributed dictionaries to third graders at reservation schools as one of their many service projects of the year. The members distributed dictionaries to six schools, Batseland, Wolf Creek, Lady of Lourdes, Porcupine Elementary, Pine Ridge Elementary, and Loneman, according to Interact club sponsor Roger Wess. Out of the six schools that the students attended, they were only able to personally distribute dictionaries to the third graders at the first two schools, as unforeseen difficulties arose at the other four. For example, Abby Hyer, the Interact secretary, said that at Porcupine Elementary "A funeral was occurring in the gym and caused school to be out of session for the day."

     Mr. Wess said that one of the major reasons that Interact does the dictionary trip is because it "...gives students an opportunity to visit the school system on the Pine Ridge Reservation, which is literally a different culture. It is a way to have two cultures interact, and that is important." Although the trip is used to provide an educational tool to the students on the reservation and allow two cultures to mix, students who go on the trip enjoy interacting with the children. Claire Margetts, a member of Interact, said, "My favorite part is talking to all of the little kids because they are so sweet and a lot of them are very interested in the dictionaries." Abby concurred by saying, "It is also really fun to see the kids and to have a hands-on service experience."

     The process of distributing the dictionaries is quite lengthy. First, members walk into the classrooms and introduce themselves to the children, said Mande Wollesen, Interact treasurer. They also introduce their organization and explain to the students that the dictionaries are personally theirs to keep. Then, "Each member takes one and visits a kid at a table, and we talk to them about the dictionary," said Mande. After discussing the dictionary and its contents, the members discuss other things with the students to personally connect with them, such as what their favorite things to do are.

     The dictionary trip has a profound impact on the members who attend and inspires them to continue going on the trip. This year was Abby's third year on the trip. Jameson Margetts, a freshman members of Interact, said that he plans on going on the trip again, because, he said, "It was really fun."