By Carleen Wild
Moody County Enterprise
After years of planning and strengthening partnerships across the broader Flandreau community, a long-awaited early childhood center in Moody County is just weeks away from opening its doors.
The Clubhouse – Early Childhood Enrichment Center – is part of the Boys & Girls Club complex, located on the west end of the Flandreau Public School campus and just south of the Wm. Janklow Community Center/Flandreau Armory, will soon provide a dedicated space for some of the youngest members of the community.
With construction nearing completion and classrooms beginning to take shape, an open house and ribbon-cutting event is scheduled for Friday, April 24, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to tour the facility, meet staff, learn about enrollment and take part in the celebration.
The event will also serve as a “Community Baby Shower,” giving residents, businesses and supporters an opportunity to help stock the new center with supplies for infants and young children who will spend their days there.
To streamline donations, organizers have created an Amazon wishlist to ensure items align with program needs.
“All classroom materials have already been ordered and are directly tied to our curriculum, so random items or toys may not be used as frequently,” said Charlie Wilson, senior director of early childhood for the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains.
“We want to be thoughtful and responsible stewards of the generous gifts we receive, which is why the Wishlist was created.”
Community members can access the baby shower wishlist at this website:
https://a.co/0gZm87hZ
Wilson added that those interested in making cash donations or offering additional support can connect directly with the organization’s resource development team.
The ECEC is the result of a collaborative effort between the Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Plains, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe and the City of Flandreau, along with other critical individual, business and government partners — an effort aimed at expanding access to quality early childhood care in the community.
The Boys & Girls Club will oversee daily operations, staffing and curriculum. The Tribe has provided key funding and health and safety support, while the City of Flandreau has contributed infrastructure and long-term planning. Dakota Layers and the Ramsdell family have served as primary community partners on the project, alongside countless other donors who have given their time and resources to help bring this unique resource to life.
One way the clubhouse will stand out is by offering extended-day care for families working non-traditional hours — a long-standing challenge in the area that has often prevented at least one parent from taking available jobs or pursuing a career.
Club officials say the $3.5 million project is now nearly 90% funded, with remaining funding focused largely on furnishings and equipment.
Final inspections are happening yet this month with classroom setup in April. Enrollment is underway — first serving families who have expressed interest, followed by broader community enrollment. The program is expected to officially open Monday, May 4.
Staffing efforts, meanwhile, are ongoing, with several key roles still to be filled. Those interested in applying can visit greatfuturessd.org for more information.
Community members can access the baby shower wishlist at https://a.co/0gZm87hZ.
Leave a Reply