Founded in 1996, the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles (Hayward, WI) became one of the first Boys and Girls Clubs on a Native American Reservation. At the time, the Tribal Governing Board of Lac Courte Oreilles wanted a place for youth to go to be safe, learn new skills, enhance their education and life views, as well as just have fun.
Through the hard work and generosity of several individuals, that dream became a reality. The Club began with a Drug Elimination Grant through the Housing Authority and continues today with more diverse funding streams for the $600,000 budget to serve over 600+ youth each year.
Today, there are over 200 Clubs on Native American lands, and the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles is still going strong!
In 2006, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, through a CBG Grant and a Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Nation Grant, were able to fund a new facility for the Boys and Girls Club. Our gorgeous facility (complete with a full-size gym, program room, game room, computer room, teen center, and offices) is located just behind the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal School. Now, a safe, positive place is within walking distance for most of our kids right after school! Hayward Community School District also drops off students daily to the Clubs front doors!
Through the hard work and generosity of several individuals, that dream became a reality. The Club began with a Drug Elimination Grant through the Housing Authority and continues today with more diverse funding streams for the $600,000 budget to serve over 600+ youth each year.
Today, there are over 200 Clubs on Native American lands, and the Boys and Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles is still going strong!
In 2006, the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribe, through a CBG Grant and a Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Nation Grant, were able to fund a new facility for the Boys and Girls Club. Our gorgeous facility (complete with a full-size gym, program room, game room, computer room, teen center, and offices) is located just behind the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal School. Now, a safe, positive place is within walking distance for most of our kids right after school! Hayward Community School District also drops off students daily to the Clubs front doors!
The staff members of Boys and Girls Club are carefully chosen to provide good role modeling. Prior to hiring, all potential employees are background-checked nationally, as well as drug tested, with a yearly follow up. This helps us, to the best of our ability, provide youth with qualified mentors who also have the safety of the children as a priority. They come in with a clear vision of wanting to make a difference in the lives of our youth.
Melinda Mckevett Isham
CEO
Shelley Gerich
Director of Operations
Shelley has been with the Club since the Club began operations in 1996! Her duties include all payroll and accounting functions; financial and quarterly progress reporting on all grant-funded initiatives; audit and accountant support; staff support; building operations support and operational support for meals and snacks through the Department of Public Instruction.
Art Mustache
Unit Director
Art, also known as "Big Art" by the Club youth and teens has been with the Club since 2021. Art has 5 Children,2 of which are active Club members. In his spare time he loves to go to pow wows and spending time with his kids and loves to ride his Harleys. He says that one of his biggest joys of being at the Club is watching the youth and teens grow and just have fun. He states that he is also a Club kid from Minneapolis.
Bonnie Beaudin
Workforce Readiness Director
Miss Bonnie as the Youth call her here at the Club is our main connection for all things Teens! Bonnie works closely with getting our Teens ready for the real world with our Workforce Readiness Programming on a daily basis. She is a huge part of why our Teens come to the Club everyday and she's always there to guide them and our Youth to better themselves in every way. After her many years of teaching, she is at home here at the Club where she still gets to teach, but also hang-out with all age groups rather than one class!
Hailey Banuchie
Program Director
Hailey has been a Club kid ever since she was old enough to join. She enjoys spending time with the kids and making sure our social media is at the top of it's game! Hailey is lucky enough to work along side her sister, Ally, and many of her past Club STAFF when she attended herself. She says working at the Club is the best thing she can do to give back to the community by being a strong support STAFF for the Youth and knows she'll always be a Club 'kid" at heart. She helps the STAFF navigate all of the fun programming throughout the year, as well as keeping the balance between academic and recreational opportunities within our building!
Bob Dykstra
Facilities Manager
Bob is originally from Minnesota. Bob has a biology degree from Dordt University. Bob moved to the area and started volunteering at the Club in 2001. In 2006 he stepped into the Youth Development Profession at the Water Tower Site. As a certified naturalist and an avid canoer, he enjoys exploring the wonders of the great outdoors with our young adventurers. As "Bob the Builder", he gets to help dream up, build up, and maintain a top notch facility for our Club, school, and community to fully utilize.
David White
Facilities Worker
As Bob's right hand man Dave helps to get things done inside and outside of the Club. In Dave's spare time he is an avid fisherman and hunter. Dave loves to spend time with family while boating and ice fishing. Dave is a big help and is always willing to go that extra mile to help with any obstacle thrown at him. Dave has 4 children and is expecting his first grandchild soon.
Shantel Schmock
Youth Development Professional
Shantel has been with the club since 2022. She a very hardworking and is very dedicated team member. She has one son whom is an active
teen Club member. In her spare time Shantel likes side by siding with her family and spending time with her son and parents. She is an Aquarius, likes the colors green and purple. Shantel says she likes working at the Club because of the other staff and the youth.
Dominic Potack
Youth Development Professional
Dominic is a diehard Viking fan. Dominic is an awesome leader in the gym, outdoors and in the NBA Math Hoops program. His favorite sport is basketball and his favorite color is dark blue. In his spare time Dom loves spending time with his son and and playing volleyball and basketball. Dominic is also a former Club kid. He says that working for the Club lets him connect with the youth and watching them grow.
Ally Larson
Youth Development Professional
Ally also attended the Club throughout her school years, and loves to spend time with her dog Ross when she's not hanging out with the Youth at work. She enjoys helping the kids be active throughout the day, especially volleyball! She is also our BIG TOBACCO/VAPE personnel, which includes informing Youth the dangers of smoking/vaping, while incorporating culture in their lives to stay on the healthy path. Ally hopes she makes a lasting impact with our Youth and hopes they have just as much fun as she did when she attended Club.
Cali Perry
Youth Development Professional
Cali was a Club kid throughout her school years and has a knack for anything art related! She also loves to teach/play volleyball with the youth and teens here at the Club. Cali is a Leo and the youngest daughter in her family! Cali enjoys hiking and the water. Her favorite thing to do at the Club is pretty much anything with the Youth. She is a great addition to our team with her witty humor and bright personality, helping whenever it's needed and we're lucky to have her.
Eddie Benton
Youth Development Professional
Eddie is our other BIG TOBACCO/ VAPE personnel and cultural advocate in more ways than one. Eddie is the Club's drum instructor, urging Youth to participate in many ways, like singing with our powwow drums and singing great songs for the kids to dance along to. Eddie also came to the Club before graduating, and outside of work loves to fish, and play basketball. He brings so much to our Youth by teaching them everything he has to offer, and learns so much from them as well.
Cassidy Wilkozek
Workforce Readiness Assistant
Cassidy is our newest addition and eager to be part of our amazing team and help us provide a positive environment for our youth to grow. She has children and grandchildren whom she loves and adores. Cassidy's fun fact is that she has been deaf for multiple years and has only been able to hear for the last 2 years. She is pursuing her degree in Psychology, and working alongside Bonnie with our Teens for the Workforce Readiness Program and helping navigate the "adult world". A fun fact about Cassidy is she is a Gemini!
Haley Schmieg
Youth Development Provider
Haley is Oglala Lakota Sioux. Her favorite color is red. In her spare time she likes to bead, hiking and biking. She wanted to work at the Club because she likes to teach and watch the youth grow and reach for the Stars.
Elizabeth LaRonge
Head Chef/ Master of the Custodial Arts
Elizabeth was born in Hayward, WI. She is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She loves to go camping with her family and her two boys Preston and Cameron Metcalf. She likes working at the Boys and Girls Club because she was a Club member when she was younger and enjoyed coming here and she likes working with kids and being part of the community.
Mark Reed
Facilities worker
Mark is always the guy to ask to do every little task in a fast pace, he knows just how to get our building up to par. Mark has 5 children who attend the Club, and enjoys
Melinda Mckevett Isham
CEO
Shelley Gerich
Director of Operations
Shelley has been with the Club since the Club began operations in 1996! Her duties include all payroll and accounting functions; financial and quarterly progress reporting on all grant-funded initiatives; audit and accountant support; staff support; building operations support and operational support for meals and snacks through the Department of Public Instruction.
Art Mustache
Unit Director
Art, also known as "Big Art" by the Club youth and teens has been with the Club since 2021. Art has 5 Children,2 of which are active Club members. In his spare time he loves to go to pow wows and spending time with his kids and loves to ride his Harleys. He says that one of his biggest joys of being at the Club is watching the youth and teens grow and just have fun. He states that he is also a Club kid from Minneapolis.
Bonnie Beaudin
Workforce Readiness Director
Miss Bonnie as the Youth call her here at the Club is our main connection for all things Teens! Bonnie works closely with getting our Teens ready for the real world with our Workforce Readiness Programming on a daily basis. She is a huge part of why our Teens come to the Club everyday and she's always there to guide them and our Youth to better themselves in every way. After her many years of teaching, she is at home here at the Club where she still gets to teach, but also hang-out with all age groups rather than one class!
Hailey Banuchie
Program Director
Hailey has been a Club kid ever since she was old enough to join. She enjoys spending time with the kids and making sure our social media is at the top of it's game! Hailey is lucky enough to work along side her sister, Ally, and many of her past Club STAFF when she attended herself. She says working at the Club is the best thing she can do to give back to the community by being a strong support STAFF for the Youth and knows she'll always be a Club 'kid" at heart. She helps the STAFF navigate all of the fun programming throughout the year, as well as keeping the balance between academic and recreational opportunities within our building!
Bob Dykstra
Facilities Manager
Bob is originally from Minnesota. Bob has a biology degree from Dordt University. Bob moved to the area and started volunteering at the Club in 2001. In 2006 he stepped into the Youth Development Profession at the Water Tower Site. As a certified naturalist and an avid canoer, he enjoys exploring the wonders of the great outdoors with our young adventurers. As "Bob the Builder", he gets to help dream up, build up, and maintain a top notch facility for our Club, school, and community to fully utilize.
David White
Facilities Worker
As Bob's right hand man Dave helps to get things done inside and outside of the Club. In Dave's spare time he is an avid fisherman and hunter. Dave loves to spend time with family while boating and ice fishing. Dave is a big help and is always willing to go that extra mile to help with any obstacle thrown at him. Dave has 4 children and is expecting his first grandchild soon.
Shantel Schmock
Youth Development Professional
Shantel has been with the club since 2022. She a very hardworking and is very dedicated team member. She has one son whom is an active
teen Club member. In her spare time Shantel likes side by siding with her family and spending time with her son and parents. She is an Aquarius, likes the colors green and purple. Shantel says she likes working at the Club because of the other staff and the youth.
Dominic Potack
Youth Development Professional
Dominic is a diehard Viking fan. Dominic is an awesome leader in the gym, outdoors and in the NBA Math Hoops program. His favorite sport is basketball and his favorite color is dark blue. In his spare time Dom loves spending time with his son and and playing volleyball and basketball. Dominic is also a former Club kid. He says that working for the Club lets him connect with the youth and watching them grow.
Ally Larson
Youth Development Professional
Ally also attended the Club throughout her school years, and loves to spend time with her dog Ross when she's not hanging out with the Youth at work. She enjoys helping the kids be active throughout the day, especially volleyball! She is also our BIG TOBACCO/VAPE personnel, which includes informing Youth the dangers of smoking/vaping, while incorporating culture in their lives to stay on the healthy path. Ally hopes she makes a lasting impact with our Youth and hopes they have just as much fun as she did when she attended Club.
Cali Perry
Youth Development Professional
Cali was a Club kid throughout her school years and has a knack for anything art related! She also loves to teach/play volleyball with the youth and teens here at the Club. Cali is a Leo and the youngest daughter in her family! Cali enjoys hiking and the water. Her favorite thing to do at the Club is pretty much anything with the Youth. She is a great addition to our team with her witty humor and bright personality, helping whenever it's needed and we're lucky to have her.
Eddie Benton
Youth Development Professional
Eddie is our other BIG TOBACCO/ VAPE personnel and cultural advocate in more ways than one. Eddie is the Club's drum instructor, urging Youth to participate in many ways, like singing with our powwow drums and singing great songs for the kids to dance along to. Eddie also came to the Club before graduating, and outside of work loves to fish, and play basketball. He brings so much to our Youth by teaching them everything he has to offer, and learns so much from them as well.
Cassidy Wilkozek
Workforce Readiness Assistant
Cassidy is our newest addition and eager to be part of our amazing team and help us provide a positive environment for our youth to grow. She has children and grandchildren whom she loves and adores. Cassidy's fun fact is that she has been deaf for multiple years and has only been able to hear for the last 2 years. She is pursuing her degree in Psychology, and working alongside Bonnie with our Teens for the Workforce Readiness Program and helping navigate the "adult world". A fun fact about Cassidy is she is a Gemini!
Haley Schmieg
Youth Development Provider
Haley is Oglala Lakota Sioux. Her favorite color is red. In her spare time she likes to bead, hiking and biking. She wanted to work at the Club because she likes to teach and watch the youth grow and reach for the Stars.
Elizabeth LaRonge
Head Chef/ Master of the Custodial Arts
Elizabeth was born in Hayward, WI. She is a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She loves to go camping with her family and her two boys Preston and Cameron Metcalf. She likes working at the Boys and Girls Club because she was a Club member when she was younger and enjoyed coming here and she likes working with kids and being part of the community.
Mark Reed
Facilities worker
Mark is always the guy to ask to do every little task in a fast pace, he knows just how to get our building up to par. Mark has 5 children who attend the Club, and enjoys
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BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF LAC COURTE OREILLES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lorraine Gouge Board President Recruitment Specialist Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal governing Board Jessica Hutchison Vice President and Secretary School Administrator Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School McKenna Green Treasurer Grant Writer Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government Susie Taylor Member at large LCO Tribal Police Chief Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Government Edwin Carley Member at large Vocational Tech Teacher Aide Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa School |
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