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New Perspectives - Aug, 1992 Issue 

Turn-About Ranch
Diane Austin, Admissions Director
Escalante, Utah
(800) 842-1165

This is a working cattle ranch for youth ages 12-17. It is a Christian-based behavioral modification program lasting from 58 to 90 days. Their brochure contains a delightful series of actual letters from students to home.

Letter #1: “Okay, I’m here at this stupid ranch. It’s in the middle of no-where... You think I’m the problem. You’re the problem... The sooner you stop trying to run my life the better...”

Letter #2: “I’ve been here one week, it feels like a year. I’m in what they call the “Impact” phase... I didn’t feel like it (chopping wood), so you know what they did? They just let us stay cold all night, then all the other kids got on my case... I can’t believe you and Dad would do this to me. Get me out of here. I promise I’ll be good.

Letter #3: “Well, I finally earned my horse... I don’t know how to describe it, but somehow, having this animal depend on me for everything makes me feel better about myself. My counselors say I’m doing real good. I‘m out of the “Impact” phase and into what they call “Turn-About”... The funny part is that I really like it... I’m starting to see of lot of things differently...

Letter #4: I’ve been here 42 days... I want to tell you how sorry I am for everything I’ve put you through in the last couple of years. I know now that it didn’t have anything to do with you... Tomorrow, I’m going into the final phase here, the “Onward” phase... This is the time for my “Solo”.

Letter #5: “Well, I’m on my Solo. I’m all by myself and it’s really teaching me a lot. About myself mostly, and I guess that’s where the problem has been all along... I can’t wait to see you and Dad... Thanks for not giving up on me”..

Copyright © 1992, Woodbury Reports, Inc. (This article may be reproduced without prior approval if the copyright notice and proper publication and author attribution accompanies the copy.)

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